Postdoctoral Fellow / Postdoctoral Fellowess

Your Tasks

This project is part of an international collaboration aimed at developing highly efficient photoelectrocatalytic water-splitting technologies.

As a key contributor to this initiative, you will be responsible for the growth and characterization of photoactive oxynitride thin films and multilayers. These films will be developed through pulsed laser deposition and subsequently integrated into a water-splitting device as part of a collaborative effort. You will utilize various characterization methods, including XRD, AFM, XPS, and RBS, to explore the relationship between growth process parameters and the functional properties of the resulting thin films. Your analyses and findings will contribute to the publication of peer-reviewed articles.

Additionally, you will engage in the multidisciplinary research activities of the group, assisting both internal and external partners with research tasks. You will also participate in the supervision of students and play a role in maintaining key instrumentation.

Your Profile

We seek candidates with a background in natural sciences or engineering, who possess a strong passion for energy-related research themes. You should demonstrate excellent work ethics and thrive in an interdisciplinary team environment. We particularly encourage female candidates to apply.

Qualifications for candidates include:

• Doctoral degree in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or Materials Sciences
• Solid understanding of solid-state physics and/or chemistry, alongside familiarity with photoelectrocatalytic processes
• Strong motivation for materials science and discovery, coupled with the ability to work autonomously and tackle challenging problems; team-oriented attitude is essential
• Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English (knowledge of German is a plus)
• (Optional) Hands-on experience with physical vapor deposition techniques, vacuum systems, pulsed laser deposition, and/or atomic layer deposition is desirable but not required

We Offer

Our institution fosters interdisciplinary, innovative, and dynamic collaboration. You will benefit from systematic on-the-job training, personal development opportunities, and a robust vocational training culture. We are committed to helping you balance work with family life or personal interests, supported by our modern employment conditions and on-site infrastructure.

This is a fixed-term position with an employment contract limited to 1.5 years.

For further information, please contact Dr. Nikita Shepelin at Show e-mail or Dr. Daniele Pergolesi at Show e-mail.

Apply online using the form below. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Paul Scherrer Institute, Human Resources Management, Robin Schmid, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland