Category: Stellenausschreibung
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships
Call for Expressions of Interest
Opening date: 8 May 2025
Deadline: 10 September 2025
The Leibniz Institute of Surface Engineering (IOM) in Leipzig is seeking EXCELLENT POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS to express their interest in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowship with IOM as host institution.
The IOM researches the complex mechanisms of surface modification to tailor the structures and properties of surfaces and interfaces.
The IOM develops materials with new properties for challenging applications.The materials, tools, and processes researched at the IOM contribute to technological innovation and Europe’s sovereignty.
The fellowships are open in the two categories:
EUROPEAN POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS – for researchers of any nationality who wish to engage in a project by coming to the IOM (Germany) from any country in the world. The standard duration of these fellowships must be between 12 and 24 months.
GLOBAL POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS – for European nationals or long-term residents who wish to engage in a project with our partner organizations in the USA outside the European Union and the Horizon Europe Associated Countries (Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, Israel, Tunisia, Canada, Faroe Islands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom). These fellowships require an outgoing phase of minimum 12 and maximum 24 months in a non-associated Third Country (e.g. USA or Japan), and a mandatory 12-month return phase to the IOM (Germany).
The successful candidates will be embedded in the dynamic research environment of IOM and integrated into the interdisciplinary scientific networks on molecular and solid-state materials, functional surfaces, and device engineering.
Please feel free to contact us with your CV and publication list to discuss your potential application!
Prof. Dr. Benjamin Dietzek-Ivanšić (Scientific Director of IOM)
email: benjamin.dietzek-ivansic@iom-leipzig.de
Dr. Kirill Monakhov (Head of Group "Switchable Molecularly Functionalized Surfaces")
email: kirill.monakhov@iom-leipzig.de
Dr. Stefan Zahn and Dr. Martin Rudolph (Head of “Cross Sectional Unit QA: Modelling and Simulation”)
email: stefan.zahn@iom-leipzig.de or martin.rudolph@iom-leipzig.de
Dr. Agnes Schulze (Head of Research Area “Surfaces of Porous Membrane Filters”)
email: agnes.schulze@iom-leipzig.de
Dr. Daniel Spemann (Head of “Cross Sectional Unit QB: Tools”)
email: daniel.spemann@iom-leipzig.de
PD Dr. Andriy Lotnyk (Head of “Analytical Transmission Electron Microscopy: LenA Center”)
email: andriy.lotnyk@iom-leipzig.de
Prof. Dr. Thomas Arnold (Head of Research Area “Ultra-Precision Surfaces”)
email: thomas.arnold@iom-leipzig.de
WE WELCOME APPLICATIONS FROM CANDIDATES WITH A STRONG BACKGROUND IN ONE OR MORE OF THESE AREAS:
In the field of molecular electronics, molecular-based quantum technology and neuromorphic molecular materials (MONAKHOV)
- Synthesis and micro-spectroscopic / electrochemical / magnetic characterization of photo-, redox-, and/or spin-active metal complexes
- Their development into functional molecular layers, tunnel junctions, and synapse-like interfaces using scanning probe microscopy methods (e.g., STM and conductive-AFM) and electrical source measurements
- Advanced modeling and simulations of interactions between metal complexes, polymers or biomaterials, and (semi-)conducting surfaces
In the field of modeling and simulation (ZAHN-RUDOLPH)
- Method development in the field of modelling surface processes
- Modelling of plasma processes for applications in surface engineering
In the field of polymer membrane development (SCHULZE)
- Preparation and characterization of porous polymer membranes (flat sheet, hollow fibers)
- Surface engineering using irradiation-based methods (e.g. photochemistry, plasma or electron beam treatment)
- Micropollutant removal and related analytical techniques
In the field of tools for plasma diagnostics or solid-state quantum materials(SPEMANN)
- Laser spectroscopy, e.g. as laser-induced fluorescence for plasma diagnostic applications
- Plasma physics, -generation and -sources
- Atomic and molecular physics relevant to plasma diagnostics
- Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization, photonics, in particular quantum photonics and time-resolved spectroscopy
In the field of electron microscopy and solid-state materials (LOTNYK)
- Synthesis and characterization of phase change memory materials
- Transmission electron microscopy with particular focus on in situ methods
In the field of ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry (DIETZEK-IVANŠIĆ)
- Nonlinear laser spectroscopy, preferably studying interfaces
- Electrochemistry with a focus on electrocatalysis and energy storage materials
In the field of ultraprecise surface machining with lasers (ARNOLD)
- Laser-matter interactions / materials activation / plasma formation
- Dynamic processes during laser-matter interactions
- Laser ablation / modification / deposition
- Combination of laser with other surface engineering methods
- Ultraprecise surface machining by beam technologies
THE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE PROJECTS SHOULD FOCUS ON:
In the field of molecular electronics, molecular-based quantum technology and neuromorphic molecular materials (MONAKHOV)
- Polyoxometalates (molecular metal–oxo cluster ions) as key building units
- Soft matter – such as polymers and biomaterials (DNA, proteins, and other biological molecules) – or low-dimensional nanomaterials as additional functionality
- Chirality, spin selectivity, and/or memristive switching as tunable, bio-inspired or biomimetic properties
- Neuromorphic and quantum materials as future applications
In the field of modelling and simulation (ZAHN-RUDOLPH)
- Focus on processes induced by lasers, photochemical reactions, electron beams, plasmas or ion beams on surfaces
- Computationally efficient methods that enable screening the parameter space for plasma discharges
In the field of polymer membrane development (SCHULZE)
- Innovative membrane materials (green solvents, recycling polymers, biopolymers, biodegradable materials, …)
- Membrane surface functionalization using electron beam treatment (hydrophilization, catalyst immobilization, specific functional groups)
- Micropollutant removal by adsorption and/or degradation
- Membrane reactors
In the field of tools for plasma diagnostics or solid-state quantum materials(SPEMANN)
- Development of non-intrusive plasma diagnostic techniques with emphasis on their application, e.g. for ion source characterization
- Quantitative measurements of atom/molecular constants needed for experimental or numerical plasma characterization
- Collisional-radiative modelling of plasma emission with experimental verification
- Hybrid-nanoparticles and Janus particles based on carbon nanoparticles
- Generation of color centers and their application for quantum-sensing
In the field of electron microscopy and solid-state materials (LOTNYK)
- Development of innovative nanoscale phase change memory materials
- Development of in-situ transmission electron microscopy methods for investigating phase transitions in phase-change memory materials at the atomic scale
In the field of ultrafast nonlinear spectroscopy and spectroelectrochemistry (DIETZEK-IVANŠIĆ)
- Designing and characterization of surfaces with light-controllable polarization
- In-situ spectroscopic characterization of photoelectrocatalysts
In the field of ultraprecise surface machining with lasers (ARNOLD)
- Ultraprecise surface processing by means of laser; in addition to etching also deposition as well as modification processes
- Laser plasmas in reactive atmosphere produced by ultrashort laser pulses, which enable a vertical precision in the sub-nanometer range; reducing the lateral size of laser plasma interactions below 1 µm is needed
- Localized material modifications by laser enabling the coupling of molecular entities to surfaces to join top down with bottom-up processes for future (electronic) applications