Doctoral student in applied physics (MSCA COFUND project PRISMAS)

About Malmö University

Malmö University is an innovative, urban and international institute of higher education, located in the centre of Malmö. We have around 1,800 employees and 24,000 students. Our research and education are characterised by the role we believe a university should play in an open society — to contribute to sustainability and equality in a scientifically grounded way with external partners and stakeholders. Identifying and addressing the challenges of the future are of highest priority. Our researchers and students work collaboratively to create, share and spread knowledge in order to understand, explain and develop society — both locally and globally. 

Faculty

The Faculty of Technology and Society conducts education and research focusing on technology and natural sciences at two departments: Computer Science and Media Technology and Materials Science and Applied Mathematics. The faculty collaborates with companies and other organisations in order to raise the level of competence, create new products, develop activities and offer students an early connection to their future working life. Our research collaborations and staff from many different countries give our activities an international profile. 

Department

The Department of Materials Science and Applied Mathematics offers education at all levels, from a technical foundation year programme to doctoral education. Our programmes belong to the field of applied engineering, covering subjects of civil and mechanical engineering and basic natural science. We conduct research mainly in applied physics and selected fields of engineering.

Department of Materials Science and Applied Mathematics

PRISMAS

PRISMAS - PhD Research and Innovation in Synchrotron Methods and Applications in Sweden – is a new doctoral network training the next generation of 40 leading synchrotron experts, cofunded by the Horizon Europe MSCA COFUND Programme. As a PRISMAS PhD student, you will have the chance to conduct cutting-edge research in your field, taking advantage of state of the art tools that will bring to attractive future job opportunities in academia or industry. Moreover, you are part of designing the future of synchrotron technology and instrumentation and using these to tackle some of the most significant global challenges the world faces today while acquiring interdisciplinary and intersectoral knowledge. Being part of the PRISMAS programme gives you the one-of-a-kind experience in form of a secondment at the world´s first 4th generation synchrotron, MAX IV in Lund, Sweden. Complemented with a tailored training programme, including courses to build scientific and technical competence as well as strengthen transferrable skills, PRISMAS provides you with the skills, knowledge and competence needed to successfully achieve your doctoral degree.

Work duties

The doctoral studentship is part of the Marie Curie (MSCA) graduate school PRISMAS, coordinated by the MAX IV Laboratory. The primary focus of the studentship will be research within the PRISMAS project “Combining spectroscopy and diffraction for operando studies of complex oxides”, which is a collaboration between Malmö University, Lund University, and the MAX IV beamline Balder. The student’s research will be primarily experimental and will include growth and characterization of 2D oxides and similar materials using facilities in Malmö and Lund, including the LU scanning probe microscopy laboratories; in situ and in operando measurements with X-rays at synchrotron facilities including MAX IV; and the development of instrumentation, data acquisition and data analysis routines for simultaneous hard X-ray spectroscopy and diffraction.

The training implies a secondment of 3-12 months at MAX IV laboratory in Lund, Sweden, and the student will spend their time on site working with Balder staff on method development. Additional secondments and/or short stays may be arranged in agreement with the supervisor of the research project. Moreover, you will attend international conferences, participate in periodical project meetings and training schools as well as in specialised courses at different universities to complement your knowledge. A certain amount of travelling is foreseen in relation to these activities.

The principal investigator and main supervisor for the project will be Dr. Lindsay R. Merte, Associate Professor, https://mau.se/en/persons/lindsay.merte/

Related publications:
Gajdek et al., Structural Changes in Monolayer Cobalt Oxides under Ambient Pressure CO and O2 Studied by In Situ Grazing-Incidence X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy, J. Phys. Chem. C 126(7), 3411--3418. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.1c10284)

Merte et al, Structure of two-dimensional Fe3O4, J. Chem. Phys. 152(11), 114705. (https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5142558)

Merte et al., Structure of an Ultrathin Oxide on Pt$_3$Sn(111) Solved by Machine Learning Enhanced Global Optimization, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 61(25), e202204244. (https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202204244)

Lundgren, et al. Novel in situ Techniques for Studies of Model Catalysts, Acc. Chem. Res. 50(9), 2326-2333. (https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.7b00281)

Those appointed to doctoral studentships shall primarily devote themselves to their studies. Those appointed to doctoral studentships may, however, work to a limited extent with educational tasks, research, artistic research and administration, however, duties of this kind may not comprise more than 20 per cent of a full-time post (Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

Qualifications

In order to be admitted to third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet the general and specific entry requirements of the subject in question before the employment date (01/09/2023). Moreover, the applicant must be deemed capable of assimilating the education. To comply with the mobility rule of the MSCA COFUND programme, you are eligible if you have not resided in Sweden for more than 12 months during the last three years preceding the 02/05/2023 for your main work or studies.

General entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes (HEO Chapter 7 Section 39) have those who:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification
• 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

Specific entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes have those who:

• Have knowledge and skills equivalent to a second-cycle degree in applied
  physics or in another subject that has relevance for applied physics, or
• Have acquired essentially equivalent knowledge in or outside Sweden
• Are proficient in English to the extent required for conducting postgraduate
  studies in applied physics
• You are eligible for the PRISMAS programme, if you are a doctoral candidate, i.e., are not already in possession of a doctoral degree

Selection criteria

Selection among applicants who meet the general and specific entry requirements shall be made with regard to their capacity to assimilate the education (HEO Chapter 7 Section 41).

• Subject competence
• Scientific quality in previous work
• Methodological and scientific maturity
• Communication and collaborative skills

The following specific criteria will be used:

Documented experience with one or more of the following will be considered merits:

• Experimental methods in solid state physics or materials chemistry
• X-ray and/or neutron scattering methods for materials characterization
• Surface science and thin film growth
• Electrocatalysis
• Data analysis and scientific programming

Second-cycle exam subjects relevant for this position are physics, chemistry, materials science, nanoscience, or equivalent.

Further information

Head of department, Katja Frid, 073-725 37 40, katja.frid@mau.se

Principle investigator, Senior lecturer Lindsay Merte, 040-6658074, lindsay.merte@mau.se

If you have questions on the selection process, please contact:
prismas@maxiv.lu.se

For questions on the employment conditions and the university, please contact:
HR-specialist, Magdalena Brossing, 040-665 76 59, magdalena.brossing@mau.se

In our recruitment work, Malmö University has taken a stand regarding recruitment channels and marketing. We therefore decline all offers of advertising and recruitment assistance in connection with this advertisement.

Application

You may apply for this position via Malmö University's recruitment system by clicking on the "Apply" button. As an applicant, you are responsible for ensuring that your application is completed in accordance with the advertisement, and that it is provided to the University no later than 01/05/2023. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the University can read what is written in the application. If the application is not written in Swedish, English or any of the Nordic languages, the applicant is responsible for the application and its appendices being translated.

The application must include:

• Completed application form for admission to Research Education https://mau.app.box.com/s/xe74zorhnlfmst7ejy65440r77f0n2l64
• CV in Europass format
• A two-page cover letter, justifying your interest in the position and how it matches your
  qualifications as well as the prioritization in case of applying to several PRISMAS
  positions.
• at least one reference letter
• an evidence of English 3 proficiency (minimum B2 level)
• Copy of academic records (including marks for all coursework) with a transcript of
  diploma in English,
• and any other document to which you would like to draw attention (details of referees,
  letters of recommendation, etc.)

These documents should be uploaded (pdf) in the job application portal. Exam certificates and other documents on paper should be scanned or photographed before being uploaded.

The application will be evaluated based on scientific excellence, the adequacy of your career plan and your thesis project as well as your research experience.

Details on the novel, unique and common selection process for all the PRISMAS positions can be
found here: How to apply – MAX IV (lu.se)

Miscellaneous

Preparation of admission to postgraduate education and employment as a doctoral student take place in parallel. Only those who are or have been admitted to third-cycle courses and study programmes at a higher education may be appointed to doctoral studentships (Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

The doctoral studentship is a fixed-term position comprising four years of full-time studies, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 5 Section 7.

Malmö University is a workplace and higher education institution that is characterised by an open and inclusive approach, where gender equality and equal terms add value to our activities.

Malmö University applies salary setting for doctoral students in accordance with a local agreement on salary setting for doctoral students. The University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. Read more on the University website about being a Malmö University employee Benefits for employees

The MSCA COFUND project PRISMAS offers you outstanding opportunities as well as a stimulating and inspiring surrounding for performing cutting-edge research. Supporting your mobility, it creates perfect conditions for strengthening your international network.

Start date

2023-09-01. 

Union representatives

SACO-S Mats Syde, mats.syde@mau.se

OFR/ST Bodil Sterner, bodil.sterner@mau.se 

We are looking forward to receiving your application!

You apply no later than 01/05/2023 by clicking the apply button.