Jobs, Vacancies

As part of the recently launched Marie Curie Initial Training Network INDEX, a 3-year Early Stage Researcher position is available at the University of Cambridge, UK, in the Department of Physics. The starting date is 01 May 2012. The network includes 7 academic and industrial groups from across the European Union as well as several associate partners from the US and EU. The doctoral programme will provide a range of educational and research opportunities focused on Ultrafast dynamics of advanced emitters and semiconductor microcavities.

This project will explore the development of new microcavity geometries on the optoelectronic properties, and make in depth measurements to characterise them, partly in collaboration with other ITN partners.

Candidates with some experience in optical measurements and photonics research are welcome. A basic knowledge of semiconductors is also desirable. In addition to proven experimental skills the candidate should have a strong interest in the theoretical background of these experiments. Characterization tools such ultrafast lasers and electrical spectroscopy will be used and developed. The research training will be towards a PhD and therefore applicants must also gain admission as a graduate student.

According to EU regulations, candidates can be of any nationality. They should have less than 4 years of research experience and should not have resided in the United Kingdom for more than 12 months during the past 3-year period.

Please send applications including a brief statement of interest, a Curriculum Vitae, parts 1 and 3 of the CHRIS/6 cover sheet (see http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/) and the names and contact details of two referees to Prof Baumberg (jjb12@cam.ac.uk)

* Limit of tenure: Three years.

Quote Reference: KA12102,Closing Date: 16 February 2012

The Optoelectronics Group at the Cavendish Laboratory (http://www-oe.phy.cam.ac.uk/), one of the leading academic groups in the field of solution processible organic and inorganic semiconductors, has an opening for a post-doctoral research associate. The position is part of a European framework project which provides opportunities for collaborating with other leading academic and industrial partners across Europe. The project is focussed on the scientific understanding of the electronic structure and charge transport physics of solution-processed oxide semiconductors. The successful candidate will use transport characterisation, using techniques such as magnetotransport measurements or magnetic resonance techniques, to investigate the fundamental charge and spin transport physics of these materials.

A PhD degree in physics or related fields and an interest in working with new materials are required.

For more information on the project contact Prof Henning Sirringhaus: hs220@cam.ac.uk

Applications should be sent to: Miss Emily Heavens, Microelectronics Group, The Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 OHE, UK or by email: efh28@cam.ac.uk and should include a full CV; a CHRIS/6 cover sheet (see: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/); and the names and contact details of at least two referees.

* Limit of tenure: 30 April 2013.

Quote Reference: KA13302,Closing Date: 9 March 2012

Applications are invited for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate position in the Biological and Soft Systems sector of the Cavendish Laboratory, for a period of 12 months. The position should be taken up no later than June 2012.

The project will be in the general field of polymer-based electrodes and membranes, looking specifically at the applications of these materials to supercapacitor technologies. Applicants must have a PhD in the Natural Sciences or Engineering, and should have either:

(a) Demonstrable experience in supercapacitor technology and characterization, including a knowledge of relevant metal-oxide and other inorganic chemistries for electrode development, or

(b) Demonstrable skill in modern organic and polymer chemistry, including either living polymerization methods for block copolymer synthesis, or the synthesis of (polymerized) ionic liquids.

The topic will be application-oriented, funded by an EPSRC follow-on project to develop novel self-assembly based technology (Nature Materials, 11, 53-57, 2012) into a commercially interesting application.

Informal enquiries on the scientific aspects of the work should be sent to Dr. Easan Sivaniah (es10009@cam.ac.uk).

Applications including a curriculum vitae, a list of publications and a completed CHRIS/6 form (parts I and III available to download from http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/personnel/forms/chris6) with details of two referees should be sent to Ms Tracy Inman (Sector Administrator), Biological and Soft Systems Sector, The Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, U.K. or by e-mail: ti226@cam.ac.uk

* Limit of tenure: One year.

Quote Reference: KA12412,Closing Date: 20 February 2012

Applications are invited for an experimental postdoctoral position available immediately, for 24 months to work within our UK-funded centre exploring nanostructured materials for photonics- and bio-applications. Working in a team you will explore new ways that use soft matter assembly to make novel photonic nanostructures.

