Postdoctoral Researcher

• Education: PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Nanoscience, Physical Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Knowledge: Surface/contact potential, dielectric and polarization measurements, thin-film physics and data analysis.
  • Essential research profile: Applications will be considered only from candidates whose peer-reviewed publications demonstrate direct research experience in all three core areas:
    • Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM), preferably quantitative KPFM or FM-KPFM;
    • ferroelectric, pyroelectric, electret, or related polarization phenomena;
    • molecular organic materials or organic thin films.
  • Applications that do not document this experience will not be considered.
• Professional Experience:
  • Hands-on AFM/KPFM and electrical characterization of polar materials.
  • Experience in thin-film growth, current measurements, or experimental instrumentation is desirable.
• Personal Competences:
  • Scientific independence, rigorous experimental practice, teamwork, and strong written and oral communication in English.

Job Title: Postdoctoral Researcher

Department: Thermal Properties of Nanoscale Materials

The Thermal Properties of Nanoscale Materials (GTNaM) group at ICN2/UAB investigates nanoscale thermal phenomena, molecular glasses, and functional materials. This position is funded by GLASSPIKE, an ERC Advanced Grant developing vapor-deposited molecular glasses with programmable polarization for analog memory and spike-based computing. The researcher will work in a multidisciplinary environment combining thin-film growth, AFM/KPFM, electrical characterization, nanostructuration, and nanocalorimetry.

• Grow and optimize vapor-deposited molecular-glass thin films.
• Characterize spontaneous molecular orientation, polarization, and surface potential.
• Develop quantitative KPFM and FM-KPFM methods for highly polar molecular films.
• Investigate voltage-driven molecular polarization and depolarization.
• Generate and characterize programmable analog polarization states.
• Correlate KPFM with thermally stimulated depolarization and pseudopyroelectric measurements.
• Study interfacial imprinting, relaxation, and stability of programmed states.
• Investigate devitrification and local transformations; analyze results and prepare publications.

• Full-time work (37,5h/week)
• Contract Length: Temporary; 36 months (M1-M36), linked to the GLASSPIKE project
• Location: Bellaterra (Barcelona)

Estimated Incorporation date: 01/02/2027