Postdoctoral Researcher in Material Physics at Uppsala University

Do you want to work with soft materials, supported by competent and friendly colleagues in an international environment? Do you want an employer that invests in sustainable employment and offers secure, favorable working conditions? Welcome to apply for a postdoctoral position at Uppsala University.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important asset is all the individuals whose curiosity and commitment make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country. Uppsala University has over 45,000 students, more than 7,000 employees, and a turnover of approximately 7 billion SEK.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of Uppsala University's largest, with nearly 400 employees, of which about 125 are doctoral students. The department conducts world-class research and education in both theoretical and experimental physics and has extensive collaboration with the outside world. Research is conducted in 10 research divisions and covers everything from the incomprehensibly small to the large in areas such as energy supply, climate development, new materials, and the universe. This entire spectrum is also reflected in the department's courses and educational programs. Around 2,500 students take courses at the undergraduate and advanced levels at the department each year. Read more at http://www.physics.uu.se/ (http://www.physics.uu.se/).

Research within the division focuses on metamaterials with an emphasis on the effects of non-equilibrium states and limited size in magnetic materials, metal hydrides, and soft materials. Samples are synthesized and studied using optical methods and transport measurements in our own laboratories. These characterization tools are complemented by advanced X-ray and neutron scattering methods both in the laboratories in Uppsala and at large-scale facilities. The group also operates the neutron reflectometer Super ADAM at the Institute Laue-Langevin in Grenoble (France).

Job Responsibilities

This postdoctoral researcher will be employed in the Department of Material Physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy and will be part of a group working with neutron scattering methods.

The position is based in Uppsala with the possibility of extended stays at the Data Management and Software Center (DMSC) of the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Copenhagen at the campus of the Technical University of Denmark. DMSC is a scientific computing center that provides the services and solutions users need to conduct an experiment at ESS. This includes a fully integrated data pipeline from application to publication. The DMSC workload includes providing software and hardware for user office, data collection, data streaming, data reduction, data analysis, data management, remote data access, and associated user training.

The postdoctoral researcher will develop methods for stroboscopic neutron scattering to study non-equilibrium phenomena in polymers and soft materials. These methods have the advantage of being sensitive to isotopes, which allows for contrast variation experiments by exchanging hydrogen for deuterium, but often lack brilliance and therefore require stroboscopic reintegration to allow studies of processes on a timescale down to ms. The postdoctoral researcher will study flow properties in polymers and soft materials and relate macroscopic phenomena, such as storage and loss modulus, to structure and dynamics at atomic length scales. Rheological experiments will be combined with neutron scattering data. The task is to validate and develop the ESS data management pipeline to enable stroboscopic reintegration of neutron scattering data concerning metadata extracted from a rheometer operated in oscillating mode. Much of the work will be based on the data reduction tool scipp (https://scipp.github.io (https://scipp.github.io)).

Qualifications

A PhD in physics, chemistry, materials science, computational science, or a similar scientific field is required, with the following qualifications:

• Good computer/programming skills
• Knowledge of Python, including object-oriented programming
• Experience in modern software development and technical practices
• Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git, GitHub, GitLabSolid).
• A solid background in condensed matter physics and neutron scattering methods.
• A solid background in scattering techniques, preferably with experience in small-angle scattering or neutron reflectometry.
• Experience in using and developing analysis and fitting routines.
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary environments.
• Excellent communication skills in English (written and spoken) are required. Non-Swedish speaking candidates are encouraged to learn Swedish during the employment period.
• Documented experience in presenting scientific results both orally and in writing.
• Publication in relevant subjects in internationally recognized scientific journals.
• Willingness and ability to travel is mandatory for this position.

Desirable/meritorious qualifications

• Experience in research in an international environment and scientific project management.
• Experience in instrumentation and experimental work at photon or neutron sources or similar.

About the Position

The position is temporary for 2 years according to central collective agreements. The scope is full-time. Start date 2025-04-01 or by agreement. Location: Uppsala, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

For inquiries about the position, please contact: Max Wolff, +46 18 471 3590, max.wolff@physics.uu.se.

Welcome with your application by April 4, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/663.

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international standing. The ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. Our most important asset is all 7,600 employees and 53,000 students whose curiosity and commitment make Uppsala University one of the most exciting workplaces in the country.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/ (https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/).

The position may be subject to security clearance. A prerequisite for employment during security clearance is that the applicant is approved.

We kindly decline offers of recruitment and advertising assistance.

Applications are received in Uppsala University's recruitment system.