About the Project
The surface science group at the Institute of Experimental Physics, Graz University of Technology, is offering two PhD positions as part of the FWF-funded project “LiPhED: Lifetime of surface Phonons and Energy Dissipation.”
Energy dissipation at surfaces and interfaces is a central process in modern materials science, influencing the performance of nanoscale devices, two-dimensional materials, and emerging quantum technologies. The LiPhED project aims to develop a quantitative framework for understanding surface phonon lifetimes and energy dissipation. The project combines high-resolution surface-science experiments with atomistic and machine-learning-enhanced computational modelling.
The work will begin with the model system Ni(111) and then progress to two-dimensional materials, in particular hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on Ni(111). In the final stage, the project will explore selected quantum materials.
Project Focus
We are recruiting two PhD candidates for complementary experimental and computational roles. The experimentally oriented PhD position will focus on measurements using helium atom scattering and photoemission techniques in Graz, complemented by helium spin-echo spectroscopy at the CORDE facility in Cambridge. The computationally oriented PhD position will focus on atomistic modelling and machine-learning-enhanced simulations, carried out in close collaboration with E. Zojer in Graz and J. Meyer in Leiden.
Candidate Profile
Applicants should hold, or be close to completing, a Master’s degree or equivalent in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related discipline. Basic programming skills, for example in Python and/or MATLAB, are expected.
Funding and Employment Conditions
The positions are funded through the Austrian Science Fund FWF and are available from 1 September 2026 or later. The contracts are limited to 3 years. The positions are offered at 30 hours per week, with payment according to the standard FWF salary scheme: €2,832.10 gross per month, paid 14 times per year.