1 PhD position on Thin Film Growth of Fe-based Superconductors 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 thin film growth of Fe-based superconductors

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), group of Dr. Ruben Hühne.

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: The aim of this work is to grow epitaxial films of Fe-based superconductors by pulsed laser deposition. Different approaches will be used to alter the strain state in these materials as coherent growth, thermal mismatch between substrate and layer and the deposition on piezoelectric single crystals. Transport and magnetic measurements will be used to determine the electronic properties in the normal and superconducting state as well as the anisotropy of the prepared samples. A correlation between these measurements and the structural parameters will contribute to the understanding of the electronic phase diagram of these compounds.

Requirements: Excellent Diploma or Master’s university degree in chemistry / physics or materials science, with basic knowledge in thin film growth, superconductivity and structural characterisation. 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.