WPI-SKCM² Doctoral Fellow Positions

WPI-SKCM² Doctoral Fellow Positions

The International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (WPI-SKCM²) at Hiroshima University is currently accepting applications for Doctoral Fellows. We encourage applications from candidates across diverse disciplines who have an interest in obtaining an interdisciplinary graduate education and conducting research on topics related to the center, such as metamaterials, knot theory, topological solitons, chirality, soft matter, magnets, colloids, polymers, quantum materials, biomaterials, proteins, active matter, origins of life, energy efficiency and others.

As a research center under the World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI) of the Japanese government, our mission at WPI-SKCM² is to develop a new interdisciplinary research paradigm known as "knotted chiral meta matter" (KCM²). Our team of researchers cross-pollinates topology and chirality knowledge across disciplines and scales. One key goal includes the creation of designable artificial knot-like particles that exhibit highly unusual and technologically useful properties, which will both deepen our understanding of natural phenomena as well as be useful for technological innovation to solve global problems, such as the growing energy demand and climate change.

About the Role

This position is part of a 5-year PhD degree program offered through Hiroshima University (HU), specifically within the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering or the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Mathematical, and Life Sciences. As a PhD candidate, you will be able to choose a primary advisor from HU and two co-mentors from various disciplines and/or international nodes, to provide a comprehensive and multidisciplinary mentoring experience.

Start Dates: April and October of each year.

Program Features:

• Interdisciplinary research opportunity
• International exchange visits develop students' global perspectives
• Choose co-mentors from WPI-SKCM² nodes (MIT, U Colorado, Cambridge U, and other institutions of our international PIs and co-PIs)
• Graduate training modeled based on best practices of PhD programs in the USA and UK
• Support to attend WPI-SKCM²-sponsored Summer and/ or Winter Schools to learn from world leaders in the fields related to topology and chirality
• Sustainability among many missions
• Stipends available, supported by WPI-SKCM²

Qualifications:

Holders of undergraduate or Master’s degrees in Physics, Mathematics, Material Science, Biology, Chemistry, Cosmology, Earth, and Planetary Science, or related disciplines.

• Individuals with a keen interest in interdisciplinary science and collaboration across diverse research fields.
• Proficient in English with excellent communication skills.
• No prior knowledge of the theory of knots or chirality phenomena is required.

For more details and to apply, visit https://wpi-skcm2.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/graduate-education/