This position will be focussed on the optics side (with a second position advertised simultaneously available in fabrication). You will be expected to be versatile in approach, combining rigorous optical spectroscopies which you develop together with soft matter nano-assembly, theoretical insight, and fabrication. You will hold or soon gain a strong optics-based physics or engineering PhD and have interest and experience in this topic. Useful experience would be ultrafast and nonlinear spectroscopy, scattering spectroscopies, single nanoparticle spectroscopies or scanning nonlinear techniques such as CARS.

The UK NanoPhotonics Centre (http://www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk) moved to the University of Cambridge in 2008, and collaborates widely across the University including the Departments of Chemistry, Engineering, Physics of Medicine, Cancer Research UK, Chemical Engineering, Materials as well as many international partners, industry, with several major EU programmes. Profs. Baumberg and Steiner are acknowledged leaders in discovering and assembling nanomaterials for novel photonics. Informal enquires may be addressed to Prof. Jeremy Baumberg (j.j.baumberg@phy.cam.ac.uk)

Applications should be sent to: Mrs Angela Campbell, Nanophotonics Group, The Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 OHE, UK or by email: ajc267@cam.ac.uk and should include a full CV; a CHRIS/6 cover sheet (see: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/ ); and the names and contact details of at least two referees.

* Limit of tenure: two years.

Quote Reference: KA11862,Closing Date: 10 February 2012

Applications are invited for an experimental postdoctoral position available immediately, for 24 months to work within our UK-funded centre exploring nanostructured materials for photonics- and bio-applications. Working in a team you will explore new ways that use soft matter assembly to make novel photonic nanostructures.

This position will be focussed on nanostructure assembly and fabrication (a second position in optics is advertised simultaneously). You will be versatile in approach, with a broad background in polymer science, solution-based nano-assembly, copolymer self-assembly, electrochemistry, atomic layer deposition or similar. You will hold or soon gain a strong materials or physics based PhD and have interest and experience in this topic. Useful experience would be soft lithography, electrodeposition of nanostructures, atomic layer deposition, or colloidal nano-assembly.

The UK NanoPhotonics Centre (http://www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk) moved to the University of Cambridge in 2008, and collaborates widely across the University including the Departments of Chemistry, Engineering, Physics of Medicine, Cancer Research UK, Chemical Engineering, Materials as well as many international partners, industry, with several major EU programmes. Profs. Baumberg and Steiner are acknowledged leaders in discovering and assembling nanomaterials for novel photonics. Informal enquires may be addressed to Prof. Ulli Steiner (u.steiner@phy.cam.ac.uk).

Applications should be sent to Ms Tracy Inman, The Cavendish Laboratory, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, or by e-mail: ti226@cam.ac.uk, and should include a CV; a CHRIS 6 cover sheet (available from http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6) and names and contact details of two referees.

* Limit of tenure: two years.

Quote Reference: KA12172,Closing Date: 15 February 2012

This major research programme, funded by Cancer Research UK, brings together expertise from three departments in the University of Cambridge: Oncology, Engineering, and Physics, also within the medical physics, radiotherapy and clinical groups in Addenbrooke's Hospital.

The VoxTox Programme will investigate the extent to which a better understanding of the dose received and the fate of normal tissues receiving radiotherapy (RT) will facilitate lower toxicity, and contribute to higher cancer cure rates. This will be achieved by implementing more sophisticated models of delivered dose than have previously been possible in clinical practice, thus linking dose at the voxel level with toxicity (VoxTox).

We are seeking a Research Associate for 12 months in the first instance from April 2012 or earlier, to work under the supervision of Professor M A Parker, Department of Physics, on curation and storage of data, and data workflows aspects of the Programme. He or she will liaise closely with colleagues in the Department of Medical Physics at Addenbrooke's Hospital and the University's Department of Engineering.

