Postdoc Position - Time-Resolved Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Correlated Materials

Postdoc Position - Time-Resolved Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Correlated Materials

Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

Berlin, Germany

The Department of Physical Chemistry, led by Prof. Martin Wolf, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our group working on Ultrafast Core-Level Spectroscopy of strongly correlated and 2D van der Waals materials, in collaboration with Prof. Jens Biegert (ICFO, Barcelona).

The successful candidate will explore ultrafast phase transitions, Mott physics, and coupled electron–lattice dynamics in correlated materials employing our newly developed lab-based time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (tr-XAS) beamline. The position offers the opportunity to play a leading role in designing and performing time-resolved experiments, analyzing spectroscopic data, and interpreting results in close collaboration with theoretical partners.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to

• Conduct time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (tr-XAS) and develop novel applications for emerging solid-state materials;
• Study photoinduced ultrafast phase transitions;
• Explore electron–phonon coupling and phonon-assisted optical processes;
• Investigate femtosecond structural and electronic dynamics in quantum materials and 2D van der Waals systems;
• Have the possibility to develop and perform liquid-jet tr-XAS experiments.

This position offers the opportunity to conduct pioneering research addressing fundamental questions in condensed phase systems.

Requirements

• Successfully completed PhD degree in physics or a related subject;
• Research experience with advanced ultrafast pump–probe X-ray absorption spectroscopy;
• Strong background in solid state physics, many-body physics and electron correlation phenomena;
• Research experience with strongly correlated systems or 2D van der Waals materials;
• Excellent communication skills, and in particular good command of the English language;
• Programming skills: Python, MATLAB, Wolfram Mathematica, EPICS etc.

In addition, experience in the following areas is advantageous:

• Experience with X-ray beamline instrumentation;
• Experience in simulating X-ray absorption spectra (e.g., Finite Difference Method Near Edge Structure - FDMNES);
• Experience with density functional theory (DFT) calculations (e.g., Quantum ESPRESSO, Elk Code).