PhD student in Applied Physics – Computational studies of functional biopolymers from trees.

Skilled and committed employees are a crucial factor in the success of Linköping University. And we need more of them. Our core expertise comes from teachers and researchers, but a successful university requires experienced and motivated employees in many fields. Everyone is important. We need to recruit many new employees thanks to, among all, an expansion in our research activity. We need you here. We look forward to receiving your application!

At the Department of Science and Technology, at the university’s Norrköping campus, we provide education and conduct research in physics and electronics, communications/logistics and media- and information technology. The department is recognised for its work in fields including logistics, visualisation and organic electronics. We combine academic excellence with fruitful collaboration with the Community.
Read more at https://liu.se/en/organisation/liu/itn

Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC) is a research center striving for scientific excellence with a focus on new materials from trees. The center creates knowledge and builds competence for an innovative and sustainable future value creation from forest raw materials. WWSC is a multidisciplinary collaboration between KTH, Chalmers, and Linköping University. The base is a donation from Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, and the forest industry is supporting WWSC via the national platform Treesearch.

We are looking for a PhD student Applied Physics – Computational studies of functional biopolymers from trees, formally based at the Department of Science and Technology, Campus Norrköping.

Your work assignments and workplace

The PhD student will perform computational simulation and modeling of functional biopolymers and materials from trees such as nanocellulose, lignin and their composites, as well as perform modelling of devices made from these materials (such as membranes, electrodes etc). The computer simulation and modelling will be ranged from the ab initio and Molecular Dynamics simulations on the atomistic level to the drift-diffusion simulation on the device level to answer the fundamental questions concerning material morphology, structure, ion diffusion, device performance and many others. The simulation and modeling activity will be carried out in a tight collaboration with the experimental teams at LOE, as well as with teams at Chalmers University of Technology and Royal Institute of Technology where the obtained theoretical results will help to understand and guide the material and device design for better and enhanced performance, and, vice versa, the input from the experiment will provide an essential motivation for the theory.

The PhD student will be placed in the group of Theory and Modelling at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE), belonging to the Department of Science and Technology, at the university’s Norrköping Campus. The LOE is renowned for its world-leading research on electronic devices based on organic electroactive materials. Its primary theme involves the coupling of ions and electrons as signal carriers for applications in printed electronics, organic energy- and electrochemical devices, and organic bioelectronics. Currently, the research staff of the Laboratory includes about 150 researchers (professors, senior and junior scientists and PhD students). The LOE is also a partner in the Wallenberg Wood Science Center (WWSC).

As a doctoral student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20% of full-time.

Your qualifications
You have graduated at Master’s level in chemistry/physics/material science or in related fields with a strong background in computational quantum chemistry/physics or completed courses with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses in the above fields. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way.

Computer and programing/scripting skills, and experience in molecular dynamics simulations are desirable, but not a requirement. The interested candidate should be strongly self-motivated, to show a keen interest in science and fundamental research and be willing to work in a team. Good communications skills and proficiency in spoken and written English are required.

Terms of employment
When taking up the post, you will be admitted to the program for doctoral studies. More information about the doctoral studies at each faculty is available at Doctoral studies at Linköping University

The employment has a duration of four years’ full-time equivalent. You will initially be employed for a period of one year. The employment will subsequently be renewed for periods of maximum duration two years, depending on your progress through the study plan. The employment may be extended up to a maximum of five years, based on the amount of teaching and departmental duties you have carried out. Further extensions can be granted in special circumstances.

Starting date
Winter 2022/2023 or by agreement.

Salary and employment benefits
The salary of doctoral students is determined according to a locally negotiated salary progression.

More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.

Union representatives
Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants .

Application procedure
Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must reach Linköping University no later than 25 November 2022. Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered. The application should be written in English and include: cover letter (maximum 2 pages, describe what makes you interested in this particular position and how you could contribute to the research and team), CV (including contact details to three reference persons), undergraduate transcript records with grades.

We welcome applicants with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives – diversity enriches our work and helps us grow. Preserving everybody’s equal value, rights and opportunities is a natural part of who we are. Read more about our work with: Equal opportunities .

We look forward to receiving your application!

Linköping university has framework agreements and wishes to decline direct contacts from staffing- and recruitment companies as well as vendors of job advertisements.

URL to this page
https://liu.se/en/work-at-liu/vacancies?rmpage=job&rmjob=20191&rmlang=UK