Postdoctoral position on Dynamic Organic Optical Metasurfaces

We are pleased to announce an opening for an employment as postdoc in the Organic Photonics and Nanooptics group at the Laboratory of Organic Electronics at Linköping University in Sweden. The postdoc will form an essential part of our ERC-funded project on dynamically tuneable metasurfaces for visible light. 

Your research direction and work assignments 

The postdoc will join our ERC project focusing on dynamic optical nanoantennas and metasurfaces based on redox-tunable organic materials. In brief, the research will include fabrication and studies of different nanostructured materials, with the aim to contribute both with fundamental understanding and practical applications such as dynamic metalenses or holograms. The detailed project will be designed together with the selected candidate. Examples of recent research from our group in this research direction:

- Duan et al. Advanced Materials 2023, 35, 51, 2303949
- Karki et al. Communications Materials 2022, 3, 48
- Karki et al. Advanced Materials 2022, 34, 13, 2107172
- Kang et al. Advanced Science 2022, 9, 23, 2201907
- Chen et al. Nature Nanotechnology 2020, 15, 35-40

The work of the postdoc will include development and characterization of materials, design and fabrication of samples and devices (including electron-beam lithography), and characterization and measurements of final metasurface devices. The experimental work is often complemented by optical simulations, primarily using the finite-difference time-domain method.

As postdoc, you will principally carry out research. A certain amount of teaching may be part of your duties, up to a maximum of 20% of working hours.

Your workplace and research environment

You will be part of the Organic photonics and Nanooptics group (www.mpjonsson.com), headed by Prof. Magnus Jonsson. Recent interests of the group include dynamic conducting polymer nanooptics, structural coloration and cellulose-based optics. Examples of application areas include radiative cooling, dynamically tuneable metasurfaces, and reflective displays in color. The working language is English.

Our research group belongs to the Laboratory of Organic Electronics (LOE, www.liu.se/LOE), which is a vibrant and collaborative research environment of around 140 researchers from all over the world. LOE is renowned for its world-leading research on organic electroactive materials, with applications ranging from bioelectronics to nanooptics.

In terms of available facilities, we recently installed an electron-beam lithography system specifically dedicated to this project (Raith Voyager 100). Other labs and equipment range from materials development (chemistry labs, polymerization setups, etc.) and fabrication (evaporation and sputtering, traditional and maskless photolithography, e-beam lithography, reactive ion etching, etc.) to characterization (SEM, AFM, ellipsometry, 4-point probe setups, cyclic voltammetry, spectroscopy in different spectral ranges, etc.) and device measurements in our optics labs (electrochemical microspectroscopy, metasurface characterization, integrating sphere measurements, etc.).

Your qualifications

By the start date, you have graduated with a PhD or equivalent in a relevant field for the position, such as physics, materials science or chemistry. We seek applicants with strong interest and preferably experience in optical metasurfaces and/or electrochemically tunable materials. Meritorious experience includes nanofabrication (in particular electron-beam lithography), relevant characterization and measurement methods, electrochemical redox-tuning and optical modeling.

We also value qualities such as strong ability to communicate and collaborate, good ability to express yourself and write in English, analytical ability, motivation and commitment. Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities and suitability.

The employment

This employment is a temporary contract of two years with the possibility of extension up to a total maximum of three years. The employment is full-time.

Starting date by agreement.

Salary and employment benefits

The salary of postdocs at Linköping University is decided on an individual level. A typical starting salary for Postdocs is around 41000 SEK/month (3600 Euro/month). 

As an employee of Linköping University, you are entitled to the following benefits:

• Paid vacation (at least 28 workdays per year, corresponding to 5 ½ weeks).
• Free access to the Swedish health-care system (full health-care coverage).
• Paid maternity / paternity leave (up to 390 days per child).
• Accrued pension. During your work-time in Sweden, you accrue income pension, paid by the employer, which is payable also if you leave Sweden.
• More information about employment benefits at Linköping University is available here.
• Other benefits are also available. A list can be found here. 

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button. Your application must be received no later than December 10, 2024. Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.

The application should be written in English and include:

1. Cover letter (maximum 2 pages): The cover letter should describe what makes you interested in and suitable for this particular position and how you could contribute to our research and team.
2. CV: The CV can be formatted according to your own design. It should include at least information on education (degrees including topics, schools/universities, years, and preferably average grades), publications (stating all information including full author lists, preferable also with link to the paper), any other merits you feel are relevant (skills, awards, etc.), contact details to three reference persons and descriptions on how they know you.
3. Undergraduate transcripts records (i.e. MSc, BSc or equivalent, in English), with grades.

In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent.