PhD Candidate in Physics

About Us

The University of Siegen is a modern university with an international orientation and a focus on interdisciplinary research. It currently has around 16,500 students and covers a range of research fields from the humanities, social and economic sciences to natural sciences, engineering and life sciences. With over 2,000 employees, the university is one of the largest employers in the region and offers a unique environment for teaching, study, research and knowledge transfer.

Place of employment

DESY, with more than 2,700 employees at its two locations in Hamburg and Zeuthen, is one of the world's leading research centres. Its research focuses on decoding the structure and function of matter, from the smallest particles of the universe to the building blocks of life. With its ultramodern research infrastructure, its interdisciplinary research platforms and its international networks, DESY offers a highly attractive working environment in the fields of science, technology and administration as well as for the education of highly qualified young scientists.

About the project

The aim of the project is to significantly improve the experimental setup for X-ray diffraction with high spatial resolution at the P06 beamline of PETRA III and, thereby, establish this setup at the forefront of international research in this area. This will be achieved by reducing scan times by a factor of 10 and, simultaneously, provide a spatial resolution of 100 nm. Recent experiments demonstrate the feasibility. In addition, a software package for automatic data analysis is to be developed. This method should then be applied to current questions in modern solid state physics (e.g. efficiency of thin-film solar cells or short crack propagation in spring steels).

We seek

In the X-ray Tomography Group of the University of Siegen with the working location in Hamburg at DESY a

 PhD candidate (m/f/d)

(75% = 29,87 hours part time, salary category 13TV-L)

 is to be hired for 3 years at the earliest possible date.

Successful application is subject to the provisions of the Act on Temporary Employment in Higher Education (§ 2 Para. 1 WissZeitVG). The successful candidate will participate in the project “High speed X-ray nano-diffraction (HS-XRND)”, which is funded by the German Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF-Project: 05K22PS2).

Your tasks

• Upgrading and commissioning of the diffraction goniometer at beamline P06 at PETRA III
• Performing experiments with collaborators in the area of HS-XRND
• Development of an "online" data analysis software package for rapid feedback during experiments
• Improve quantitative data interpretation by advancing the physical understanding of HS-XRND

Your profile

• A diploma or master’s degree in Physics (or related subjects) with an excellent final mark
• Experience in using scientific programming languages
  (Python, MATLAB, C++ or similar)
• Experience with X-ray experiments preferably at Synchrotron facilities
• Profound knowledge in X-ray science and/or solid state physics

In addition

• Fluent English skills
• The ability to do team-work in an international scientific collaboration
• Experience with the development of scientific instruments

Your benefits

The position is intended to facilitate the acquisition of a PhD.

• Diverse opportunities to take on responsibility and make a visible contribution in the research and teaching environment
• A modern understanding of leadership and collaboration
• Good work-life balance, for example, through flexible working hours and work location, as well as support with child care
• Extensive personnel development program
• Health management with a wide range of prevention and counseling services

Your application

We look forward to receiving your application by 12.04.2023. Please apply exclusively via our job portal (https://jobs.uni-siegen.de). Unfortunately, we cannot consider applications in writing or by e-mail.

Equal opportunities and diversity are promoted and embodied at the University of Siegen. The advertisement is explicitly addressed to people of all genders; applications from women will be given special consideration in accordance with the State Equal Opportunities Act. We also welcome applications from people with different personal, social, and cultural backgrounds, people with severe disabilities, and people of equal status.

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