About this role
Fixed term contract | Belvaux | 24 months Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a leading Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) that drives innovation for the economy and society in Luxembourg and beyond. With cutting-edge expertise in Natural, Built, Industrial environments, Space, AI, Security and defence technologies. LIST bridges scientific excellence and applied research to design solutions that address real-world challenges and create positive impact. Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu / How will you contribute? The push to reduce global energy consumption has set a clear trend in modern technology towards devices that are smaller, faster and more energy-efficient. Meeting these demands calls for new materials that can perform several functions at once. Magnetoelectric multiferroics are especially attractive in this respect, because they combine magnetism and ferroelectricity in a single phase. Crucially, this opens the possibility of controlling magnetism with an electric field which could enable entirely new device architectures and transform modern computing and data storage. Despite decades of progress, this promise is hard to realise: in most known multiferroics the two orders only coexist well below room temperature, and many are difficult to integrate with standard semiconductor manufacturing. Turning multiferroics into a practical technology therefore requires identifying or designing new materials that show robust, coupled magnetism and ferroelectricity at room temperature and remain compatible with established fabrication processes. This is the challenge at the heart of the SMART project funded by the FNR CORE programme and led by Natalya Fedorova. We offer a 2-year postdoc position in which you will use first-principles calculations (DFT) together with analytical modelling to design room-temperature multiferroics via doping of semiconductors. Working mainly with DFT, you will carry out a systematic analysis of electronic, structural, magnetic and ferroelectric properties of these materials - computing, for instance, ground-state magnetic configurations, magnetic exchange interactions, electric polarization and polarization-switching pathways. You will then combine these results with analytical models to describe the magnetoelectric coupling in the most promising candidates and to explore how their magnetism could be manipulated with an applied electric field. You will join the Modelling of Functional Materials group led by Jorge Íñiguez-González (also involved in the project) and will benefit from interactions with other team members. Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now! • You hold a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics, Materials Science, Computational Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related field. • You have hands-on experience with DFT codes (e.g. VASP, CRYSTAL, Quantum ESPRESSO or similar), scripting for automation and data analysis (e.g. Python, Bash), and working in a Linux/HPC environment. Knowledge of magnetism, ferroelectricity and/or multiferroics is a strong asset. • You are fluent in English, both oral and written. Knowledge of French is an asset. Your LIST benefits • An organization with a passion for impact and strong RDI partnerships in Luxembourg and Europe that works on responsible and independent research projects • Sustainable by design, empowering our belief that we play an essential role in paving the way to a green society • Innovative infrastructures and exceptional labs occupying more than 5,000 square metres, including innovations in all that we do • An environment encouraging curiosity, innovation and entrepreneurship in all areas • Personalized learning programme to foster our staff's soft and technical skills • Multicultural and international work environment with more than 60 nationalities represented in our workforce • Diverse and inclusive work environment empowering our people to fulfil their personal and professional ambitions • Gender-friendly environment with multiple actions to attract, develop and retain women in science • 32 days' paid annual leave, 11 public holidays, 13-month salary, statutory health insurance • Flexible working hours, home working policy (not remote) and access to Digital lunch vouchers Apply online Your application must include: • A motivation letter oriented towards the position and detailing your experience • A scientific CV with contact details • Academic record • List of publications (and patents, if applicable) • Contact details of 2 references Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered. Application procedure and conditions We kindly request applicants to provide their nationality for statistical purposes only, as part of our commitment to promoting diversity and ensuring equal opportunities in our workforce. This information will be kept confidential and will not be used for any discriminatory purposes. LIST is dedicated to maintaining an inclusive work environment and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to attracting, hiring, and retaining a diverse workforce. All applicants will be considered for employment without discrimination based on national origin, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, age, or disability. Applications will be continuously reviewed until the position is filled. An assessment committee will thoroughly evaluate applications, adhering to guidelines designed to ensure equal opportunities. The primary criteria for selection will be the alignment of the applicant's existing skills and expertise with the requirements mentioned above. As part of our recruitment process, the selected candidate might be subject to a background check in accordance with applicable laws and institutional policies. Further checks and restrictions might apply to candidates in compliance with export controls requirements This position offers a gross monthly salary between €6'094 and €6'678, paid over 13 months (€79'222–€86'814 annually) based on fulltime employment. The final salary offer within this range will be determined by the candidate's overall profile, qualifications and professional experience.