Job description
Hydrogen plasma environments are becoming critical to several high-impact technologies, including fusion energy, plasma catalysis, and EUV lithography. In all of these fields, systems are being driven towards higher plasma powers, leading to more severe plasma-surface interactions and accelerated material degradation. Despite this growing need, current laboratory test facilities cannot yet reproduce hydrogen plasma exposure conditions at the intensity and timescales required for accelerated lifetime testing. Combining the concepts of different plasma sources should allow developing sources that expose samples to high flux of 10^16 ions/(cm2s) while maintaining the ion energy below 10 eV, exceeding flux of the current state-of-the-art ECR plasma sources. This innovation will enable lab-scale measurements of lifetime testing for plasma facing surfaces, while maintaining their corresponding degradation mechanisms.
In this postdoctoral project, you will work with different hydrogen plasma sources and develop analysis routines to characterize the flux and energy to verify the properties of the high flux hydrogen illumination source. You will quantify the enhancement, demonstrate the performance in samples relevant to applications, and identify the influence factors that allow to tune the source.
You will work in the XUV Optics group at the University of Twente, embedded in the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology. The project offers a combination of hands-on experimental work, data analysis, physical interpretation and close interaction with industrial partners. You will contribute to a scientifically challenging and industrially relevant topic.
Your profile
- You have a PhD degree in materials science, applied physics, physical chemistry, nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, or a related field.
- You enjoy hands-on experimental work and are able to work accurately with advanced laboratory equipment. Experience with building, maintaining, or upgrading vacuum systems is a big plus.
- You have advantage if you have experience with one or more of the following experimental research topics: surfaces, interfaces, thin films, hydrogen plasma, magnetron sputtering, plasma sources, plasma characterization.
- You have a creative mindset, work independently, and are motivated to address a challenging scientific problem with industrial relevance.
- You have a good team spirit and enjoy working in an interdisciplinary environment with academic and industrial partners.
- You are proficient in English and able to communicate your results clearly in meetings, reports, and scientific publications.
Our offer
- You will be appointed for a period of maximum 2 years full-time within a very stimulating scientific environment. The university offers a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues.
- Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);
- Gross salary between € 4.241,- and € 5.538,- per month depending on experience and qualifications;
- Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension scheme;
- Free access to sports facilities on campus
- A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
- Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.
- We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff. We are also a family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid) and career support for partners.
Information and application
Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before July 10, and include:
- A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasizing your specific interest, qualifications, motivations to apply for this position.
- A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL), if available.
- Contact details for two references
About the department
The University of Twente stands for life sciences and technology: high tech and human touch. Its education and research focus on technology that drives innovation and societal progress. The University of Twente is the only campus university in the Netherlands and offers an open, collaborative and entrepreneurial research environment.
The XUV Optics Group is embedded in the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, one of the largest nanotechnology research institutes in the world. The group performs fundamental and applied research on thin films, surfaces, interfaces and optical materials, with strong relevance to high-tech applications and close collaboration with industrial partners. The MESA+ NanoLab provides extensive cleanroom infrastructure and state-of-the-art tools for materials fabrication, surface analysis and nanoscale characterization.
The University of Twente is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and particularly welcome applications from groups that are underrepresented in science and engineering.
About the organisation
The Faculty of Science & Technology (Technische Natuurwetenschappen, TNW) engages some 700 staff members and 2000 students in education and research on the cutting edge of chemical technology, applied physics and biomedical technology. Our fields of application include sustainable energy, process technology and materials science, nanotechnology and technical medicine. As part of a people-first tech university that aims to shape society, individuals and connections, our faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad, and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Our research has a high profile both in the Netherlands and internationally and is strengthened by the many young researchers working on innovative projects with as doctoral candidates and post-docs. It has been accommodated in three multidisciplinary UT research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centre and Digital Society Institute.
