项目介绍

2026年7月15日

Description of the workplace

The Division of Synchrotron Radiation Research (http://www.sljus.lu.se) is a highly interdisciplinary research environment within the Department of Physics. The focus of the groups research is primarily on experimental studies of electronic, structural and chemical properties of materials, and most recently magnetism. The Division consists of approximately 60 employees, about half of whom are doctoral students. In addition, we use and develop a wide range of large-scale facility and lab-based techniques at both synchrotron and neutron sources. Our Division is located within close proximity to two large research facilities: the European Spallation Source (currently under construction) and the MAX IV synchrotron, which are anticipated to be used significantly throughout the duration of the project.

Being a doctoral student

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University.

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.

More about being a doctoral student at the Faculty of Science at naturvetenskap.se Doctoral studies | Faculty of Science

Subject and project description

Magnetism was one of the earliest scientific discoveries and remains one of the most technologically significant. The field continues to evolve rapidly, and looking to the future one of the most promising avenues is to investigate materials that display magnetic frustration – an intriguing physical phenomenon in which moments are unable to arrange themselves in the most energetically favourable way, forcing the system to make some compromises. Magnetic frustration can lead to a diverse range of unconventional quantum ground states, that may have applications in quantum computing, next-generation energy storage devices and high-temperature superconductivity.

The main research topic of this position is to investigate frustrated systems that lead to partially ordered magnetic ground states, such as the spiral spin liquid. The partial ordering of such systems means the data features co-existing long- and short-range order. However these aspects are seldom analysed together, and therefore a full understanding of the physics is incomplete. In this project, you will synthesise materials with novel magnetic properties using a variety of methods. Detailed investigations of the materials structural and magnetic properties will be conducted both in-house and at large scale facilities using neutron, X-ray and muon probes. In addition, there will be a focus on developing your own codes or adjusting existing programs to advance our capabilities to model more complex materials systems. Together, this will help us to understand what physics emerges at the intersection between these different orders, and how that plays into the overall stabilisation of certain magnetic ground states. This is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field, providing you with an excellent opportunity to develop your skills whilst engaging in cutting-edge materials research.

• Allmän studieplan för forskarutbildning

Work duties

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral education, which mainly consists of writing a doctoral thesis. In addition to research work, participation in third-cycle courses, seminars and conferences is required.

Your PhD will predominantly be of an experimental nature and include training in:

• Inorganic materials synthesis
• Laboratory based characterisation including X-ray diffraction, magnetic susceptibility and heat capacity measurements
• Advanced characterisation at central facilities with a focus on neutron scattering (eg. European Spallation Source, Sweden, Institut Laue-Langevin, France and ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, United Kingdom)
• Development of analysis techniques and methodologies for the study of quantum materials
• Writing scientific publications and presenting results at conferences

The main experimental portion of this work involves (inter)-national travel to central facilities for beamtime experiments. These experiments can involve working extended hours in a small team, and may be scheduled over the weekend.

In addition to studies, a maximum of 20% of working time may be spent on teaching and other departmental work.

Qualifications

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Physics if the applicant has:

• completed an independent work (e.g. degree project) in a relevant subject comprising at least 30 higher education credits. The special qualification may also have been obtained through other equivalent education, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis. In order to enable interdisciplinary initiatives and significant in-depth studies in certain areas, qualifications other than the applicant’s subject-specific competence in Physicsmay be taken into account.

 Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required:

• at least one first- or second-cycle course covering solid-state physics or condensed matter physics.
• willingness to learn and curiosity for the research area
• good ability to take initative in your research work
• good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems
• good written and oral communication skills
• good ability to cooperate and collaborate
• very good knowledge of English, spoken and written

Selection criteria

The selection of eligible applicants will be made taking into account the ability to benefit from the training based on the following criteria:

• knowledge of physics, in particular quantum mechanics and solid-state physics
• knowledge/experience with neutron/X-ray/muon scattering experiments is desirable but not mandatory
• laboratory experience
• demonstrated ability to work independently and to formulate and address scientific research problems
• ability to communicate effectively, spoken and written

Assessment will also take into account the applicant’s collaborative skills, initiative, independence, and personal suitability, as well as whether the applicant’s experience and competencies are deemed sufficient to successfully undertake and complete doctoral education.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme.

More about working at Lund University on lu.se. https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/about-university/work-lund-university

About the employment

The employment is afixed-term employment at full time, starting as agreed, preferably in autumn 2026. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages. https://www.staff.lu.se/research-and-education/research-support/doctoral-education/terms-employment-doctoral-students

How to apply

The application should be written in English and you must attach to your application:

• CV and personal letter with a justification of why you are interested in the training place/employment and in what way the research project matches your interests and your educational background.
•  Copies of issued study certificates and/or diplomas. These should prove your basic and special eligibility for the doctoral education subject and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral education project.
• Other information that you wish to refer to (copies of grades, information for references, letters of recommendation, etc.).

We welcome your application.

Within the Faculty of Science research and education is conducted within Astronomy, Biology, Physics, Geosciences, Chemistry, Mathematics, medical radiation physics, physical geography and Environmental Sciences. The Faculty of Science is organized into eight departments, gathered in the northern campus area in Lund. The Faculty of Science has approximately 1900 students, 330 PhD students and 730 employees.

The Department of Physics is one of Lund University’s largest departments with approximately 400 employees. The department is shared between the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Engineering. At the department there are seven research divisions and a number of major research centra. The research at the department covers a wide range of modern physics.
www.fysik.lu.se/en/

We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.