Difference between revisions of "Vacancies"

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<metadesc>Research vacancies in the Coherent X-ray Science Group. Please discuss further with Marcus Newton. </metadesc>
  
 
== Vacancies: ==
 
== Vacancies: ==
  
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=== Research Fellow in Coherent Diffraction Imaging ===
 
=== Research Fellow in Coherent Diffraction Imaging ===
  
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Applications are invited for a Research Fellow in the broad area of coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) of quantum materials at the nanoscale.  This role is part of the recently funded UKRI project on 'Time Resolved Imaging of Quantum Multifunctional Materials'. This role is focussed on utilising CDI techniques to image time-varying phenomena in a range of multifunctional materials using our unique laboratory based x-ray imaging equipment along side synchrotron and XFEL facilities. We are particularly interested in the quantum properties of correlated materials at the nanoscale for potential applications such as ultra-fast optical switches and low power magnetoelectronic devices.  
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This exciting research post is part of the recently funded UKRI FLF project in the area of x-ray imaging of quantum materials. The aim is to utilise coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) techniques to study quantum phenomena in a range of multifunctional materials using our newly completed state-of-the-art in-house x-ray imaging facility and various synchrotron x-ray facilities. We have designed a novel pulsed laser deposition (PLD) system to automate the design and fabrication of nanoscale materials that permits rapid preparation and optimisation.  Our current focus is on perovskite materials for energy efficient technologies and lithium-ion batteries. 
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You will utilise our facilities to synthesis and characterise materials for synchrotron experiments. We have developed cutting edge tools that include machine learning methods for analysis of data from synchrotron experiments. You will work as a team and jointly with our collaborators to prepare samples, attend synchrotron experiments and analyse the resulting data. Field work will initially take place at the Diamond Light Source in Oxford.
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To be successful you will have a PhD* or equivalent professional qualifications and experience in one of the following Physics; Materials Science;  Optoelectronics; Engineering or a related field along with knowledge of coherent x-ray diffraction imaging or related techniques.  In addition, you will have experience of coherent x-ray diffraction imaging or related techniques and a good understanding of a scientific computing language such as Python.
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This post is offered on a full-time, fixed term basis for 2 years due to funding requirements, with a possible extension to 4 years.
  
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The successful candidate will engage with the wider x-ray imaging and materials physics community as well as industry and the general public in outreach activities. Full details of the role are found in the job description and person specification. The successful applicant must have a PhD or equivalent qualifications in Physics, Materials Science, Optoelectronics, Engineering or a related field.
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Apply now [https://jobs.soton.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=1869622WF here].
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=== Imaging Multifunctional Nanomaterials in Three-Dimensions with Coherent X-rays ===
 
=== Imaging Multifunctional Nanomaterials in Three-Dimensions with Coherent X-rays ===
  
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To better understand these materials we will use a technique called Bragg coherent X-ray diffractive imaging (BCXDI) without lenses to reveal how novel phases emerge and influence the material properties. The application of BCXDI to the study of multifunctional materials will enable a wide range of next generation technologies that otherwise are inaccessible due to an incomplete understanding of their properties. The successful candidate will spend approximately 50% of their time on the project working at the Diamond Light Source, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
 
To better understand these materials we will use a technique called Bragg coherent X-ray diffractive imaging (BCXDI) without lenses to reveal how novel phases emerge and influence the material properties. The application of BCXDI to the study of multifunctional materials will enable a wide range of next generation technologies that otherwise are inaccessible due to an incomplete understanding of their properties. The successful candidate will spend approximately 50% of their time on the project working at the Diamond Light Source, located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire.
  
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Applications are invited from bright and highly motivated students with a background in physics, materials science, inorganic chemistry or a related field. The successful candidates will have obtained either a First or Upper Second class honours degree.  
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Applications are invited from bright and highly motivated students with a background in physics, materials science, inorganic chemistry or a related field. The successful candidates will have obtained either a First or Upper Second class honours degree.
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=== General Purpose Machine Learning Tool-Kit for Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging ===
  
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Deep learning has has emerged as a powerful alternative to the iterative phase retrieval approach, that can provide robust reconstruction of Fourier-space diffraction pattern data where iterative methods often fail to solve the phase retrieval problem. Although emphasis to date has focussed on inversion from Fourier-space to real-space images, the process of recovering real-space images remains unclear due to the inherent and currently intractable complexity of deep learning methods. In this project you will develop Physics-Aware Super-Resolution convolutional neural network tools to enhance the visibility of Fourier-space diffraction patterns thus enabling rapid and accurate reconstruction of phase information. This project is a collaboration between the [https://adalovelacecentre.ac.uk/ Ada Lovelace Centre], the [https://www.diamond.ac.uk Diamond Light Source] and the University of Southampton.
  
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Applications are invited online [https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page here]. When completing the online form, Select "Programme type: Research", "Academic Year: 2024/25", "Faculty: Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering".  Then select the "PhD Physics (Full time)" course title. Once logged on, in the supervisor name field, insert "Marcus Newton".
  
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=== Imaging Quantum Materials with an XFEL ===
  
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=== Ultra-fast X-ray Imaging of Nanoscale Structures ===
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Quantum materials can often exhibit novel and multifunctional properties due to strong coupling between lattice, charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom. When perturbed into an excited state, non-equilibrium phases often emerge on the femtosecond timescale. They include light-induced superconductivity, terahertz-induced ferroelectricity and ultra-fast solid-phase structural transformations. Understanding non-equilibrium phases in quantum materials is of great interest for the development of next generation technologies and to better understand the underlying mechanisms. To further understand these hidden phases, tools to probe quantum materials with femto-second time-resolution are required. 
  
