PhD position at Aalto University, Finland

A fully funded Ph.D. position in atomistic simulation is currently available in the Positron Physics and Defect Spectroscopy group (http://physics.aalto.fi/groups/positron), Department of Applied Physics at Aalto University, Espoo, Finland. The PhD project will involve computational work supervised by Academy Research Fellow Ilja Makkonen. Depending on the competence and interests of the person to be hired, it can consist of either (i) materials modeling; (ii) development of methods and approximations for large-scale electronic structure calculations [1]; and/or (iii) simulation and methodology development work related to understanding the behavior of positrons in solid-state matter and helping in the identification of lattice defects using positron annihilation spectroscopy experiments and supporting modeling [2]. The Fellowship project as a whole will involve extensive collaboration with the local experimentalist applying positron annihilation spectroscopy to the study of materials, as well as with Finnish and international partners specialized in computational modeling.

Essential Requirements

The successful applicant should have a M.Sc. degree in solid-state physics or materials science. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. Good scripting and programming experience is highly desirable. Experience with atomistic simulations codes such as VASP, ABINIT or similar is a bonus.

Duration and salary

The annual total workload of research and teaching staff at Aalto University is 1600 hours. The position will be located at the Aalto University Otaniemi Campus. Typical gross salary ranges at the Aalto School of Science’s Department of Applied Physics from 2400 to 2850 €/month for PhD students. Full social benefits are included. The position is contract-based. The doctoral candidate will be granted a two-year contract first, followed by an extension for another two-year period after intermediate evaluation. Total duration of the position is four years. The position is available immediately but the starting date can be negotiable.

How to apply

Interested applicants should send an application with a scientific CV, a motivation letter, the transcript of studies, and two references to [email protected]. Applications are considered until the position is filled.

For informal inquiries, please contact Ilja Makkonen (http://tfy.tkk.fi/home/official.php?id=489, email: [email protected]).

[1] J. Lehtomäki, I. Makkonen, M. A. Caro, A. Harju, and O. Lopez-Acevedo, Journal of Chemical Physics 141, 234102 (2014).

[2] F. Tuomisto and I. Makkonen, Reviews of Modern Physics 85, 1583 (2013).