PhD Position in Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy::Stockholm University, Sweden

Project title: Studies and characterization of interfaces in nanoscale materials using novel 3DEM techniques. 

Reference number: SU FV-3142-13 (project HT13-1).

Deadline: November 20, 2013

General information.

Stockholm University (http://www.su.se) is a modern university with a multicultural environment and is one of the world’s top 100 higher education institutes. Here more than 60,000 students and 5,000 staff are active within science, humanities and social sciences. The Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry (MMK, http://www.mmk.su.se) is a leading institution with research spanning over Materials and Solid State Chemistry focusing on different classes of materials, from ceramics and glasses to self-assembled and porous materials. The work often encompasses synthesis, characterisation by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy, NMR studies, and modelling with computer simulations. Environmental aspects are also an important part of the research activities, where refined natural or anthropogenic chemicals and materials are studied in relation to their impact in our global environment.

Project description.

Synthetic and naturally occurring nanostructured materials are the building blocks of nanoscience and nanotechnology. These nanostructures often exhibit novel properties as their physical dimensions become comparable to certain characteristic length scales, which situate them at the border between quantum effects and bulk properties.

Nanomaterials composed of two phases often shown interesting interfacial phenomena. This project focuses on developing element specific three-dimensional electron microscopy (3DEM) to obtain compositional and crystallographic information at the interface of such nanoscale materials and correlate it with optical and magnetic properties. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with other groups at Stockholm University and international partners in Spain, Denmark and USA.

Relevant publications:

1.   E. Wetterskog, C.W. Tai, J. Grins, L. Bergström and G. Salazar-Alvarez, ACS Nano 2013 7, 7132.

2.   G. Salazar-Alvarez, H. Lidbaum, A. López-Ortega, M. Estrader, K. Leifer, J. Sort, S. Suriñach, M. D. Baró, and J. Nogués, Journal of the American Chemical Society 2011 133, 16738.

3.   K.L. Krycka, J. A. Borchers, G. Salazar-Alvarez, A. López-Ortega, M. Estrader, S. Estradé, E. Winkler, R.D. Zysler, J. Sort, F. Peiró, Maria Dolors Baró, C.C. Kao, and J. Nogués, ACS Nano 2013 7, 921.

4.   S. Disch, E. Wetterskog, R. P. Hermann, G. Salazar-Alvarez, P. Busch, T. Brueckel, L. Bergström, S. Kamali, Nano Letters 2011, 11, 1651.

Funding: The project will be funded by the recently approved KAW project “3DEM-
NATUR” (http://www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=945).

More information.

About the project: Doc. Germán Salazar-Alvarez, Group leader, german@mmk.su.se (http://www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=155&id=1303)

About MMK: Prof. Gunnar Svensson, Head of Department, gunnar.svensson@mmk.su.se.

Starting date: the anticipated starting date is February 1, 2014, or later.

How to apply.

Interested candidates should send their application and supporting material to: registrator@su.se with reference number SU FV-3142-13 in the subject field.

Your application should contain:

• An application on the form (can be found at www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=413) together with CV and documentation of study merits, where your eligibility is clearly documented (see below).
• A "Letter of intent", describing your expectations of the PhD studies connected to the project.
• IMPORTANT: Please combine all your documents into a single, self-contained pfd-file, including the cover letter.

Eligibility.

To be eligible for PhD studies in chemistry, an education at the undergraduate level of at least 240 credits is required (corresponding to three years of full-time studies on undergraduate level and one year on advanced level) with at least 60 credits in chemistry or physics. Those studies should include at least one specialized course or a thesis in the research subject. In order to facilitate the evaluation of merits and suitability for the PhD studies your curriculum vitae (CV) should contain information about the extent and focus of the academic studies. The quantity (as part of an academic year) and the quality mark of courses in chemistry and physics are of particular interest. Please, state titles of undergraduate theses and project works. Further information is found in the home page, www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=413.

A selection committee will assess the candidate´s ability to successfully complete the PhD program and invite short-listed candidates to an interview in person or via internet. The study merits are an important selection criterion. Economic support for the graduate studies is guaranteed for full time studies during the time agreed in the individual study syllabus (study plan), normally for four years of full time studies, see  www.mmk.su.se/page.php?pid=413.

See link at http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/jobs/351442-phd-position-in-analytical-transmission-electron-microscopy