1 PhD Position on Superconductivity and Charge Order in Complex Electron Systems in Germany | Technische Universität Dresden

The Research Training Group 1621 (Graduiertenkolleg GRK 1621) "itinerant magnetism and superconductivity in intermetallic compounds" at TU Dresden, founded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) invites applications for a

PhD position (E 13 TV-L)

in the field of superconductivity and charge order in complex electron systems

which entails 75 % of the fulltime weekly hours. Employment is expected to begin at the earliest on June 1, 2014. The position will be offered first until September 30, 2015, with the possibility of extension to a total of up to 36 months (subject to granted funds). The period of employment is governed by the Fixed Term Research Contracts Act (Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz – WissZeitVG). Place of work will be the Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden), in group of Dr. Jochen Geck.

Within the DFG Research Training Group (Graduiertenkolleg) GRK 1621, many researchers from TU Dresden, the Max Planck Institutes for Chemical Physics of Solids and for the Physics of Complex Systems, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (IFW Dresden) and the Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD) at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) cooperate in a coordinated research initiative.

Tasks: Superconductivity, a state of matter where charges can flow through a material without any resistance, still challenges condensed matter researchers. One long-standing puzzle is the intriguing proximity of superconductivity of its apparent antipode, namely phases that exhibit a static ordering of charge in real space. This proximity is currently studied very intensively, yet it still remains to be fully understood. The task of this PhD-project is to clarify this relation by investigating well-defined model systems that can be switched between electronic order and superconductivity by means of external pressure. To this end, state-of-the-art synchrotron experiments based shall be applied, which allow to study the interplay of superconductivity and electronic real-space ordering on a microscopic level. Another task of this PhD-project is to gain further microscopic insights by comparing the experimental results to theoretical model calculations within the density functional theory.

Requirements: Excellent Diploma or Master’s university degree in chemistry, physics or materials science, with a background and interest in condensed matter physics. Interest and ability for interdisciplinary research and cooperation with experimental physicists and theorists in the GRK 1621 are expected, as well as proficiency in English language and organisational skills.

Applications from women are particularly welcome. The same applies to people with disabilities.