Measuring and controlling nanoscale photothermal processes

PhD Researcher Position: Nanoscale Photothermal Heating

Nanoscale heating has numerous applications, including driving chemical reactions, treating diseases, and enabling data storage. One promising method for generating this heating involves using light in combination with “plasmonic” nanostructures, which act as light-sensitive antennas. However, significant challenges remain. For example, the heated volume and achievable peak temperature are still largely constrained by the nanostructure's dimensions, and the materials used often deform or break down under high temperatures.

The primary objective of this EU-funded research project is to advance the fundamental understanding of nanoscale photothermal heating. As a PhD researcher, you will explore promising new strategies of controlling heat at the smallest scales using light, and you will develop novel light-sensitive nanostructures that can withstand extreme temperatures. Your work will involve modeling and measuring nanoscale temperatures using optical and physical methods, and applying the findings in the context of light-driven chemical conversion. Overall, you will have the unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research in material science and photoconversion technologies.

Your Responsibilities

• Design and fabricate nanostructures using modelling and lithography
• Use time-resolved and steady-state spectroscopic and imaging techniques for studying photothermal processes
• Design and build experimental setups for light-driven physics and chemistry
• Initiate and lead complementary research collaborations with internal and external partners
• Disseminate your research through peer-reviewed journals and poster/oral contributions at (inter)national conferences
• Act as daily supervisor of bachelor and master students during their internships and as teaching assistant to different courses (~10% of the overall PhD time)

Your Profile

• Master’s degree in physics, physical chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, or a closely related field
• A strong demonstration of practical skills in carrying out physical experiments and/or building optical/spectroscopic setups is desirable
• Prior research experience in nanophotonics, photochemistry, cleanroom fabrication, and/or optical microscopy and spectroscopy is considered a plus
• Familiarity with computational tools (such as Python, MatLab, Lumerical FDTD, or COMSOL Multiphysics) and data analysis software is considered a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are very important
• You have a team-player mentality and a kind and social attitude

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

What Do We Offer?

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• A salary of € 2.872,00 (PhD) and maximum € 3.670,00 (PhD) gross per month in the fourth year, for full-time employment
• An employment contract of initially 1 year. If there is sufficient perspective, this will be extended to a total of 4 years. Your dissertation at the end of the fourth year forms the end of your employment contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and arrangements. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• Contribution to commuting expenses
• Optional model for designing a personalized benefits package
• A wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

About Us

About the PhotoConversion Materials (PCM) section
The successful applicant will be appointed as a PhD student in the group of Dr. Sven Askes, which is part of the PhotoConversion Materials (PCM) section in the department of Physics and Astronomy at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. The PCM section is a highly interdisciplinary team, working at the interface of physics, chemistry, and materials science to understand fundamental mechanisms of light-matter interaction for light-energy conversion and optical sensing. We host in-house simulation, fabrication, and spectroscopic characterization tools, with great technical research support. Additionally, we have regular access to the nanofabrication and nanocharacterization tools at the AMOLF Nanolab.

By joining our PCM section, you will become part of a diverse group of people, with different scientific backgrounds, nationalities, and expertise. Our aim is to create an inclusive environment that cherishes our diverse backgrounds, leading to groundbreaking science. By the end of your PhD, you will have become an independent scientist, capable of working effectively in a team, and with excellent communication skills. We take great pride in the growth and development of our students: previous PhD students in our group have won several awards for their scientific achievements and for their communication skills and have immediately secured several jobs offers after graduation.

Faculty of Science
Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to malnutrition, and from molecules to the moon: we cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

We work on new solutions guided by value-driven, interdisciplinary methodologies. We are committed to research, valorisation and training socially engaged citizens of the world who will make valuable contributions to a sustainable, healthy future.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. You will combine a professional focus with a broad view of the world. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole. The faculty is home to over 11,000 students enrolled in 40 study programmes. It employs over 1,600 professionals spread across 10 academic departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Interested?

Are you interested in this position? Please apply via the application button and upload the following 3 documents in PDF format:

• Cover letter of maximum 1 page containing your personal details, your motivation for applying to this position, and highlighting the parts of your CV that make you suited for the position.
• Full CV, including your experience, your bachelor and master grades, and the contact details of at least two references. It is not required to attach recommendation letters from your references. It would be helpful if the grade list could be accompanied by some explanation of their meaning: for example, if a particular grade corresponds to the top x% of students in your study program.
• Written report, for example your master thesis, ideally (but not necessarily) written in English.

The submission deadline is November 15th, 2024, after which an initial selection of candidates will be made to be invited for an interview.