Post Doc Position “In-situ Diagnostics for PLD4Energy”

Post Doc In-situ Diagnostics for PLD4Energy

In the frame of the Pulsed Laser Deposition for Energy (PLD4Energy) project, we have build a vacuum cluster line with two PLD chambers and one sputter chamber up to 4 inch. Around the PLD chambers, we are currently setting up different in-situ diagnostics to characterize the thin films during film growth or shortly after deposition of the thin films. Thin film properties that will be investigated in-situ are the evolution of structure, composition, optical properties, and stress / strain, and ferroelectricity.

The specific in-situ diagnostics to focus on in this Post Doc position are novel methods for a PLD cluster line; they are bought or developed together with companies and our partners at University Twente and Technical University Eindhoven. The scientific aim is to explore the capabilities of these diagnostics for advanced thin film growth studies with the aim to produce thin films up to 4 inch in diameter with tailored properties.

We seek an enthusiastic and highly talented experimental material scientist / engineer, chemist, or physicist with a solid background in (in-situ) characterization of thin films and / or thin film deposition by vacuum methods; expertise in Pulsed Laser Deposition is appreciated. The applicant should hold, or be close to completing, a relevant PhD degree.

Good verbal and written communication skills in English are mandatory in order to work in our international and interdisciplinary team. You should have pleasure in working together with scientists as well as with technicians and in supervising students in the lab.

Responsibilities and tasks:

• Setting up and optimizing in-situ diagnostics at PLD chambers for stable operation; the diagnostics is in-house and operational
• Carrying out measurements: thin film deposition by PLD and in-situ thin film characterization
• Analyzing of the measured data; if needed, setting-up analysis protocols
• Collaborating with our technical and scientific staff at the PLD4Energy facility as well as with our collaborators at University Twente and Technical University Eindhoven
• Supervising and co-supervising of students (PhD, Master, Bachelor, interns)
• Disseminating of research output at conferences and with scientific papers
• Writing and contributing to proposals
• Contributing to research projects from colleagues and collaborators

This position is for 1 FTE, will be for a period of 2 years and is graded in pay scale 10, depending on your level of experience. The position will be based at DIFFER (www.differ.nl) and the working location will be at TU Eindhoven. When fulfilling a position at DIFFER, you will have an employee status at NWO. You can participate in all the employee benefits NWO offers. We have a number of regulations that support employees in finding a good work-life balance. At DIFFER we believe that a workforce diverse in gender, age and cultural background is key to performing excellent research. We therefore strongly encourage everyone to apply. More information on working at NWO can be found at the NWO website (https://www.nwo-i.nl/en/working-at-nwo-i/jobsatnwoi/)

DIFFER: Science for future energy

At the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) we work on a future in which clean energy will be available to everybody, anywhere in the world. DIFFER’s mission is to perform leading fundamental research on materials, processes, and systems for a global sustainable energy infrastructure.

Our research focuses on two major energy themes: fusion energy as a clean, safe and sustainable energy source and chemical energy. We work in close partnership with (inter)national academia and industry. DIFFER is one of the ten research institutes of the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

Within our institute physicists, chemists, engineers, and other specialists work together in multidisciplinary teams to accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. DIFFER’s workforce is currently composed of ~160 scientists (of which 60 guests and interns), supported by ~40 technicians and ~4 0 support staff members.

The global nature of the energy challenge is apparent from the international representation of our employees, who originate from over 30 different countries. To strengthen our commitment to diversity, we formed a task force to design, implement, and monitor diversity and gender equality initiatives.

Further information on the vacancy is available through the scientific project leader of the PLD4Energy project:

Dr. Anja Bieberle-Hütter

Tel: +31 (0) 40 3334 801

E-mail: a.bieberle@differ.nl