项目介绍

2025年2月26日

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

Doctoral position in Physical Chemistry with a focus on molecular photophysics   

Research and graduate education at the department of chemistry and molecular biology comprises a wide scientific field from the atomic and molecular levels all the way through cells to intact organisms. We participate in undergraduate programs in chemistry, molecular biology, medicinal chemistry, biology, marine sciences, and pharmacy.

In the research group of Prof. Börjesson, the fundamentals of photophysical systems are studied. Furthermore, are new concepts within photophysical chemistry derived, and physical-organic chemistry methodologies are used to build materials for tomorrow. The competence of the group involves both the synthesis of complex molecules and the photophysical/electrical characterization of the molecular based systems. Most often we are working with organic molecules and even though each molecule is able to perform a task on its own, our aim is not to use the single molecules but ensembles of molecules to create materials for the future. In the project, which are financed by the ERC, excitons and photons will be coupled together. This will create hybrid states and your task will be to explore how such system can funnel energy at length scales not previously possible.

For more information on the group see:

Karl Börjesson | University of Gothenburg (gu.se)

For more information on strong light-matter coupling see:

The Rise and Current Status of Polaritonic Photochemistry and Photophysics | Chemical Reviews (acs.org)

To see the latest group articles, click on the following link:

‪Karl Börjesson – ‪Google Scholar

General information about being a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg can be found on the university’s doctoral student pages. 

https://www.gu.se/en/doctoral-studies

Duties   

A fundamental physical property of matter is its ability to interact with light. For example, plant leaves are green because they absorb visible light. However, it is less known that this light-matter interaction can be enhanced to the point where it is so strong that the photon and molecule cannot be regarded as separate entities, but as a combined system with unique properties. Nature uses strong chromophore-chromophore interactions to rapidly channel absorbed sunlight to the photosynthetic reaction centre. However, up to now, organic solar cells do not take advantage of such quantum processes to enhance light to electricity conversion. This project aim is to channel excitation energy to charge transfer states in an organic heterojunction using the delocalized nature of hybrid light-matter states. This interaction enables transport of excitation energy over distances much longer than being previously considered feasible. The outcome of your work is the description and mechanistic revelation of a novel quantum physical phenomenon that can enable production of organic solar cells from simple layered structures with unprecedented efficiencies.

During your studies you will become an expert within steady state and time resolved spectroscopy. Specifically, you will work at the UV/Vis regime of the electromagnetic spectrum, and you will probe both absorption and emission events at timescales from femtoseconds to microseconds. You will learn how to model the photophysics that is occurring using rate equations and how to link your experimental data to your model. Furthermore, you will learn how to simulate your studied systems from a classical electromagnetism point of view using the transfer matrix model. You will work independently within a research group consisting of about 10 researchers.

Doctoral studies comprises four years of full-time study, and leads to a doctoral degree.    

As part of your employment as a doctoral student, you may have departmental duties corresponding to up to 20 % of full-time employment, distributed throughout your study period, and result in a corresponding extension of the studies. Departmental duties usually consist of teaching at first- and second-cycle levels, but may also include research and administration.  

Eligibility   

Doctoral education requires general eligibility and, where appropriate, specific eligibility as set out in the general syllabus for the subject.  

The general eligibility requirements for doctoral studies are:    

1. having completed a degree at second-cycle level, or
2. the fulfilment of course requirements totalling at least 240 credits, of which at least 60 credits must be at second-cycle level, or  
3. the acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other way, either in Sweden or abroad. 

To be eligible for third-cycle studies, the applicant must meet both the general and specific entry requirements.

To meet the specific entry requirements for third-cycle studies, applicants must: (i) have a second-cycle (advanced-level) degree in a relevant* subject area in the natural sciences, or (ii) have completed studies for at least 60 higher education credits at a second-cycle level in relevant subject areas in the natural sciences, or (iii) have completed a corresponding program of relevance to the planned third-cycle program, in Sweden or in another country, or have equivalent qualifications.

* Chemistry or physics

The specific entry requirements also include an acceptable command of spoken and written English. Guidelines for assessing English proficiency may include a minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL test (or 213 on the TOEFL-CBT, or 79 on the TOEFL-iBT).

Assessment criteria   

We seek a talented and dedicated doctoral student eager to pursue a career in physical chemistry. You should be open-minded, keen to learn and have a genuine interest in science. The ideal candidate has broad knowledge within chemistry and physics with courses in physical chemistry, optical spectroscopy and materials chemistry in the curriculum. We especially welcome applicants with documented practical experience within optical spectroscopy and scripting using MatLab or python. You should be able to work independently and within a group, and communicate well in English. 

The selection of applicants who meet the basic and specific eligibility requirements will be based on the ability to assimilate the doctoral studies.   

Admission and employment   

Once you have been admitted to doctoral studies, you will be employed as a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg.   

The provisions for employment as a doctoral student can be found in ordinance SFS 1993:100.    

Initial employment as a doctoral student may apply for a maximum of one year, and may be renewed by a maximum of two years at a time.  

A doctoral student may be employed as a doctoral student for a maximum of eight years, but the total period of employment may not be longer than the equivalent of full-time education at doctoral level for four years.
   

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, four years full time

Extent: 100 %

Location: Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Gothenburg

First day of employment: As soon as possible based on agreement

The University applies a local agreement on salaries for doctoral students.

Please note, doctoral studies at The department of Chemistry and Molecular biology require physical presence to conduct the studies. If the admitted applicant needs a residence permit for higher education to pursue studies in Sweden, The department of Chemistry and Molecular biology has the right to revoke the admission decision if the applicant cannot present a valid residence permit no later than at the start of the studies.

Contact information 

Karl Börjesson

Karl.borjesson@gu.se  

Unions 

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here:   
https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande   

Application   

You can apply to be admitted to doctoral education via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal.   

It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per this notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

You must include the following, in PDF format

• Personal letter
• CV
• Diploma and transcripts showing that you meet with the general entry requirement
• Proof of completion of  English 6 course or the acquired equivalent knowledge through previous studies
• Two references (name, e-mail, telephone number, relation)

If your degree has not been verified by a Swedish authority you need to provide contact details to the issuing university, registrar or similar, that can verify the degree at our request.

Closing date: 2025-03-24
  

Information for International Applicants 

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit: 

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services 
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/