PhD Candidate in Theoretical and Computational Condensed Matter Physics
You cannot apply for this job anymore (deadline was 14 Apr ’24)
Academic fields
Natural sciences
Job types
PhD
Education level
University graduate
Weekly hours
40 hours per week
Salary indication
€2770—€3539 per month
Looking for new challenges in theoretical and computational physics that are closely connected with the latest experimental developments? Interested in applying neuromorphic computing to tackle so far unsolvable problems in physics? We offer a PhD position focused on theory and simulations of the ultrafast dynamics of magnetism far out of equilibrium.
Looking for new challenges in theoretical and computational physics that are closely connected with the latest experimental developments? Interested in applying neuromorphic computing to tackle problems in physics that have proved unsolvable so far? We offer a PhD position focused on theory and simulations of the ultrafast dynamics of magnetism far out of equilibrium. Our main research interest is to understand the dynamics of magnetism at the shortest length and time scales, for which existing methods fail to give an adequate description. We develop and exploit phenomenological theory as well as atomistic and quantum simulations using machine learning. We apply these methods to access otherwise inaccessible regimes of magnetism and provide explanations and predictions for state-of-the-art time-resolved optical and X-ray experiments. Ultimately, our research aims to disclose new scenarios for ultrafast, ultrasmall and minimally dissipative writing of nanoscale magnetic bits. Although fundamental in nature, our research may, in the long term, enable applications in data storage and processing that are much more energy-efficient than possible today. You will obtain training and perform research in the above-mentioned areas, work in an international group consisting of theorists and experimentalists, publish results in leading journals, and have the chance to participate in national and international schools and conferences.
Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your working time.
Fixed-term contract: You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
The group Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Correlated Materials (USCM) at the Faculty of Science conducts both experimental and theoretical research aimed at understanding ultrafast processes in correlated materials. To this end, we employ several novel experimental and theoretical approaches allowing time-resolved measurements and simulations with sub-picosecond resolution. The USCM department benefits from the High Field Magnet Laboratory (HFML) and the Free-Electron Lasers for Infrared eXperiments (FELIX). Your research will be embedded in ongoing research lines at the interface between theory and experiment, with a particular emphasis on the link with new experiments employing sub-picosecond X-ray free-electron lasers. In addition, the research benefits from existing international collaborations (EU-NIMFEIA project on magnonic reservoir computing; EU-COMRAD project on ultrafast spintronics; EU-3DMAGiC project on nanoscale topological spin textures), as well as interdisciplinary research on energy-efficient computing funded by the Dutch government through KIC and NWA programmes (NL-ECO). The main supervisors for this PhD position will be Dr Johan Mentink and Prof. A.V. Kimel. Additional support will be provided by Dr Dima Afanasiev and Prof. Theo Rasing.
Our research is embedded in the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM), which strives to fundamentally understand, design and control the functioning of molecules and materials. We offer a first-class and international research environment with various theoretical and computational research topics and projects targeted to support and stimulate experiments.
We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all.
You have a part to play!