The Department of Physics at Umeå University is offering a postdoctoral scholarship in formation and electronic properties of multi-metal oxides. The scholarship is full-time for two years and the start date is September 1st 2023 or by agreement.
Project Description
Adding foreign cations into metal oxides often leads to phase segregation, but sometimes, when 4 or more cations are correctly selected, phase segregation can be entirely avoided. The resulting multi-metal oxides exhibit unique crystal structures with a disordered atomic motif that can lead to fascinating properties such as high ionic conductivity, high catalytic activity, and large Seebeck coefficient. However, the exact mechanisms that stabilize these materials are not entirely known, which complicates their design and optimization.
The aim of this project is to advance the current understanding in the formation of single-phase multi-metal oxides. We will focus on investigating the influence of several factors (e.g., cation size, valence mismatch, vibrational entropy) that can affect their formation, stability, and electronic properties. The scholarship is for two years and is financed by the Kempe Foundation. The scholarship amounts to 336,000 SEK per year and is tax-free.
Qualifications
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.
Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior to the decision date for the scholarship recipient. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
Fluency in English is required. Additional requirement is documented experience in the synthesis of nanomaterials and common characterization techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray powder diffraction, and electron microscopy. Experience in diffuse reflectance spectroscopy is meriting. You should be highly motivated and have the ability to do research independently as well as a part of a research group.
Application
A full application should include:
- Cover letter stating your motivations for applying and summarizing your qualifications for the position, your previous research experience as well as your experience in the area mentioned above (max. one page),
- Curriculum vitae (CV) with publication list,
- Tentative project plan and research objectives for this project (max. one page)
- Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained,
- Verified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades,
- Copy of doctoral thesis and up to three relevant articles,
- Other documents that the applicant wishes to claim,
- Contact information to two persons willing to act as references.
Submit your application as a PDF marked with the reference number FS 2.1.7-1062-23, both in the file name and in the subject field of the email, to medel@diarie.umu.se. The application can be written in English (preferably) or Swedish. Application deadline is 9 June 2023.
Further information
For more information, please contact Assoc. Prof. Eduardo Gracia, eduardo.gracia@umu.se.
We look forward to receiving your application!