Postdoc (2 years) in design and synthesis of carbon dots

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The Department of Physics is seeking a motivated postdoc for a project aimed at developing luminescent carbon dots for light-emitting applications. The employment is full-time for two years, with a planned start on November 1, 2026, or by agreement. The application deadline is September 10, 2026.

Project description and tasks

In the project ”All-Plant-Based Artificial Lighting Solution for Greenhouses”, we want to develop and synthesize sustainable nanomaterials with high luminescence, specifically carbon dots produced from plant-based resources, as an alternative to today's non-sustainable materials in light-emitting applications, such as rare earth-based phosphors and quantum dots based on heavy metals. We will investigate the potential of these sustainable luminescent nanomaterials as color-converting layers in light-emitting devices as well as in other advanced optoelectronic applications.

The project's main focus is the design, synthesis, and characterization of environmentally friendly, biomass-based emissive carbon dots. The use of these luminescent nanomaterials includes their function as color-converting layers or as active layers in light-emitting components. Therefore, a second central task in the project is also included, namely participating in interdisciplinary collaborations with other researchers.

The project is funded by the Bertil and Britt Svensson Foundation for Lighting Technology.

Qualifications

To be employed under a fixed-term employment agreement as a postdoc, a doctoral degree or a foreign degree assessed to correspond to a doctoral degree is required. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than when the employment decision is made.

To be employed under the postdoc agreement, the candidate should primarily have obtained their degree according to the preceding paragraph no more than three years ago. If there are special reasons, those who obtained their doctoral degree earlier may be considered. Special reasons refer to leave due to illness, parental leave, positions of trust within trade unions, service within the total defense, or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

Additional requirements are:

• We are looking for a candidate who has demonstrated the ability to work independently with initiative, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility, and who can reliably carry out agreed research tasks.
• A doctoral degree (or a foreign degree assessed to be equivalent) in chemistry, physics, materials science, or a related field.
• Documented experience in the synthesis and purification of organic semiconductors, nanoparticles, or quantum dots.
• Documented experience in materials characterization, such as NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, and electron microscopy.
• Documented experience in photophysical characterization, including UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, measurement of photoluminescence quantum yield, and other relevant techniques.
• Very good knowledge of English, both oral and written, is a requirement.

It is meritorious if the applicant has:

• General knowledge in the fabrication and characterization of thin-film samples, for example spin coating, physical vapor deposition, spray coating, as well as characterization of surface properties.
• General knowledge in the fabrication or characterization of optoelectronic components.
• Experience in the synthesis of carbon dots is particularly meritorious.

Application

Mandatory documents:

• Personal letter (max 2 pages) presenting your qualifications, research interests, motivation for the application, and future professional goals.
• Curriculum vitae - CV with a publication list,
• Certified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation confirming when the doctoral degree is expected to be obtained,
• Certified copies of other degree certificates, academic transcripts and/or grades,
• Copy of doctoral thesis and a maximum of 3 relevant articles,
• At least one signed letter of recommendation from reference(s) with the competence to assess the applicant's research ability.
• Other documents that the applicant wishes to invoke.
• Contact details for two spoken references.

Your application should be written in English (preferred) or Swedish and submitted as PDF files. The application must be submitted via our electronic recruitment system Varbi. You log in to Varbi and submit your application via the button at the bottom of this page.

The application deadline is September 10, 2026.