The Laboratory of Micro- and Nanofabrication at the Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS) is conducting world-renowned research specializing in the synthesis and characterization of nanomaterials and the design and development of next-generation nanodevices. Whereas the Insilico Matters Laboratory (IML) at INRS focuses on designing advanced materials and providing unprecedented understanding of materials and chemical processes from nanoscopic to electronic scales under various conditions by using advanced computational tools. In particular, the LMN has had pioneering achievements in the research of vanadium dioxide thin films for applications in satellite thermal control, energy conservation, and ultrafast nanophotonics. While this fascinating material has been known for decades, controlling the intriguing phase transition properties of vanadium dioxide for a tailored device performance remains challenging.
Postdoctoral Fellowship description
You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team at INRS under the supervision of Profs. Kulbir Ghuman (director of IML) and Mohamed Chaker (director of LMN) and responsible for uncovering the complex relationship between vanadium dioxide’s composition, structure, and its physical and chemical properties from first principles calculations. You will closely collaborate with experimentally working researchers to ensure a seamless translation of your findings into the fabrication of new and improved nanodevices. The objectives of your work will include, among others, the investigation of the effects of elemental doping and strain on the thermochromic properties of vanadium dioxide using density functional theory (DFT), the prediction of best doping strategies for ideal device performance, studying the photo-response of doped vanadium dioxide from first principles, and theoretically exploring the possibility of utilizing this and other transition metal oxide-based materials in thin film energy storage devices. You are also expected to prepare verbal and written communications to present your results to academic and industrial collaborators as well as to the scientific community.
INRS is a graduate-level university active in fundamental and applied research. It brings together 150 professors and nearly 800 graduate-level students and post-doctoral fellows in four centers located in Quebec City, Montréal, Varennes, and Laval. It is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in Canada in terms of research intensity (grants per professor) and offers a stimulating and supportive work environment provided by a tight-knit community of experts in their respective domains.
Required qualifications
- PhD degree in physics, chemistry, materials science, chemical engineering, or in closely related fields,
- background in computational condensed matter physics, specifically DFT,
- hands-on experience with common solid-state computational chemistry codes like Quantum ESPRESSO, SIESTA, VASP, CRYSTAL, etc.,
- a strong grasp of solid-state physics, in particular transition metal oxide physics,
- experience with high-performance computing,
- basic programming and scripting skills,
- excellent oral and written communication skills in English,
- self-motivated and independent,
- willing to work collaboratively.
Desired qualifications
- experience with classical and ab initio molecular dynamics,
- experience with time-dependent DFT,
- experience with high-throughput DFT calculations and machine learning,
- ability to communicate in French.
Starting date
The position is available immediately and will remain open until a suitable candidate is hired.
Salary
The salary offered is $53,000 (CAD) per year. The employment contract is for one year and is renewable.
Workplace
Institut national de la recherche scientifique
Centre Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications
1650, boulevard Lionel-Boulet
Varennes (Québec) J3X 1P7
CANADA
The work environment is bilingual (English and French).
How to apply
Interested candidates can submit their application using the form below. The application must include all of the following (1) a CV, including a detailed list of research publications, (2) a cover letter clearly stating their interest and relevant research experience with the proposed topics, (3) as well as the name and contact information of three references to:
Please mention if you are an international or a domestic (Canadian citizen/permanent resident) candidate. The LMN and IML laboratories value diversity and promote a research environment where individual differences are recognized, appreciated, respected, and valued. All qualified individuals are invited to apply, particularly members of visible and ethnic minorities, women, Indigenous people, and people with disabilities.