PhD Positions in Neutron Research

Forschungszentrum Jülich

We are offering

Tasso Springer Fellowships - Six PhD Positions in Neutron Research

Are you interested in performing exciting research with neutrons and working together with scientists from all over the world? The Jülich Centre for Neutron Science (JCNS) develops and operates high-performance neutron scattering instruments at some of the best neutron sources worldwide. Our main outstation is located at the Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (MLZ) in Garching near Munich, where we operate 11 instruments in a user program and for our own research in the fields of "Neutron Scattering and Soft Matter (JCNS-1)", "Quantum Materials and Collective Phenomena (JCNS-2)" and "Neutron Analytics for Energy Research (JCNS-3)". JCNS invites applications for the Tasso Springer Fellowship Program, named after the outstanding neutron scientist who in his career was bridging neutron research in Jülich to Garching and Grenoble. The PhD fellowships aim at educating the next generation of researchers in neutron scattering. The successful candidates will be jointly supervised by scientists based at the outstation in Garching and at the JCNS institutes in Jülich.

Institute issuing the offer: JCNS

Your Job:

In the present call we are offering six Tasso Springer PhD fellowships. The PhD projects will focus on the following six topics, related to the core focus of our JCNS institutes. The projects will be realized in close cooperation between the JCNS at the Heinz-Maier Leibnitz Center in Garching and the JCNS institutes in Jülich. The preferred place of work is Garching, however, depending on the preferences, the candidates can also be based in Jülich:

• Project 1: Polymer membranes for energy devices (JCNS-1)
• Project 2: Temperature jump experiments on soft matter and biological materials (JCNS-1)
• Project 3: Combined X-ray and neutron single-crystal high-pressure diffraction in diamond anvil cells (JCNS-2)
• Project 4: Experimental and numerical investigation of the heat flow generated by magnetic nanoparticles inside a solvent for medical therapy (JCNS-2)
• Project 5: Interfacial structure of citrate on magnetite and its hydration state (JCNS-3)
• Project 6: Dynamics of water and ligand molecules on nanoparticle surfaces via neutron spectroscopy (JCNS-3)

All six projects involve hands-on participation in experiments at large-scale facilities, laboratory-based characterization techniques, requiring visualizing, analysis and interpretation of experimental data. The research results shall be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presented at conferences.

IMPORTANT: Please specify in the application which project you are specifically interested in. Further details on the projects can be found here.

Your Profile:

• Master’s degree in solid state physics, chemistry, crystallography, material science or a related subject
• Experience in X-ray or neutron scattering methods
• Experience in research related to the focus area of the project of your choice
• Experience with analysis of scientific data
• Scientific programming skills, e.g. Python, Matlab are an additional asset
• You have an independent and responsible way of working, creativity, commitment, high degree of teamwork, as well as enjoyment of cooperative collaboration
• You have a very good command of written and spoken English (at least B2 level according to the CEFR: https://go.fzj.de/languagerequirements )

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We support you in your work with:

• RESEARCH & INFRASTRUCTURE: You will have access to excellent scientific and technical facilities for your work
• VISIT OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES: You will have the chance to participate in national and international conferences and have the opportunity to increase your scientific network through participation in workshops and schools
• KNOWLEDGE & DEVELOPMENT: Your professional development is important to us – we support you specifically and individually e.g., through training and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral candidates (JuDocS): https://go.fzj.de/JuDocs
• VACATION: You will receive 30 days of vacation
• FAIR REMUNERATION: Depending on your qualifications and assigned responsibilities, you will be classified according to pay group 13 (75%) of the TVöD-Bund. Additionally, you will receive a special payment (“Christmas bonus”) amounting to 60% of one month’s salary. All information about the TVöD-Bund collective agreement can be found on the BMI website (pay scale table on page 69 and following of the PDF download): https://go.fzj.de/bmi.tvoed
• FIXED-TERM: The position is limited to 3 years

In addition to exciting tasks and a collegial working environment, we offer you much more: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

Preferred Place of employment: Garching (München)

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.

The following links provide further information on diversity and equal opportunities: https://go.fzj.de/equality and and on the targeted promotion of women: https://go.fzj.de/womens-job-journey

The job will be advertised until the position has been successfully filled. You should therefore submit your application as soon as possible. We look forward to receiving your application via our Online-Recruitment-System!

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