Doctoral student in Chemical Physics, studies of singlet fission processes and energy transfer in energy conversion materials

Subject description

The PhD work will be carried out within European Innovation Council funded project Bioinspired Singlet Fission Photon Multipliers (BioSinFin). The goal of BiosSinFin is to use singlet-fission active chromophores and red-emitting materials in protein scaffolds to fabricate a coating for sensitization of Si solar cells to achieve up to an additional 5% conversion efficiency. One objective of this PhD project will be to use multidimensional electronic spectroscopy to explore singled fission process in various molecules in protein scaffolds. The second objective will be to study triplet energy transfer between singled fission and red emitting materials. The main aim is to identify the best singlet fission and best material combinations and arrangements in the protein scaffolds to achieve the highest efficiency conversion between absorption of high-energy photons and emission by the red emitting material.

The synthesis of the necessary materials, conjugation with the protein scaffolds and stabilization of the proteins in the polymer coatings will be will be carried out by our collaborators within the BioSinFin consortium. Additionally, our spectroscopic studies will be aided by quantum chemistry calculations by theory collaborators in the consortium.

 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 will also include a little bit of teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

The candidate will have to learn basic theoretical background and experimental implementation of the two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES). By employing the 2DES technique, the systematically-chosen singlet-fission molecules will be studied both in solution and conjugated to the protein scaffolds. Furthermore, nanosecond-microsecond time-resolved absorption and emission techniques will be established and used to study energy transfer between the singlet fission and red-emitting materials in protein scaffolds. Obtained data will be analysed with the existing analysis programs. The main goal is to understand the singled fission process at a fundamental level and identify materials and their for most efficient energy conversion. The PhD student is expected to summarise all the obtained results in the research papers and contribute to compiling reports for the BioSinFin project.

Admission requirements

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

• 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 Chemical Physics if the applicant has:

• Master (or equivalent) degree in Chemical Physics, Physical Chemistry, or another similar subject.

Additional requirements:

• Good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Qualifications include demonstration of at least some of the outlined desirable skills.
• Hands on experience with ultrashort pulse lasers and time-resolved spectroscopy.
• Basic knowledge of the non-linear spectroscopy theory. 
• Familiarity with complex data analysis
• Programming skills (for example, Matlab, LabView or Python).

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. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).