Researcher II

DepartmentPlasma Diagnostics and Modelling – Faculty of Science
Deadline 19 Jul 2021
Start date by agreement e-Application

Bursar of the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University announces an open competition for the position

Researcher II

Workplace: Department of Physical Electronics, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic
Type of Contract: temporary position with 1-year contract (with possible prolongation for another year), non-academic
Working Hours: 1 FTE (full-time employment of 40 hours per week)
Expected Start Date: September 2021 or negotiable with respect to immigration timelines for non EU candidates
Number of Open Positions: 1
Pay: appr.CZK 35 000 per month
Application Deadline: 19 07 2021
EU Researcher Profile : R2

About the Workplace

Masaryk University is the second-largest university in the Czech Republic with ten faculties, more than 5000 staff, and more than 30 000 students.

Faculty of Science MU, a proud holder of the HR Excellence in Research Award by the European Commission, is a research-oriented faculty, offering university education (Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degree programs) closely linked to both primary and applied research and high school teaching of the following sciences: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth sciences. We are the most productive scientific unit of the Masaryk University generating around 40 % of MU research results.

Department of Physical Electronics at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University provides courses and guarantees fundamental and applied research in the fields on plasma physics, plasma applications, and nanotechnology. It has a tradition of more than 50 years. The R&D Centre for Low-cost Plasma and Nanotechnology Surface Modifications CEPLANT was established in 2010 as part of the Department of Physical Electronics and was funded by the European Structural Funds and has been recognized by the European Union as a Key Enabling Technologies (KET's) centre.

Job Description

The postdoc will work within the research group Plasma diagnostics and modelling (PDM) (https://www.physics.muni.cz/pdm ) that is a part of the DPE and that is responsible for the Discharge physics and plasma diagnostics and modelling program of the Large Research Infrastructure CEPLANT. The main activities of the group are the fundamental problems in physics and chemistry of discharges and plasmas in gaseous and liquid matter environments. Particularly spectroscopic (optical emission or laser induced) and electrical methods are applied on various plasmas. Experimental activities are supported by analytical models and computer simulations. Numerical modelling approaches include collisional-radiative modelling, fluid models for streamer. Simplification of chemical kinetic schemes is done based on sensitivity analysis methods.

The postdoc is namely expected to realize and evaluate experiments based on laser diagnostics of atmospheric-pressure discharges. A nanosecond tunable dye laser and a picosecond tunable OPO with pumping Nd:YAG lasers are expected to comprise the main tool. The diagnostic methods include laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), two-photon absorption LIF, Raman, Thomson and Rayleigh scattering, E-FISH, CRDS. Some of them have a long tradition at the workplace, other (Raman,

Thomson) should be assembled by the applicant. It is expected that the postdoc, in optimum case skilled in laser-based plasma diagnostic methods, optical emission spectroscopy, intensified CCD plasma imaging and/or electrical characterisation of plasmas, will be a part of the team closely collaborating with other institutions from the Czech Republic and from abroad to implement the novel approaches and methods to deepen the understanding of investigated plasma-physical and plasma-chemical systems.

Key Duties:

• to get acquainted with devices, approaches and methods for discharge ignition and for laser-based diagnostics of plasmas
• to set up the experiment and independently carry out the experimental work for characterisation of studied transient plasmas using these methods. This point includes the assemly or laser-scattering spectroscopy methods.
• to analyse the measured data and to use these results as feedback for establishing further experiments or numerical investigations (in cooperation with numerical team)
• to participate in the research activities and projects with other colleagues
• to publish the research outputs and present them at international conferences and workshops
• to propose and develop new areas of research within the research group
• to participate in the preparing the research project proposals dealing with the plasma diagnostics and modelling, including international funding opportunities.

Skills and Qualifications

The applicant must have:

• PhD. Degree in Physics, Plasma Physics, Electrical Engineering or nearby scientific fields, eventually to be close to the succesfull finishing of the PhD study
• experience in the plasma diagnostics, especially in laser-based plasma diagnostics
• skills in the characterization of plasmas and in numerical treatment of measured data (e.g. in Matlab/Octave, Python or similar)
• good communication skills (oral and written) in English
• publication record in peer-reviewed journals
• must be able to learn how to operate the laboratory devices for ignition and diagnostics of atmospheric-pressure plasma of electric discharges

the applicant should have:

• a strong motivation for research and to be able to contribute with creative ideas, be ready to work independently as well as in a group, be prepared to collaborate with scientists from other research groups and/or universities, and be able to co-manage students.

Informal inquiries about the position can be sent to Assoc. Prof. Pavel Dvořák – email [email protected] , phone 00420 549 49 3837

We Offer

• International workplace with a motivated team of researchers and students
• Access to modern facilities for plasma diagnostics and atmospheric-pressure plasma sources
• Cooperation within established laboratory focused on high-resolution highly-sensitive optical emission spectroscopy and electrical probing in low-temperature transient plasmas
• Worldwide contacts and broad cooperating network of international teams
• An interesting job in a dynamically-expanding university area
• Above-average wage (average wage in Czech Republic is 34 000, median wage is 29 000 CZK)
• Flexible working hours and occasional home office to support personal needs in family and career
• Employee benefits such as 6 weeks of paid vacation per year, pension insurance contribution, contribution to lunches in canteens of MU or meal vouchers, discounted language courses, discount in the university cinema, exclusive mobile tariff offer by Vodafone
• Opportunity to work and live in a modern and dynamic city

(for more information on costs of living, you can refer to Numbeo )

Application Process

The application shall be submitted online by July 19th 2021 via an e-application, please find the reference to the e-application in the beginning and end of the advertisement.

The candidate shall provide following:

• CV
• Cover letter describing candidate's research interest and experience
• Summary of research outputs and publications
• Names and contact details of at least 2 references.

After submitting your application successfully, you will receive an automatic confirmation email from jobs.muni.cz.

Selection Process

Received applications will be considered carefully in line with principles of the EU Charter and Code for Researchers . Selection criteria: (i) meeting qualification requirements described above, (ii) all required documents provided.

If we do not contact you within 10 working days after the application deadline at the latest, it means that we have shortlisted other candidates meeting the position requirements.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a personal or online interview.

The Faculty Recruitment Policy (OTM-R) can be seen here .

Faculty of Science, Masaryk University is an equal opportunity employer. We support diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Visit our Career page .

We are looking forward to hearing from you!