PhD Candidate in Condensed Matter Physics (0.8 - 1.0 FTE)

• Employment: 0.8 - 1.0 FTE
• Gross monthly salary: € 2,434 - € 3,111
• Faculty of Science
• Required background: Research University Degree
• Application deadline: 19 September 2021

Do you want to contribute to insights that can help develop next-generation magnetic storage ? As a PhD Candidate, you will work towards unearthing the possibilities of ultrafast magnetization reversal by resonantly exciting phonons. You will work at the Max Planck Society, which is an incubator for novel ideas and will train you with the tools of tomorrow.

Discovering ways to control the magnetic state of media with the lowest possible dissipation of energy and at the highest speed could be of utmost importance for the development of next-generation magnetic storage. The goal of this project will be to investigate the possibilities of ultrafast magnetisation reversal by resonantly exciting phonons. For the excitation, infrared-terahertz radiation from the FELIX free electron laser will be used. The first stage of the project will be to develop a two-colour pump-probe single-shot imaging setup. In this project we concentrate on an approach where a small resonant excitation of a precisely selected mode can trigger a macroscopic change of state. To achieve and microscopically understand this non-invasive control of the responsible order parameters, we study the role of phonons in dynamic symmetry breaking, their anharmonic coupling and their general impact on the ferroic order.

You will collaborate closely with a PhD candidate under the supervision of Dr A. Paarmann and Dr S.F. Maehrlein at the Fritz-Haber-Institut in Berlin (Germany), who are working on polarisation resolved nonlinear microscopy in order to derive a full understanding of the phonon-breaking symmetry in ferroic crystals.

As part of your PhD training, you will perform duties as a teaching assistant in our Physics and Astronomy educational programme, supervising BSc and MSc students within the context of your project.

Profile

• Master degree in Condensed Matter Physics or equivalent.
• Affinity for experimental physics and an interest in optics and magnetism.
• Experience with quantum optics, nanomagnetism, ultrafast lasers or X-ray techniques is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills in English.
• In general, enthusiasm for experimental research and collaboration with researchers from abroad.

We are

The recently founded Max Planck - Radboud University Center for Infrared Free Electron Laser Spectroscopy is offering joint projects for talented PhD candidates at the Fritz-Haber-Institut (Berlin) of the Max-Planck Society and HFML-FELIX at Radboud University (Nijmegen). Expanding the application portfolio of advanced IR light sources is an important goal of the Center, which will be achieved by the development of novel advanced measurement schemes. The intensive exchange between the two partners will generate novel ideas, projects and insights. Accelerating the synergies, the Max Planck - Radboud University Center will define the state of the art in infrared free electron laser spectroscopy and train PhDs to become familiar with the tools of tomorrow.

The offered position is at HFML-FELIX, Radboud University. HFML-FELIX is a large-scale research infrastructure and its in-house research programmes centre around chemistry and physics, fostering interdisciplinary research. The mission of HFML-FELIX is to develop and use the world's highest magnetic fields and intense infrared and terahertz radiation for pioneering scientific research to be carried out by both external and in-house user groups. HFML-FELIX is run jointly by Radboud University (RU) and the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I). Its research programme is embedded in RU's Faculty of Science and is executed in close collaboration with the faculty's Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM).

We offer

• Employment: 0.8 (5 year contract) -1.0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,434 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,111 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P ).
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: you will be appointed 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).
• Your education task may be up to 10% of your appointment.
• The intended start date is 1 November 2021.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services . Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions . You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Would you like more information?

For more information about this vacancy, please contact:
Andrei Kirilyuk, Professor
Tel.: +31 24 365 39 46
Email: [email protected]

Practical information and applications

Please address your application to Professor Andrei Kirilyuk and submit it, using the application button, no later than 19 September 2021, 23:59 Amsterdam Time Zone.   

Your application should include the following attachments:

• Letter of motivation.
• CV including contact details of 2 references.

The first round of interviews will take place in week 40 of 2021.

We drafted this vacancy to find and hire our new colleague ourselves. Recruitment agencies are kindly requested to refrain from responding.