Vacant job

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is consistently ranked among the world's leading universities. We have approximately 46,000 students and 8,500 employees in Lund, Helsingborg, and Malmö. We are united in our strive to understand, explain, and improve our world and people's conditions.

Description of the activity

The Department of Synchrotron Radiation Research (https://www.sljus.lu.se/start (https://www.sljus.lu.se/start)) is a highly interdisciplinary research environment within the Department of Physics. The group's research focuses primarily on experimental studies of materials' electronic, structural, and chemical properties, and more recently, magnetism. The department consists of approximately 60 employees, of which about half are doctoral students.

In addition, we use and develop a broad spectrum of techniques at both large-scale research facilities and laboratory-based environments, at both synchrotron light and neutron sources. The department is located in close proximity to two major research facilities: the European Spallation Source (currently under construction) and MAX IV, which are expected to be used extensively during the course of the project.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed by Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you are trained in a scientific approach. This can be briefly described as gaining practice in critical and analytical thinking, solving problems independently using appropriate methods, and developing research ethics awareness. Furthermore, as a doctoral student, you have the opportunity to work on projects, develop your leadership skills, and enhance your pedagogical abilities. Throughout your studies, you are guided by supervisors. The doctoral studies conclude with a thesis and a doctorate degree.

More information about being a doctoral student at the Faculty of Science can be found at naturvetenskap.se (https://naturvetenskap.se).

Subject and project description

Magnetism was one of the earliest scientific discoveries and remains one of the most technologically significant research areas. The field continues to develop rapidly, and one of the most promising future research directions is the investigation of materials exhibiting magnetic frustration – a fascinating physical phenomenon where magnetic moments cannot arrange themselves in the most energetically favorable way, forcing the system to make various compromises. Magnetic frustration can give rise to a range of unconventional quantum mechanical ground states that may have applications in quantum computers, next-generation energy storage devices, and high-temperature superconductivity.

The main research area for this position is to investigate frustrated systems that lead to partially ordered magnetic ground states, such as the so-called spiral spin liquid. The partial order in such systems means that experimental data exhibit both long and short-range correlations. However, these aspects are rarely analyzed together, meaning that the physical understanding often remains incomplete. Within this project, you will synthesize materials with new magnetic properties using a variety of methods. Detailed investigations of the materials' structural and magnetic properties will be conducted both in our local laboratories and at large-scale research facilities using neutron, X-ray, and muon-based experiments. Additionally, special focus will be placed on developing own computational codes or adapting existing programs to strengthen our ability to model more complex material systems. Overall, this will help us understand the physics arising at the interface between these different types of order and how this contributes to the stabilization of certain magnetic ground states. This is a dynamic and rapidly growing research area that offers you an excellent opportunity to develop your skills while participating in cutting-edge materials science research.

• General study plan for doctoral education

Work tasks

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral education, which mainly consists of working towards a doctorate and writing a doctoral thesis. In addition to the research work, participation in doctoral education courses, seminars, and conferences is included.

Your doctoral education will primarily be of an experimental nature and include training in:

• Synthesis of inorganic materials
• Laboratory-based characterization, including X-ray diffraction, measurements of magnetic susceptibility, and heat capacity measurements
• Advanced characterization at national and international research facilities with a special focus on neutron scattering (e.g., European Spallation Source in Sweden, Institut Laue-Langevin in France, and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in the UK)
• Development of analysis methods and methodology for the study of quantum materials
• Writing scientific publications and presenting research results at conferences

The main experimental part of the work involves national and international travel to large-scale research facilities to conduct experiments during allocated beamtime. These experiments may involve working during long shifts in smaller research groups and can be scheduled on weekends.

In addition to studies, a maximum of 20% of working time may be devoted to teaching and other departmental duties.

For more information about the position, follow the link: https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:949482/ (https://lu.varbi.com/what:job/jobID:949482/)

Open to all
We focus on your competence, not your other prerequisites. We are open to adapting the role or workplace to your needs.