For an EPSRC-sponsored strategic equipment initiative for the Accelerated Design of Advances, Quantum and Functional Materials, we are seeking a postdoctoral research fellow to work with the team of investigators, Profs Steve Lee, Phil King, Peter Wahl and Dr Andreas Rost to set up a unique Nanoprobe instrument that will enable characterization of MBE-grown thin film samples by STM, AFM, scanning hall magnetometry, susceptibility and transport measurements. The successful applicant will contribute to the design and construction of this instrument.
We seek outstanding candidates who have experience in the design and setup of advanced instrumentation and can contribute to the goals of the strategic initiative. This advert is for an experimental physicist, ideally with good knowledge of condensed matter physics and scanning probe techniques, and excellent skills in designing and constructing low temperature instrumentation.
The role will involve combining commercial components with bespoke instrumentation and leading the construction of the new instrument. The nanoprobe instrument will be linked to an existing dual chamber molecular beam epitaxy and angular resolved photoemission system, requiring careful planning and design of the sample transfer between the MBE system and the nanoprobe instrument, while also ensuring vibrational decoupling of the components. The role holder will be involved in day-to-day supervision of students and making contributions to the broader activities of the research groups and grant.
The project is embedded within the Centre for Designer Quantum Materials (https://www.quantummatter.co.uk), a collaborative research centre at the University of St Andrews. Housed in purpose-built and recently renovated lab space, this centre provides an active and vibrant research environment.
The successful candidate will join the CDQM, and will benefit from its superb resources, including capabilities for molecular-beam epitaxy growth, spectroscopic studies via scanning tunneling microscopy and angle-resolved photoemission, bespoke tools for transport and thermodynamic studies, and an extensive range of materials characterisation capabilities.
Three additional research fellow positions are currently also available within the CDQM in: scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy of strain tuning of emergent states of matter (Ref: AR4422SB), thermodynamic and transport studies of designer heterostructures of strongly correlated electron systems (Ref: AR2377SB), and in using photoemission to study the influence of in-situ strain tuning on the electronic structure and quantum many-body interactions in quantum materials (Ref: AR2376SB). If you would be interested in applying for multiple of these positions, please mention this in your cover letter indicating an order of preference. It is not necessary to submit multiple applications.
This is a fixed term position for up to 2 years starting as soon as possible.
Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof Steve Lee (sl10@st-andrews.ac.uk) or Prof Peter Wahl (wahl@st-andrews.ac.uk).
Applications are particularly welcome from women, people from the Black, Asian, Minority or Ethnic (BAME) community and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in Research posts at the University.
The University is committed to equality for all, demonstrated through our working on diversity awards (ECU Athena SWAN/Race Charters; Carer Positive; LGBT Charter; and Stonewall). More details can be found at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/.
Please quote ref: AR2378SB
Closing Date: 6 August 2020
Interview Date: Week commencing 17 August 2020 (via Skype)
Further Particulars: AR2378SB FPs.doc
School of Physics and Astronomy
Salary: £33,797 - £36,914 per annum
Start: As soon as possible
Fixed term for up to 2 years