Doctoral student in Physics, within the discipline of generation and characterization of magnetic nanocomposite materials - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The research at the division of Solid State Physics is focused around different aspects of nano- and semiconductor-physics, ranging from materials science to quantum physics, and different applications. The division also leads NanoLund, the major interdisciplinary research environment within nanoscience and nanotechnology at Lund University. Lund Nano Lab is a central key facility for the fabrication of material and devices on the nanoscale. The division is also heavily involved in undergraduate education, especially within the “Engineering Nanoscience” program.

For the last twenty years, our research in generating advanced nanomaterials based on nanoparticles produced with aerosol technology has been at the international forefront. We wish to expand our research in the area by combining advanced aerosol technology with advanced processing technology to produce magnetic nanostructures, which are of great interest in research and industry.

This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE, wise-materials.org). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science.

All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers, and industry.

More information can be found at: https://wise-materials.org,  www.ftf.lth.se, www.nano.lu.se and www.nano.lu.se/maria-messing.

Work duties

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The aim of the project is to develop and combine techniques to produce new types of magnetic composites, consisting of aerosol-generated nanoparticles, and to use process techniques to control the spontaneous formation of 1-, 2- and 3-dimensional structures. Such structures could be very useful in applications in data storage, magnetic memory, magnetic cooling, and as building blocks of future magnets for green technologies. The main focus of the project will be the development of hard and soft magnetic nanoparticles composed of mixed metals, but the project will also include advanced characterization, both of the individual nanoparticles and of the larger composite structures. This will be done using electron microscopy, X-ray-based methods, and measurements of the magnetic properties of the materials using a magnetometer. Thus, in addition to advancing knowledge of new nanomaterials and aerosol nanoparticle formation, the graduate student will gain extensive experience in several important production and characterization methods for nanomaterials. We have a large network of international collaborators and temporary placement in industry, or another university may be part of the job description.

The PhD student is expected to work independently as well as in close collaboration with other researchers associated with the project.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if he or she:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third-cycle studies in Physics if he or she has:

• at least 30 second-cycle credits of relevance to the subject, of which at least 15 credits shall comprise a second-cycle degree project, or
• an MSc in engineering physics or an associated field, or a Master’s degree in physics or an associated field.

Finally, the student must be judged to have the potential to complete the program.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Basis of assessment

Selection to postgraduate studies is based on the expected ability to perform well in the studies. The evaluation of the ability to perform well is based primarily on the results of studies at the basic and advanced levels, in particular:

• Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of the study. Such skills can, for example, be shown by attached documentation.
• An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems, which can be assessed for example through a discussion of a master thesis project during the interview.
• Written and oral communication skills
• Other experience relevant to postgraduate studies, such as professional experience.

Other assessment criteria (desired merits)

We expect that your undergraduate studies include courses in materials science and materials characterization. The research is to a large extent interdisciplinary, and a broad competence profile and experiences from relevant areas of physics (including quantum mechanics), electronics, solid state/semiconductor physics and nanofabrication are of special value. The ability for skillful laboratory work is essential and demonstrated experience will be considered a merit, and so will courses on magnetism. Important personal qualities are, beside creativity and a curious mind, the ability to work both independently and in a group, self-motivation and experience in the scientific interaction with researchers from other disciplines and in other countries.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications must be written in English. The application must include a personal letter explaining why you are interested in the position and how the research project matches your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, diploma or equivalent, a copy of the thesis or equivalent, alternatively a summary if the work has not been completed, as well as anything else you wish to refer to (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

For applicants whose previous studies were conducted at a university where English was not the spoken language, evidence of English proficiency is requested (For example, TOEFL / IELTS results, or similar).

Applicants are also required to answer job specific questions.

Welcome with your application!