Doctoral student in Physics; Nanoscale X-ray diffraction for ferroelectric domain dynamics Full-time

Doctoral Student in Physics; Nanoscale X-ray Diffraction for Ferroelectric Domain Dynamics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world's top universities. The University has around 46,000 students and 8,500 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain, and improve our world and the human condition.

The Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research is a part of the Department of Physics and has more than 40 employees. The focus of the research is on experimental studies of electronic, structural, and chemical properties of materials. The Division is developing a new activity focusing on magnetic properties. At the Division, we use and develop a wide range of large facility- and lab-based techniques. We are additionally engaged in the development of the MAX IV Laboratory in the fields of beamlines, experimental stations, techniques for Synchrotron radiation, and the accelerator systems. MAX IV is a national large-scale research laboratory hosted by Lund University and situated within biking distance from the Department of Physics. It provides scientists from Sweden and the rest of the world with the most brilliant Synchrotron radiation source and instrumentation for research in areas such as materials science, structural biology, chemistry, and nanotechnology.

The project will develop nanoscale X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods to image domain dynamics in ferroelectric materials. These are characterized by the existence of domains in which there is an aligned polarization, similar to the aligned magnetic domains in ferromagnetics. Ferroelectric materials are used and developed for a wide range of applications, such as memories and computations. The ferroelectric behavior is largely governed by the dynamics of the domains, which have a size in the range of tens of nm to several micron.

In recent years, the spatial resolution of nanoscale X-ray diffraction methods has become sufficient to image individual domains, giving a unique possibility to study their dynamics for instance during switching. The NanoMAX beamline at the MAX IV synchrotron, the world's first fourth-generation synchrotron, offers a unique combination of high flux and spatial resolution with excellent facilities for in situ studies.

The position is part of a collaboration with two German institutes: Max Born in Berlin and the University of Mainz. The position is also a collaboration between the NanoLund, the Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research (SRR), and the NanoMAX beamline at MAX IV. The PhD student will collaborate with various groups synthesizing ferroelectric materials and devices, primarily within the NanoLund research center. In particular, the project will develop methods and beamline instrumentation for in situ imaging of the ferroelectric domains during switching.

Work Duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral education, which mainly consists of writing a doctoral thesis. Your PhD project combines development of experimental setups, synchrotron X-ray experiments, and data analysis and includes the following:

• Design and testing of a new system for electrical measurements and heating at the NanoMax beamline.
• Synchrotron experiments at MAX IV and other international facilities.
• Analysis of large datasets using AI and computational clusters.

In addition to studies, a maximum of 20% of working time may be spent on teaching and other departmental work.

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfill the requirements below.

Admission Requirements

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

• completed an independent work (e.g. degree project) in a relevant subject comprising at least 30 higher education credits. The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and significant in-depth studies in certain areas, qualifications other than the applicant's subject-specific competence in Physics may be taken into account.

Additional Requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• good written and oral communication skills
• good ability to cooperate
• very good knowledge of English, spoken and written

Selection Criteria

The selection of eligible applicants will be made taking into account the ability to benefit from the training based on the following criteria:

• Experience in nanofocusing and coherent X-ray methods
• Experience in other X-ray methods
• Experience in programming and data analysis
• Experience in ferroelectric, ferromagnetic, and other ferroic materials
• Other knowledge and skills relevant to the doctoral project and the subject area

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.

We Offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave, and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university

About the Employment

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting as agreed. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University's Staffpages. https://www.staff.lu.se/research-and-education/research-support/doctoral-education/terms-employment-doctoral-students

How to Apply

The application should be written in English and you must attach to your application:

• CV and personal letter with a justification of why you are interested in the training place/employment and in what way the research project matches your interests and your educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or diplomas. These should prove your basic and special eligibility for the doctoral education subject and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral education project.
• Other information that you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation, etc).

We welcome your application.