**In order to fill a fixed-term position in part-time, full-time (39.83 hours/week = 100%) at the earliest possible date, we are looking for a**

### Postdoc (m/f/x, TV-L 13, 100%) - SFB 1625 "Atomic-scale understanding and design of multifunctional compositionally complex solid solution surfaces"

As part of the new Collaborative Research Centre CRC 1625 "Atomic-scale understanding and design of multifunctional compositionally complex solid solution surfaces ", a postdoc position (m/f/d) is available for the subproject A02 "Microstructure design of quasi-single-crystalline and smooth model layers" as soon as possible. Compositionally complex solid solutions (CCSS), which contain five different elements in a single-phase crystal structure, have unique electrocatalytic properties that are crucial for future sustainable energy systems such as electrolyzers. The extraordinary, surface-dominated properties are a consequence of the large number of different polyelemental active centers on the surface. The design of these surface atom arrangements (SAA) has the potential to overcome the limitations of conventional catalysts and pave the way for sustainable materials with outstanding activity and stability. The CRC aims to understand and control SAA: their formation, their variation for different systems and compositions, changes in SAA due to experimental conditions and, most importantly, the systematic tailoring and manipulation of SAA to shape their properties.

A02 is a joint project between the groups of Prof Ludwig (Bochum) and Prof Raabe (Düsseldorf). In the project homogeneous thin films are sputtered and processed (heat treatment, ion irradiation, etc.) in Bochum in order to obtain single-crystalline films with large grains, minimal surface roughness and well-defined crystallographic orientation. These samples form the basis for the SFB to carry out experiments on atomic scale. Furthermore, the postdoc will be responsible for film depositions on special substrates as well as enabling correlative microscopies by micro/nanoscale marking of the films. The processing of the thin films in order to design their desired properties is developed in close co-operation with the second postdoc at the Max Planck Institute SUSMAT in Düsseldorf. We are looking for a highly motivated scientist with very good knowledge in the field of materials science (thin films and materials characterization desirable), interest in electrochemical materials and materials informatics, who dares to approach new, exciting and promising topics in an interdisciplinary environment and who has the ambition to efficiently generate, publish and apply new scientific findings with the extraordinary experimental possibilities available and the cooperation in the CRC.

Scope: part-time, full-time
Duration: fixed-term, 31.12.2027
Start: at the earliest possible date
Apply by: 2026-01-26

**Your tasks:**

- Synthesis and processing of thin films by sputtering
- Characterization of thin films (EDX, XRD, EBSD, AFM, XPS, AES, LEIS, ...)
- Interdisciplinary collaboration within the CRC
- Publication of results

**Your profile:**

- Completed studies with a focus on materials science, with very good results, in the field of materials science, mechanical engineering (specializing in materials) or physics, chemistry
- Practical experience in the synthesis of thin films, preferably sputtering
- Practical experience in epitaxial growth of thin films
- Practical experience in the characterization of thin films, e.g. SEM, EDX, XPS, XRD, SPM
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Interest in publications, proven by a track record of peer-reviewed papers

[https://jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/d170ee494b169a84fc14456e22a06ae1a0babeb30?ref=AfA](https://jobs.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/jobposting/d170ee494b169a84fc14456e22a06ae1a0babeb30?ref=AfA)