We are currently looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Ph.D. students to join ERC-STG funded research team led by Tim Verhagen, established to investigate 2D sandwiches.
What you will do
This ERC-STG funded PhD position will focus on the growth of a new two-dimensional building block: the 2D sandwich. This is a layered heterostructure, consisting of a mix of layered van der Waals, layered ionic and layered metavalent materials. In the 2D sandwich, a interaction between the sandwich's individual layers is mediated via an ionic or multivalent bond, whereas the interaction with other 2D layers is still solely due to the van der Waals interactions.
You will grow 2D magnetoelectric multiferroic sandwiches composed of layered transition metal chalcogenides, oxides or iodides using the modulated elemental reactants method in a ultra-high vacuum molecular beam epitaxial system. Using a combination of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy and optical spectroscopy, the applicant will explore their structure and properties and tries to answer fundamental questions if and how materials with a van der Waals bond can be combined with layered ionic and layered metavalent materials.
What do we expect
- Master degree in physics, chemistry, material sciences or a related field
- Initiative, creativity and ability to solve problems independently and eager to explore the unknown
- Advanced spoken and written English
- Well-developed social skills in order to be able to work in a team environment and contribute to a pleasant atmosphere
- interest in crystal growth, either bulk crystals, or epitaxial films grown using molecular-beam epitaxy, pulsed laser deposition, chemical vapour deposition or sputter deposition.
- interest in refinement of crystal structures using X-ray, neutron or electron diffraction data.
If you think you will fit our team, but you don't fulfil above requirements, don't hesitate to contact us and let us know why you would fit in our team.
What we offer
- Support in obtaining a PhD degree in Physics at Charles University or Czech technical university in Prague
- Opportunity to achieve a major breakthrough in material sciences
- Full time position (40 hours/week)
- PhD fully funded for 4 years, 1-year contract with possible extension for the period of the PhD study
- Collaboration with top labs in the field of design of new materials and 2D materials.
- Support of your work-life balance
- Multisport card, meal allowance, 25 days of vacation + 6 days of personal leave/year and other benefits
- Training and development opportunities (soft skills, language courses)
- Plenty of opportunities for cultural and other activities in the Prague region
- More information is available at: Why FZU? | FZU
How to apply
Please send your CV and motivation letter, preferably with a link to your master thesis, to kariera [at] fzu [dot] cz (kariera[at]fzu[dot]cz) (please write a name of the position to the subject of the e-mail, we have many positions open)
Starting date negotiable.
The selected candidate will apply for doctoral program at CTU, or at Charles University.