Paul Scherrer Institut
5 days ago
PhD Student in Proton Transport in Clays and Physical Chemistry Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
Full funding availableDeadline
Aug 31, 2026
Country
Switzerland
University
Paul Scherrer Institut

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About this position
PhD opportunity at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland for a project on proton transport in clays, physical chemistry, materials science, and related environmental chemistry topics.
The project is part of a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Laboratory for Waste Management (LES), the Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging (LNS), and the Water Electrodynamics Group at TU-Hamburg. The PhD student will investigate proton diffusion in bulk and confined water, including vehicular diffusion, Grotthuss hopping, and surface-mediated proton transfer.
Research tasks include preparing and characterizing clay samples and oriented clay films, studying proton mobility with quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) at SINQ/PSI, developing data analysis tools, and building an experimental setup for radiotracer diffusion in thin clay films. The student will also conduct tracer diffusion and electromigration studies, present results at conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and write a PhD thesis.
Eligibility highlights: a Master's degree or equivalent in physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, or a closely related field; prior chemical laboratory experience; motivation for hands-on lab work; ability to use advanced data analysis tools such as Python; and an advantage for candidates with spectroscopic techniques or molecular simulations experience. Excellent English is required, and German is beneficial.
Funding/contract: fixed-term PhD position for 4 years, linked to the doctoral programme at the University of Bern, subject to satisfactory progress. No stipend amount is stated.
Application deadline: 31 August 2026, 23:59 (Europe/Zurich). Apply online through the PSI portal and include a motivation letter and referee addresses.
Funding details
Full funding including tuition fees and living expenses is available for this position. The scholarship covers all educational costs and provides a monthly stipend.
How to apply
Please submit your application including a cover letter, CV, academic transcripts, and contact information for two references. Applications should be sent via the online portal before the deadline.
More information can be found here
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