WISE Fellow: Assistant professor in Materials Science with focus on Materials for Quantum Technologies

WISE Fellow recruitment package

The Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)  at Linköping University is recruiting this tenure-track Assistant Professor with a generous starting package through the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability (WISE). The WISE Fellow recruitment package includes (i) salary for the recruited faculty member (4 years full-time for a maximum of 5 years); (ii) research/consumables funding; (iii) salary for two PhD students (4 years each); (iv) salary for two postdocs (2 years each); and (v) additional support for overhead and facilities.

Work assignments 

This Assistant Professorship focuses on research in the field of inorganic materials with the aim of developing and advancing sustainable materials and technologies for quantum technologies. A particular focus is on experimental activities related to controlled growth (synthesis) and advanced materials characterization focused towards properties. Placement will be at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) at Linköping University.

Key research areas and responsibilities include one or several of the following:

• Materials synthesis Advance current activities on CVD-growth of wide-bandgap semiconductors and 2D materials, or establish activities on materials and processes beyond current activities, for development of solid-state quantum technology.
• Materials characterization Investigate the electronic, optical, and magnetic (including magneto-optical) properties of materials (qubits).
• Device fabrication Use materials as qubits in quantum computing and related fields, single photon emitters for secure quantum communications, and beyond.

With the help of a very competitive start-up package including funding for two PhD students, two postdocs, and own salary; state-of-the art facilities; and an environment characterized by strong internal and international collaboration, the applicant is expected to establish and maintain an  independent research program in inorganic materials for quantum technologies which complements and expands IFM’s current research activities.

At Linköping university, the current development of solid-state quantum technology is facilitated by our leading international role in material growth of wide-bandgap semiconductors (SiC, GaN, AlGaN and Ga₂O₃) and two-dimensional materials. In cooperation between the experimental and theoretical divisions, we currently seek new defects in wide bandgap materials with properties suitable for quantum technology. Further, we have strong collaborations with groups at the department of Electrical Engineering at LiU which cover a broad spectrum of research on Quantum communication, Quantum information and Quantum foundations. 

In a larger perspective, IFM has internationally leading scientists and several world-leading labs in the area of Materials Science. Research themes span materials synthesis and characterization, sustainability, devices, and applications, including thin films, nanoparticles, 2D, 1D and mesoporous materials, which are characterized in our state-of-the-art laboratories with respect to structure and composition, down to atomic level, using e.g. diffraction, spectroscopy and advanced microscopy. IFM currently have about ~400 researchers, students, and staff spanning >10 research divisions and a division for lab management and technical support. WISE, funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and includes major investments at seven of Sweden’s leading universities over (at least) 10 years. The vision is to enable a sustainable world through materials science.

Placement at IFM will provide the recruited Assistant Professor with rapid integration into a collaborative research environment for knowledge and expertise sharing, and with full access to IFM’s synthesis, characterization, and cleanroom facilities and equipment. The most common language spoken at IFM in all research environments is English.

As an Assistant Professor, you will also have the opportunity/responsibility to teach (at first exclusively in English) and supervise students in LiU’s Technical Faculty’s different educational programmes. The work will eventually encompass course design and course coordination responsibility.

You will be active in the research community, participate in the division's/department´s  activities such as seminars and workshops, participate in research projects, communicate results through academic publications and help attract external research funding.

You will contribute actively to the university's development work. Collaboration is an integral part of the University’s research and education mission.

• Collaboration in research takes the form of disseminating, making available and utilizing research.
• Your research collaboration should encompass internal collaboration within IFM as well as national and international collaborations.
• Your research should complement and expand IFM’s current research activities.

The employment may also involve administrative duties, such as meeting or workshop organization, and hosting visitors. We also encourage you to participate in and show interest in management duties.

Your work will include monitoring developments nationally and internationally within your field of study and other societal developments that are important to your work. You are flexible and have the ability to move between different types of pedagogical and scientific contexts. You share knowledge and contribute to the working group’s professional development, collegial ways of working and social community. The fact that you are present and active is something we see as self-evident in order to ensure that you are able to perform your duties in an optimum way and enjoy your working community.

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who have a doctoral degree or equivalent scientific competence. We are primarily looking for candidates who have obtained their doctoral degree in the past five years, but applications are welcome from candidates who obtained their degree  more than 5 years ago.

For this employment, special emphasis is placed on academic proficiency, and secondary emphasis placed on proficiencies in specific areas of expertise (below).

In terms of academic expertise, the following will be assessed: 

• Requirements for the position is previous expertise and a proposed research program that complement and expand IFM’s current research activities related to Materials for Quantum Technologies
• Requirements for the position is a PhD degree in Materials Science, Chemistry, Applied Physics, or other relevant field
• Requirements for the position is Postdoctoral or equivalent experience of relevance
• Of particular merit is experience leading research project(s)
• Of particular merit is experience in writing and publishing high quality/high impact scientific articles, especially as lead or corresponding/last author
• Of merit for the position is experience in taking part in and coordinating national or international research activities
• Of merit for the position is previous awarded research grants as (ideally) main or co-applicant
• Of merit for the position is previous experience coordinating research grants

In terms of pedagogical expertise, the following will be assessed:

• Of particular merit for the position is previous experience in guiding masters students, PhD students, and/or postdoctoral researchers
• Of merit for the position is previous experience in teaching at master students level or PhD courses
• Of merit for the position is previous experience in course planning and development of course material

Of additional merit for the position is:

• Documented expertise in collaboration in research
• Experience working in a large, internally-collaborative research group
• Experience from establishing new lab activities, setting up new equipment

Since teaching and research are conducted in English, you must be able to demonstrate the ability to teach and conduct research in English.

The workplace

You will work at the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM) at Linköping University.

The employment

This position is subject to a period of employment of 4 years, fulltime. 

Starting date by agreement.

An assistant professor may be employed until further notice, for a minimum period of four years and a maximum period of six years, as determined by the institution of higher education before the employment begins. The employment may be renewed, by a maximum period of two years, if, as a consequence of sick absence, parental leave, or other special circumstances of the assistant professor, additional time is necessary in order to achieve the purpose of the employment.

An assistant professor shall, after application, be promoted to associate professor if he/she is qualified for employment as associate professor and has been assessed following a test to be suitable for such employment according to the grounds for assessment that the University has determined. 

For more information on eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and recruitment procedures for teachers, see Linköping University’s rules of appointment. 
Linköping University’s rules of appointment.

Salary and employment benefits

The university applies individual salaries.

More information about employee benefits is available here.

Union representatives

Information about union representatives, see Help for applicants.

Application procedure

Apply for the position by clicking the “Apply” button below. Your application must be received no later than 6 October, 2025. 
 
Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered. 
 
Please attach your selected research publications electronically, in pdf or word format, in the application template. Research publications, e.g. monographs, which cannot be sent electronically should be sent in three sets by mail to the University Registrar at Linköping University, University Registrar, S-581 83 Linköping, Sweden. The publications must be received by Linköping University no later than the deadline for application. 

Please note that printed publications will not be returned. They will be archived at Linköping University. 
 
In the event of a discrepancy between the English translation of the job announcement and the Swedish original, the Swedish version shall take precedent.