Nazarbayev University

We are seeking Postdoctoral, PhD & MS Student Researchers to work in the area of nano- and micro-scale phonon thermal transport and elastic properties of ion irradiated, interfacial, nanostructured and phase-transformed materials for advanced energy applications. This is an interdisciplinary research opportunity on the intersection of advanced laser-based instrumentation & metrology, thermophysics & physical acoustics, radiation material science & nanotechnology. The focus will be on advanced laser techniques, designing and implementing opto-thermal & opto-acoustic experiments, performing spatial-, frequency- & time- resolved measurements & simulations and mapping of phonon mediated thermal transport and acoustic properties in advanced functional material systems, analyzing results.  

Qualifications for Postdoctoral Candidates:

• Earned PhD degree in Physics, Material Science, Nanoscience, Mechanical Engineering or related field

• Strong background in characterization of thermal transport, acoustic properties and structure of materials.

• For candidates with experimental background: solid hands-on experimental skills with advanced laser-optical instrumentation (e.g. spatially-, time- and frequency-resolved pump-probe photothermal and photoacoustic techniques, inelastic light scattering & emission micro-spectroscopies, interferometry, laser vibrometry, optical design & construction, measurements, signal processing, data analysis & automation). Additional experience in assessment of material performance under ion irradiation with a focus on designing and conducting high precision ion beam irradiation experiments, material structure fabrication with tailored phononic properties, qualifying and quantifying defects by advanced microstructure characterization and imaging techniques is a plus.

• For candidates theoretical and modeling background: experience with employment and development of multi-scale simulations ranging from ab-initio atomic, non-equilibrium and equilibrium molecular dynamics to continuum and analytical modeling approaches to predict the radiation-, nano- and micro-structure -driven evolution of thermal conductivity and elastic properties of solids. Experience with machine learning applied to computational material science is a plus.

• Ability to work independently and as part of the team, possess strong technical communication skills and is expected to present research results at seminars, project meetings, national and international conferences and publish in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals.

• Strong motivation to generate advanced novel research concepts and proposals to secure new sources of external funding.

Qualifications for PhD and MS Student Candidates:

• Earned MS degree with good academic standing for PhD degree candidates

• Earned BS degree with good academic standing for MS degree candidates

• Solid knowledge of thermal and solid-state physics, acoustics and optics

• Experience with experimental and computational technqiues applied to solid-state materials 

• Research pubications and hands-on experience with optical, thermal, acoustic, mechanical and structural measurements, experiment automation, signal & data processing and computer simulations is a plus.