Postdoctoral position in Materials Physics for Fusion Research at the Department of Physics and Astronomy Full-time

Postdoctoral Position in Materials Physics for Fusion Research at the Department of Physics and Astronomy

Are you interested in working with experimental physics and fusion materials, with the support of competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Are you looking for an employer that invests in sustainable employeeship and offers safe, favourable working conditions? We welcome you to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

The research conducted at the Department of Physics and Astronomy encompasses a wide range of physics topics, distributed over nine divisions. The department is located in the Ångström Laboratory and employs nearly 400 people, 100 of whom are doctoral students. It offers a broad physics curriculum to undergraduate and graduate students, participation in nationally and internationally leading projects for researchers, and opportunities for partnership with industry and various outreach activities.

The research within the division of Materials Physics, at Uppsala University, is centered around understanding the physical properties of materials by analyzing their structure and composition across multiple length scales, from the atomic to the macroscopic, and linking them to functional properties. Core areas are magnetism, hydrogen, energy materials, soft matter and ion-solid interactions.

Uppsala University hereby announces a postdoctoral position at the Department of Physics and Astronomy open for application.

The project will focus on studies of kinetic processes of light chemical species such as hydrogen isotopes or helium or oxygen in plasma-facing materials for fusion research applications. The work will include both studying fundamental aspects of ion-solid interaction which govern, for example erosion and implantation in materials but also improvement of analytical methods for detection of light chemical species with high resolution and sensitivity. An important aspect will be to perform high‑sensitivity time‑of‑flight studies of surface and near‑surface processes, such as the desorption of species during ion‑beam exposure (electronic sputtering), in combination with high‑resolution depth profiling. The work will be of primarily experimental character.

Duties: The project is focused on experimental studies to study light chemical elements such as H, He or O in different material systems relevant for fusion energy applications. More specifically, this will include:

• Experiments to detect light chemical elements in materials which have been exposed to different environments.
• Synthesis, preparation, modification and characterization of plasma facing materials.
• Handling and development of large-scale instrumentation for non-destructive materials analysis, in particular using ion beams for in-situ and in-operando analysis.
• Handling and analysis of complex experimental data, evaluation and simulation with e.g. Monte-Carlo and Molecular Dynamics approaches.

Requirements: PhD degree in physics, engineering or an equivalent field or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in physics, engineering or an equivalent field. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Priority will be given to applicants who have completed their degree no more than three years before the deadline for applications. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.

Experience with materials research, preferentially with ion beam and plasma facing materials, is required. Well documented experience in handling vacuum instruments for materials research is also required. The ability to communicate well in spoken and written English is required.

Additional qualifications: Experience with particle detectors and electronics is considered advantageous, as is good knowledge of ion–solid interactions. The successful candidate is expected to have the personal qualities required to carry out the duties of the position well.

About the employment: The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Full time position. Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Eduardo Pitthan Filho, eduardo.pitthan@physics.uu.se or Daniel Primetzhofer, daniel.primetzhofer@physics.uu.se.

Please submit your application by 24 July 2026, UFV-PA 2026/2001.