Postdoc in Design and NMR Characterizations of Crack-Resistant Glasses
at the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University
Closing date: April 26, 2023.
The Department of Materials- and Environmental Chemistry (MMK) with about 140 employees is one of the largest departments at the Faculty of Natural sciences at Stockholm University (SU). The extensive research activities of MMK encompass both the development and characterization of large groups of (functional) materials, such as soft matter and polymers, biomaterials, self-assembled and porous materials, for primarily applications in Materials Science and Sustainable/Green Chemistry. The experimental characterisation techniques involve X-ray and neutron diffraction, electron microscopy, NMR and other spectroscopic techniques, along with modelling by computer simulations. Environmental aspects are central for most research activities.
Project description
Project Leader (PI): Prof. Mattias Edén, Email: mattias.eden@mmk.su.se
This recruitment is connected to the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE). WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and will encompass major efforts at Sweden’s foremost universities over the course of 10 years. The vision is a sustainable future through materials science. Read more: https://wise-materials.org.
All early-stage researchers recruited into the WISE program will be a part of the WISE Graduate School, an ambitious nationwide program of seminars, courses, research visits, and other activities to promote a strong multi-disciplinary and international network between PhD students, postdocs, researchers and industry.
Oxide-based glasses play an increasing role as recyclable materials for a truly circular and sustainable society, encompassing numerous everyday products such as windows, solar cells along with applications in optics and telecommunications. The present project aims at developing environmental-friendly aluminosilicate glasses that combine properties of high hardness and crack-resistance, thereby enabling durable and very thin glasses suitable for flat-screen displays, such as in mobile phones. To reach the goal of a rational design of such glasses, the relationships between their composition, atomistic structure, and physical properties must first be understood. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy under high-resolution magic-angle-spinning (MAS) conditions will mainly be utilized for unravelling the local/”atomistic” aluminosilicate glass structure. Those results will then be analysed in conjunction with measured mechanical and elastic properties of the glasses to establish composition-structure-property relationships, which will guide the design of environmental-friendly and sustainable glasses with optimal properties.
Main responsibilities
The selected candidate will be responsibility for planning, executing, and disseminating the research orally as well as in writing (scientific papers). The experimental aspects of the project primarily involve glass synthesis, measuring physical glass properties, and performing structural studies by MAS NMR. These results will be analyzed for establishing composition-structure-property relationships with the ultimate goal of developing new thin glasses that are sustainable, strong, and durable glasses that may offer (for instance) a next-generation mobile-phone displays.
Although most research activities will be performed at Stockholm University, the postdoc working in the project is expected also to spend a few months at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden in Växjö (Sweden), where most of the glass-property measurements will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Stefan Karlsson (Co-PI).
Qualification Requirements
The applicant should have a Ph.D degree in Chemistry (preferred) or Physics (or equivalent), along with a well-documented experience wih research in the fields of glasses and/or structural studies by solid-state NMR. The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date of the application period. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances: such reasons encompass sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.
Selection criteria
The ideal candidate is a self-motivated and creative person with a passion for solving challenging scientific problems. The selection will be based primarily on scientific excellence and well-documented experience of previous research in glass science and/or solid-state NMR experimentation; previous hands-onresearch experience in both these fields are considered particularly advantageous. The applicant should have a strong knowledge in English, both orally and in writing, and an ability to interact and collaborate with colleagues.
Terms of employment
The position involves an employment as postdoctoral researcher for two years. An expected start of the position is from August 2023 but the precise starting date is negotiable. Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.
Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/Lärarförbundet), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89,alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).
Further Information
For more information, please contact the project leader Professor Mattias Edén, phone +46 8 16 23 75; mattias.eden@mmk.su.se
- Further information about the Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry may be found at http://www.mmk.su.se/.
- Further information about the PI: http://www.su.se/profiles/eden-1.187322
- Further information about Co-PI Stefan Karlsson and RISE Research Institutes of Sweden (Växjö): https://www.ri.se/sv/person/stefan-karlsson
Application
Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.
Please include the following information with your application (in case of any inconsistency with the SU’s submission system, the information specified below prevails):
- Your contact details and personal data
- Your highest degree
- Your language skills
- Contact details for 2–3 references (please do not submit recommendation letters together with your application)
and, in addition, please include the following documents
- Cover letter
- CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
- Research proposal (maximum 3 pages) describing:
– why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
– why and how you wish to complete the project
– what makes you suitable for the project in question - Copy of PhD diploma
- Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).
Apply at
Closing date: April 26, 2023