Egbert Zojer

PhD opportunity at Graz University of Technology, Institute of Experimental Physics, Austria. The surface science group is offering two funded PhD positions in the project LiPhED: Lifetime of surface Phonons and Energy Dissipation . The project investigates surface phonon lifetimes and energy dissipation in quantum materials and 2D materials , with a focus on Ni(111) , hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on Ni(111) , intercalation, substrate decoupling, and selected quantum materials. The work combines surface science , condensed matter physics , computational materials science , and machine-learning-enhanced modelling . There are complementary tracks: one experimental PhD involving helium atom scattering, photoemission, and helium spin-echo spectroscopy (including work at the CORDE facility in Cambridge), and one computational PhD focused on atomistic modelling and simulations in collaboration with researchers in Graz and Leiden. Funding: FWF-funded, 3-year contracts, 30 hours/week, with salary according to the standard FWF scheme (€2,832.10 gross/month, paid 14 times per year). Eligibility: Applicants should have, or be close to completing, a Master’s degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, or a closely related field. Helpful experience includes ultrahigh-vacuum methods, scattering techniques, photoemission spectroscopy, atomistic modelling, molecular dynamics, and programming in Python and/or MATLAB. Application: The official TU Graz deadline has passed, but the position may still be open for strong candidates. Interested applicants should email Dr Anton Tamtögl with a CV, short cover letter, and transcripts/certificates, and briefly describe their research interests.