Doctoral Student In Physical Chemistry With A Focus On Optical Spectroscopy

The University of Gothenburg tackles society's challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract scientists and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Research and graduate education at the department of chemistry and molecular biology comprises a wide scientific field from the atomic and molecular levels all the way through cells to intact organisms. From August 2023, we will be located in Natrium, a new building for natural and life sciences with access to modern education and research facilities.

In the research group of Prof. Börjesson, the fundamentals of photophysical systems are studied. Furthermore, are new concepts within photophysical chemistry derived, and physical-organic chemistry methodologies are used to build materials for tomorrow. The competence of the group involves both the synthesis of complex molecules and the photophysical/electrical characterization of the molecular based systems. Most often we are working with organic molecules and even though each molecule is able to perform a task on its own, our aim is not to use the single molecules but ensembles of molecules to create materials for the future.

A fundamental physical property of matter is its ability to interact with light. For example, plant leaves are green because they absorb visible light. However, it is less known that this light-matter interaction can be enhanced to the point where it is so strong that the photon and molecule cannot be regarded as separate entities, but as a combined system with unique properties. Nature uses strong chromophore-chromophore interactions to rapidly channel absorbed sunlight to the photosynthetic reaction centre. However, up to now, organic solar cells do not take advantage of such quantum processes to enhance light to electricity conversion. This project aim is to channel excitation energy to charge transfer states in an organic heterojunction using the delocalized nature of hybrid light-matter states. This interaction enables transport of excitation energy over distances much longer than being previously considered feasible, and the outcome of the project is therefore directly connected to our ability to produce efficient and stable organic solar cells.

Information on the group:

Karl Börjesson University of Gothenburg (gu.se)

Information on strong light-matter coupling:

Strong light–matter interactions: a new direction within chemistry - Chemical Society Reviews (RSC Publishing)

Latest group articles:

‪Karl Börjesson - ‪Google Scholar

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg:

https: // medarbetarportalen.gu.se/doktorand/?languageId=100001&skipSSOCheck=true

Duties

You will systematically explore the interaction between delocalized hybrid states and localized charge transfer states, allowing design criteria to be formulated. The outcome of your work is the description and mechanistic revelation of a novel quantum physical phenomenon that can enable production of organic solar cells from simple layered structures with unprecedented efficiencies.

You will become an expert within steady state and time resolved spectroscopy. Specifically, you will work at the UV/Vis regime of the electromagnetic spectrum, and probe both absorption and emission events at timescales from femtoseconds to microseconds. You will learn how to model the photophysics that is occurring using rate equations and to link your experimental data to your model. Furthermore, you will learn how to simulate your studied systems from a classical electromagnetism point of view using the transfer matrix model. You will work independently within a research group consisting of about 8 researchers.

Education at third-cycle level comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period.

Eligibility

To be eligible for third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements: A person meets the general entry requirements for third-cycle courses and study programs if he or she:

has been awarded a second-cycle qualification,

has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second-cycle, or

has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must: (i) have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant subject area in the natural sciences, or (ii) have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or (iii) have completed a corresponding program of relevance to the planned third-cycle program, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

Chemistry or physics

The specific entry requirements also include an acceptable command of spoken and written English. Guidelines for assessing English proficiency may include a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL test (or 213 on the TOEFL-CBT, or 79 on the TOEFL-iBT).

Assessment criteria

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the education at third-cycle level. We seek a talented and dedicated doctoral student eager to pursue a career in physical chemistry. You should be open-minded, keen to learn and have a genuine interest in science. The ideal candidate has broad knowledge within chemistry and physics with courses in physical chemistry, optical spectroscopy and materials chemistry in the curriculum. We especially welcome applicants with documented practical experience within optical spectroscopy and scripting using MatLab or python. You should be able to work independently and within a group, and communicate well in English.

Employment

Once you have been admitted for education at third-cycle level, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, four years full time

Extent: 100 %

Location: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg

First day of employment : As soon as possible based on agreement

Regulations for the evaluation of qualifications for education on a doctoral level are given in SFS 1993:100.

A new employment as a PhD student applies for a maximum of one year. The Appointment may be prolonged for up to two years at a time. The total employment period may not be longer than the equivalent of four years of full time doctoral studies.

University applies local agreement on salaries of graduate students.

Contact information

Karl Börjesson

[email protected]

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https: // www. gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

In order to apply for a position at the University of Gothenburg, you have to register an account in our online 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.

You must include the following, in PDF format

Personal letter

CV

Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement

Proof of completion of English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies

Two references (name, e-mail, telephone number, relation)

If your degree is from a university outside of Sweden, check what you need to submit at https: // www. antagning.se/sv/Hur-du-anmaler-dig-och-haller- koll/magister-och-master/for-dig-med-utlandsk-kandidatexamen/dokument-fran- ditt-utbildningsland/ -where you can also see what you need to submit in order to fulfill the English language requirement.

If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

Applications must be received by: 2023-03-15

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https: // www. gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services https: // www. movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden's regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.