PhD Research Fellow in Multiferroic Complex Oxide Thin Films by Atomic Layer Deposition

About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in inorganic/materials chemistry available at the Center for Materials Science and Nanotechnology, University of Oslo.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Starting date no later than June 1, 2025.

The fellowship period is 3 years.

A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualifications of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Knowledge development in a changing world – Science and technology towards 2030.

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4wvWQEhDEs

Job description

With the semiconductor industry getting close to the inherent limits of conventional silicon technology, there is a strong interest in designing and implementing new materials that can push and move the field beyond Moore’s law. A range of different strategies show great promise, including the use of complex oxides to enhance existing functionalities or generate completely new ones.

Pertinent is also the accelerating energy cost of the information- and communication technology (ICT) sector. ICT currently uses 6-7 % of the world’s energy production, but with the increasing demand of data centers and the rapid scaling of AI, this is expected to grow to 20+% by 2030 with no signs of slowing down.

In this project, we are looking to explore how multiferroic materials can be implemented into device-like structures that exhibit switchable interplay between ferroic order parameters by external input stimuli. We are particularly interested in single-compound magnetoelectrics, which exhibit a strong coupling between ferromagnetic and ferroelectric order parameters.

A variety of challenges arise when moving to less known materials systems, most notably the difficulty of implementing more complex materials of sufficient quality in a cost-effective way and on a low thermal budget. At the research group for Nanostructures and Functional Materials (NAFUMA), we develop methods for the integration of complex oxides in electronic model systems. This is carried out using the atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. ALD is a variant of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) where gaseous precursors are sequentially pulsed into the reactor, opening for self-limiting growth with extreme control of thin film thickness, conformality and uniformity. NAFUMA has taken a leading role in this development, and currently collaborates with several major industry players in the field. NAFUMA is a diverse research group that is committed to proper work-life balance, and arrange a series of welfare events to support the well-being of our employees. 

In this PhD Research Fellowship, we seek a candidate who will take part in the development of new functional materials that shows promise in the coming electronics paradigm based on multiferroicity. We have already developed and implemented processes for complex oxide metals, ferromagnets and insulators/ferroelectrics, and we now seek to leverage this to explore multiferroics. Relevant tasks may be a combination of:

•    Development of novel ALD-processes for functional complex oxide multiferroics by ALD.
•    Synthesis of novel precursors for use in complex oxide ALD processes.
•    In-depth structural characterization of epitaxial complex multiferroics, e.g. using x-ray diffraction techniques such as reciprocal space mapping.
•    In-depth functional characterization of multiferroic complex oxide thin films, e.g. measurements of polarization, magnetization and magnetoelectric coupling.
•    Use of large facilities (synchrotrons, neutron sources) for in situ and in operando studies of multiferroic complex oxide thin films.

This Phd Research Fellowship is externally funded. Final appointment of the candidate is dependent on finalized funding negotiations.

The PhD Research Fellow will be closely knit with the supervisors other projects and focuses, and in several cases work in a large team with colleagues at the University of Oslo and partners across Europe. Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN) is an interdisciplinary centre, collaboration between five research groups in physics and chemistry, and spearheads the MN Faculty's efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The Centre comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology.

We seek a candidate that wants to pave the road as they explore, guided by a research group in the forefront of the field.

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree.

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position. For more information see: 

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/

http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in materials chemistry or related field
• OR: Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• Solid understanding of structure-property relations in crystalline inorganic materials
• The position's subject area may require licensing under the Norwegian Export Control Act. In order to be considered for the position, it is a prerequisite that UiO must be able to be granted such licence. https://www.uio.no/english/studies/admission/master/export-control.html 
   

Desired qualifications:

• Experience with thin film deposition of inorganic materials, preferably by atomic layer deposition or chemical vapor deposition.
• Experience with structural and/or functional characterization of thin films, e.g. using XRD, XPS, TEM, PPMS, ellipsometry, AFM and/or ferroelectric measurements.
• Fluency in Scandinavian languages is required to be applicable for most teaching duties.
   

Grade requirements:
The norm is as follows:

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English. Proficiency must be attested as part of the application.
• English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements:

https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. 

The fellowship requires admission to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. The application to the PhD programme must be submitted to the department no later than two months after taking up the position.

For more information see: 

http://www.uio.no/english/research/phd/
 
http://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/

Personal skills

• We seek a candidate who is flexible, good at taking initiative and has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Having to work in a setting with many co-workers, we seek a candidate who enjoys working in a team and acts as a team-player.

We offer

• Salary NOK 532 200 – 575 400 per year depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement 
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

How to apply

The application must include:

• Cover letter – statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work – scientific publications)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma and transcripts of records
• Letters of recommendation (not mandatory)
• Documentation of English proficiency 
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

The application with attachments must be delivered in our electronic recruiting system (please follow the link “Apply for this job”). Foreign applicants are advised to attach an explanation of their University's grading system. Please note that all documents should be in English or a Scandinavian language.

Interviews with the best qualified candidates will be arranged.

Formal regulations

Please see the guidelines and regulations for appointments to Research Fellowships at the University of Oslo.

According to the Norwegian Freedom and Information Act (Offentleglova) information about the applicant may be included in the public applicant list, also in cases where the applicant has requested non-disclosure.

UiO has an agreement for all employees, aiming to secure rights to research results a.o.

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

Contact information

For further information about the position please contact: Assoc. Prof. Henrik H. Sønsteby, phone: +47 92 09 77 02, e-mail: henrik.sonsteby@kjemi.uio.no

For questions regarding Jobbnorge, please contact HR Adviser Olga Holmlund,  e-mail: olga.holmlund@mn.uio.no

DIVERSE INFO

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https://arbeidsplassen.nav.no/stillinger/stilling/d86ce4f1-987a-4cf6-b4d1-3c47380d6c6c
IMPORTAPI
https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/272978