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Senior Research Associate in thin film surface characterization for molecular electronics
Physics
Salary:
£31,396 to £44,263
(grade 6/7)
Closing Date:
Friday 08 December 2023
Interview Date:
To be confirmed
Reference: 1221-23
This is a Fixed term contract for 33 months with the possibility of 24 months extension.
The expected start date is on or after the 1st February 2024.
The Department of Physics at Lancaster University invites applications for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to work on a collaborative EPSRC Programme Grant, ‘Quantum engineering of energy-efficient molecular materials’, (QMol).
QMol will realise a new generation of switchable organic/organometallic compounds, with the potential to fulfil societal needs for flexible energy harvesting materials, low-power neuromorphic computing, smart textiles and self-powered patches for healthcare. The possibility of creating these exciting materials derives from a series of world firsts by the investigators, demonstrating that advantageous room-temperature quantum interference effects can be scaled up from single molecules to self-assembled monolayers, and new strategies for controlling molecular conformation and energy levels, and new methods of molecular assembly, which can be deployed in printed scalable architectures.
This position will contribute to these goals and will focus on surface growth and characterisation of molecular thin films designed to optimise thermoelectric and memristive properties. The successful candidate will develop new methods to prepare highly ordered molecular films including the use of on-surface reactions to produce functional 2D covalent networks. This will involve fundamental studies of molecules designed to exploit room temperature quantum interference effects, the development of methods to grow multi-layer molecular structures, and atomic scale characterisation of device integrated materials.
Applications are welcome from candidates with significant experience with ultra-high vacuum (UHV), scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Successful candidates should (or shortly expect to) hold a PhD in experimental physics, chemistry, or a related discipline.
You will need to be highly motivated and be able to work collaboratively as part of a team, ensuring that key milestones are reached. You will be expected to lead discussions and give regular research updates in person with the group PI and in wider research group meetings with the project consortium. You must be able to independently design and execute research and have the knowledge and experience to optimise and troubleshoot. The ability to plan your own workload and keep accurate scientific records is important. We provide a supportive, stimulating, and interdisciplinary research environment working towards ambitious new scientist and technological goals in collaboration with our colleagues in the project consortium.
You will be based in Dr Samuel Jarvis’ Research Group, and will collaborate with the wider QMol team comprising nine academics with track records at the forefront of their fields based at Lancaster University, Imperial College London, the University of Oxford, the University of Liverpool, and the STFC Central Laser Facility. They are supported by twenty world experts from industry and academia, comprising the six-member QMol Advisory Board and fourteen external partners. Eight postdoctoral researchers (PDRAs) will be employed by QMol and will be joined by eight PhD students. More details on the QMol programme can be found at the following link: https://gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/X026876/1.
Facilities available in our group include state-of-the art SPM housed in the ultra-low-noise Lancaster IsoLab facility (https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/physics/isolab/) including ambient atomic force microscopy (AFM) and newly purchased variable temperature scanning tunnelling microscopy (VT-STM). The group also runs the Lancaster X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (Lancaster XPS) facility, and has access to a wide range of facilities via the Lancaster Quantum Technology Centre (QTC) including a fully-equipped clean room, nano-fabrication tools, and dedicated equipment for device testing.
For informal enquiries about this post please contact Dr Samuel Jarvis: e-mail: samuel.jarvis@lancaster.ac.uk.
Lancaster University is a leading UK University and the Physics Department is one of the top in the UK for research. REF2021 rated 98% of our research outputs as world-leading or internationally excellent. The Department is ranked 5th in the UK for Physics in the Guardian University League Tables 2023.
The Department is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies. We are also strongly committed to fostering
diversity within our community as a source of excellence, cultural
enrichment, and social strength. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver award and Institute of Physics Juno Champion status. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our department.
Apply online and/or find further information at http://hr-jobs.lancs.ac.uk.
Further details:
Please note: Unless specified otherwise in the advert wording, all advertised roles are UK based.
The University provides an environment that strongly
supports the individual needs of each employee, whilst promoting the importance
of wellbeing for all our colleagues. We have a range of support networks available for our employees, and more information on these can be found on the ‘Working at Lancaster’ information page.
We are committed to family-friendly and flexible
working policies on an individual basis. The University recognises and
celebrates good employment practice undertaken to address all inequality in
higher education.
We warmly welcome applicants from all sections of the
community regardless of their age, religion, gender identity or expression,
race, disability or sexual orientation, and are committed to promoting
diversity, and equality of opportunity.