10 PhD Positions – Ultrafast Nanoscopy (m/f/d)

10 PhD Positions – Ultrafast Nanoscopy (m/f/d)

University: Faculty of Physics, RUN, GRK 2905 - Ultrafast Nanoscopy.

Entry date: as soon as possible

Volume of employment: part-time 30 h/week (75%)

Salary: TV‑L E13

Duration: temporary until 31 March 2029

We offer:

• A vibrant work environment in the newly established Regensburg Center for Ultrafast Nanoscopy (RUN), featuring outstanding scientific and technical infrastructure.
• Development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of in‑person training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers.
• Continuous scientific mentoring by two scientific advisors from complementing research areas to bridge the gap between physics and biology.
• Present your work and exchange ideas at international conferences and project meetings, gaining valuable experience in scientific communication and collaboration.
• Conduct a funded three‑month research stay abroad, allowing you to work in a different research environment and expand your practical expertise.
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Office.

You will unravel key microscopic dynamics in physics and biology.

• Pioneering novel concepts of nanovideography to resolve atomic‑scale quantum dynamics and to trace ensuing cooperative processes in systems of increasing complexity, directly in ultraslow‑motion pictures.
• Developing cutting‑edge quantum theories to model both nanoscopy concepts and the quantum dynamics under investigation.
• Developing and advancing radically new nanoscopy ideas, such as lightwave scanning tunnelling microscopy, time‑resolved momentum microscopy, near‑field nanoscopy, fluorescence‑based super‑resolution microscopy, ultrafast atomic force microscopy, and time‑resolved cryo‑electron microscopy.
• Employing these one‑of‑a‑kind approaches to study ultrafast elementary dynamics in nanoscale systems, ranging from electronic wave‑packet motion in single molecules, molecular solids, and nanomaterials, to propagation of collective excitations, energy transfer in DNA origami structures, and ultrafast atomic forces.
• Sharing your results in scientific publications and at international conferences.
• Strengthening global collaborations in ultrafast nanoscopy by spending a three‑month research stay at a leading institution abroad.

Your profile:

• A university degree (e.g. Master’s degree) in physics, biology, chemistry or a related field, completed in a timely fashion.
• Above‑average academic performance in a research area relevant to ultrafast nanoscopy.
• Genuine curiosity and passion for ultrafast nanoscopy.
• Prior experience – theory or experiment – in one of the above microscopy concepts, ultrafast physics or biology is highly desirable, demonstrated through, e.g., a thesis or publications in peer‑reviewed journals.
• Proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Programming skills, e.g., in Python are desirable.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset, contributing actively to team‑based research and shared project goals.
• A clear interest in a specific RTG research project, ideally with initial ideas on how you would approach and work on it in practice.

We support women and strongly encourage them to apply. As a certified family‑friendly university, we support our employees in balancing family and career (more information: https://www.uni-regensburg.de/universitaet/jobs-und-karriere/familien-service). Applicants with a disability as described in SGB IX (§ 2 Abs. 2, 3) will be preferred in case of equal qualifications. Please indicate any severe disability in your application, if applicable. Application and interview costs can not be refunded.

Please apply by 2026‑07‑31 using the application‑button below.

Further job details:

Innovation in science, and in quantum‑ , nano‑ and bio‑technologies depends on a rigorous understanding of the inner workings of custom‑tailored materials. Since the elementary building blocks of matter are constantly in motion, microscopic still images are often not sufficient on their own. To trace how functionalities of quantum materials or biochemical reactions emerge from microscopic dynamics, ultrafast videos of the nanoworld are required.

*Contract term until 31 March 2029 (Section 2(1) of the WissZeitVG); an extension is being sought