Knowledge, skills and experience for the role:

Essential:

- Previous experience developing applications in a grid computing environment

- Experience in the use of databases, metadata and data curation for scientific applications

- Demonstrable knowledge and previous use of good practice in scientific software engineering, including version control, testing and documentation

- A PhD in physics, computer science or other relevant discipline

Desirable:

- Use of the EGEE/EGI particle physics grid infrastructure or similar, either as a user or developer

- A current publication record and evidence of conference/community participation

- An awareness of concepts and current practice in machine learning, image processing, radiation therapy and medical imaging

- Previous experience in a multi-disciplinary research environment

Further details are available by email only from Katherine Habib, kh468@hep.phy.cam.ac.uk.

Applications should be sent to: Katherine Habib, HEP Group Secretary, The Cavendish Laboratory, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 OHE, UK or by email kh468@hep.phy.cam.ac.uk Applications should include a full CV, list of publications and a CHRIS/6 cover sheet (see: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/ ), and the names and contact details of at least two referees.

* The funds for this post are available 12 months in the first instance.

Quote Reference: KA12062,Closing Date: 15 February 2012

The University has made a major investment in biological/medical and soft matter physics with the building up of a new research activity in the Department of Physics (including new laboratories), the appointment of a Herchel Smith Professor of the Physics of Medicine, and the recent appointments of several lecturers in experimental soft matter and bio-medical physics. Applications for a further appointment in this broad area are now invited.

Applicants should have a PhD and a strong track record in relevant research together with successful teaching experience. An experimentalist is preferred who will develop a programme that fits within this broad area, either spanning the interface between physics and biology/clinical medicine or in the general field of soft matter with an interest in biology, in either case complementing current research activities.

The appointment will be for a probationary period of five years, with appointment to the retiring age thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance. Further details of the posts can be found at http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk/vacancies/

Applications, including a curriculum vitae; a statement (up to six pages) of research experience to date and of research plans for the future; and a completed CHRIS/6 application cover sheet (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/ ) Parts I and III only, should be sent by email to the Head of Department's Office (email hod@phy.cam.ac.uk), to arrive no later than Friday 2 March.

Candidates should ask their three referees to write directly on their behalf to the Head of Department, Professor James Stirling, (email hod@phy.cam.ac.uk) by Friday 2 March.

Quote Reference: KA12802,Closing Date: 2 March 2012

Advances in fundamental physics have the potential to address the demands of a growing population and strained natural resources. The Winton Programme for the Physics of Sustainability will support people with the radical ideas that will bring practical solutions to these problems. Research will be carried within the Department of Physics, or where appropriate, jointly with other Departments in the University to explore new directions in basic science.

The Fund Managers of the Winton Programme invite applications for up to three Advanced Research Fellowships. This scheme will support outstanding scientists and will allow them to develop an independent research career. Candidates sought are of the calibre to win permanent posts in universities at the end of their fellowships. Candidates will normally have completed at least one post-doctoral appointment at an institution different from that at which their PhD was obtained. Fellowships will be of 5 years' duration, with some scope for extension of two years and will provide salary comparable to junior university faculty positions (on the scale currently £36,862 -£46,696 per annum) and appropriate support for equipment, travel and operating expenses. Proposed projects should be in new areas or take new approaches in established areas related to research in the broad field of the application of physics to sustainability.

Further information on the Winton Programme can be found on the website http://www.winton.phy.cam.ac.uk/ . Enquires should be addressed to the Winton Programme manager, Dr Nalin Patel (nlp28@cam.ac.uk).

Applicants should submit a standard application comprising: Parts I and III of the CHRIS/6 cover sheet (available at: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/hr/forms/chris6/); a curriculum vitae; a list of publications; the names and addresses of 3 referees; a personal statement of accomplishments to date (up to 1000 words); an outline research proposal (up to 1500 words); and a brief account of research support required (up to 750 words). The research outline should emphasise the novelty of the research approach, but also set out a clear plan of activity. Applications should to be sent to The Winton Programme Manager, The Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE or by email to: winton@phy.cam.ac.uk

Those successful at the outline stage will be invited for an interview for which guidance will be provided.

* Limit of tenure: Five years.

Quote Reference: KA10062,Closing Date: 16 March 2012