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A long standing dream of chemical physics is to directly observe atomic motions during the event of a chemical transition from one state to another. The ability to quantitatively observe atomic motions within the transition state region where atoms exchange nuclear configurations would greatly facilitate our understanding of the physical process. This is particularly true for strongly correlated electronic materials where the interaction between the valence electrons can strongly influence the materials properties. Such materials are interesting as their unique properties are of considerable utility for device physics, functional materials and the study of fundamental condensed matter physics.
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X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facilities provide ultra-short pulses of coherent x-rays that make it possible to measure ultra-fast dynamics in quantum materials simultaneously with nanoscale spatial resolution and femto-second time resolution. While preliminary work has begun on the use of XFELs to study quantum behaviour in materials, there are a wide range of strongly correlated materials that exhibit novel behaviour that is not well understood.
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The aim of this project is to understand the initial stages of the femtosecond structural phase transition in strongly correlated electronic materials such as vanadium dioxide. The candidate will become proficient in the use of femtosecond Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (BCXDI) for studying femtosecond structural dynamics in nanometre scale self-assembled structures.  
 
  
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To investigate strongly correlated phenomena the student will focus on one or more components to this multidisciplinary project. They include (1) nanoscale materials fabrication and characterisation; (2) time-resolved femto-second Bragg coherent X-ray diffraction imaging (BCXDI); and (3) supercomputing based finite element materials modelling of light matter interactions.  
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This project will investigate strongly correlated phenomena in nanoscale quantum materials using time-resolved Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) at various XFEL facilities.  Initial emphasis will reside on the study of structural phase changes in strongly correlated quantum materials such as vanadium dioxide but will continue to expand to other material systems throughout the duration of the project. The overarching goal is to directly observe atomic motions during the event of a quantum phase transition. The ability to quantitatively observe atomic motions within the transition state region where atoms exchange nuclear configurations will greatly facilitate our understanding of the physical processes.
  
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The successful candidate will work with an international team of research scientists with a broad range of skills. The successful candidate will also visit a number of research facilities across the world including the European XFEL facility in Germany, SACLA XFEL facility in Japan and the Diamond Light Source to perform experiments.  
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This project is fully funded for 3.5 years, supervised by Dr Marcus Newton and will benefit from access to the European XFEL, Swiss XFEL, SACLA XFEL and PAL XFEL.  A background in physics, materials science or inorganic chemistry is desirable but not essential.
  
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Applications are invited from bright and highly motivated students with a background in physics, materials science, inorganic chemistry or a related field. The successful candidates will have obtained either a First or Upper Second class honours degree. International students are required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English language skills.
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Applications are invited online [https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page here]. When completing the online form, Select "Programme type: Research", "Academic Year: 2024/25", "Faculty: Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering". Then select the "PhD Physics (Full time)" course title. Once logged on, in the supervisor name field, insert "Marcus Newton".

Revision as of 10:55, 11 March 2024



Vacancies:

General Purpose Machine Learning Tool-Kit for Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging

Deep learning has has emerged as a powerful alternative to the iterative phase retrieval approach, that can provide robust reconstruction of Fourier-space diffraction pattern data where iterative methods often fail to solve the phase retrieval problem. Although emphasis to date has focussed on inversion from Fourier-space to real-space images, the process of recovering real-space images remains unclear due to the inherent and currently intractable complexity of deep learning methods. In this project you will develop Physics-Aware Super-Resolution convolutional neural network tools to enhance the visibility of Fourier-space diffraction patterns thus enabling rapid and accurate reconstruction of phase information. This project is a collaboration between the Ada Lovelace Centre, the Diamond Light Source and the University of Southampton.

Applications are invited online here. When completing the online form, Select "Programme type: Research", "Academic Year: 2024/25", "Faculty: Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering". Then select the "PhD Physics (Full time)" course title. Once logged on, in the supervisor name field, insert "Marcus Newton".

Imaging Quantum Materials with an XFEL

Quantum materials can often exhibit novel and multifunctional properties due to strong coupling between lattice, charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom. When perturbed into an excited state, non-equilibrium phases often emerge on the femtosecond timescale. They include light-induced superconductivity, terahertz-induced ferroelectricity and ultra-fast solid-phase structural transformations. Understanding non-equilibrium phases in quantum materials is of great interest for the development of next generation technologies and to better understand the underlying mechanisms. To further understand these hidden phases, tools to probe quantum materials with femto-second time-resolution are required.

X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL) facilities provide ultra-short pulses of coherent x-rays that make it possible to measure ultra-fast dynamics in quantum materials simultaneously with nanoscale spatial resolution and femto-second time resolution. While preliminary work has begun on the use of XFELs to study quantum behaviour in materials, there are a wide range of strongly correlated materials that exhibit novel behaviour that is not well understood.

This project will investigate strongly correlated phenomena in nanoscale quantum materials using time-resolved Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (CDI) at various XFEL facilities. Initial emphasis will reside on the study of structural phase changes in strongly correlated quantum materials such as vanadium dioxide but will continue to expand to other material systems throughout the duration of the project. The overarching goal is to directly observe atomic motions during the event of a quantum phase transition. The ability to quantitatively observe atomic motions within the transition state region where atoms exchange nuclear configurations will greatly facilitate our understanding of the physical processes.

This project is fully funded for 3.5 years, supervised by Dr Marcus Newton and will benefit from access to the European XFEL, Swiss XFEL, SACLA XFEL and PAL XFEL. A background in physics, materials science or inorganic chemistry is desirable but not essential.

Applications are invited online here. When completing the online form, Select "Programme type: Research", "Academic Year: 2024/25", "Faculty: Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering". Then select the "PhD Physics (Full time)" course title. Once logged on, in the supervisor name field, insert "Marcus Newton".

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