Postdoc Position - Ultrafast Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Nonequilibrium Dynamics in Correlated Materials

Postdoc Position - Ultrafast Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Nonequilibrium Dynamics in Correlated Materials

Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

Berlin, Germany

We currently offer a Postdoc position (m/f/d) - Ultrafast Soft X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Nonequilibrium Dynamics in Correlated Materials.

The Department of Physical Chemistry, led by Prof. Martin Wolf, invites applications for a postdoctoral position in the Ultrafast Core-Level Spectroscopy Group at the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Berlin. The project is carried out in close collaboration with Prof. Jens Biegert (ICFO, Barcelona) and focuses on the ultrafast dynamics of strongly correlated materials.

The successful candidate will employ state-of-the-art ultrafast time-resolved soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy (tr-XAS) to investigate the interplay between electronic, orbital, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom. By combining femtosecond laser excitation with element- and orbital-specific soft X-ray spectroscopy, the research aims to uncover the microscopic mechanisms governing light-induced phase transitions, electron–lattice interactions, and energy transfer in quantum materials.

Research topics

The successful candidate will work on several of the following topics:

• Element- and orbital-selective probing of transient electronic states using soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy;
• Development and application of advanced pump-probe spectroscopic techniques for studying non-equilibrium quantum materials;
• Explore coupling between electronic excitations and lattice dynamics;
• Elucidation of ultrafast energy transfer pathways between electrons, phonons, spin, and orbital degrees of freedom;
• Light-induced phase transitions in strongly correlated materials and Mott insulators.

This position offers the opportunity to conduct pioneering research at the forefront of ultrafast spectroscopy and condensed matter physics, addressing fundamental questions on the non-equilibrium behavior of quantum materials.

Candidate profile

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Physics, Materials Science, Attoscience, or a closely related field. Experience in the following areas is highly desirable:

• Ultrafast Soft X-ray absorption spectroscopy;
• Ultrafast pump–probe spectroscopy;
• Condensed matter physics;
• Research experience with strongly correlated electron systems and quantum materials;
• Strong background in solid state physics and many-body physics;
• Excellent communication skills, and in particular good command of the English language;
• Programming skills: Python, MATLAB, Wolfram Mathematica, Igor Pro, etc.