Postdoctoral Scholarship (2 years) in Carbon Dots Design and Synthesis for Light-Emitting Applications

Postdoctoral Scholarship (2 years) in Carbon Dots Design and Synthesis for Light-Emitting Applications

The Department of Physics at Umeå University is offering a postdoctoral scholarship for a project that aims to develop luminescent carbon dots for light-emitting applications. The postdoctoral scholarship is full-time for 2 years starting April 1, 2026, or by agreement. The deadline for submitting an application is February 2, 2026.

Project description  
In the project “All-Plant-Based Artificial Lighting Solution for Greenhouses”, we propose to design and synthesize sustainable, high-luminescent nanomaterials, specifically carbon dots, derived from plant-based resources, to replace non-sustainable incumbents in light-emitting applications, such as rare-earth-based phosphors and heavy-metal-based quantum dots. We will explore the potential of these sustainable luminescent nanomaterials in light-emitting devices and in other advanced optoelectronic applications.

Our primary task within the project is the design, synthesis, and characterization of environmentally friendly, plant-derived emissive carbon dots. The application of these luminescent nanomaterials will involve their use as color-conversion layers or as active layers in light-emitting devices. Therefore, a second task in the project is to engage in interdisciplinary collaborations with other researchers.

The scholarship is for two (2) years and is funded by the Carl Tryggers Foundation. The tax-free scholarship amounts to a total of 720,000 SEK (corresponding to an annual average of 360,000 SEK) and is normally paid out quarterly (every three months) during the scholarship period. Note: Payment for the second year will only be made after a brief report (1–2 pages) summarizing the first year’s activities has been approved.

Qualifications  
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirements must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision of the scholarship recipient.

Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior to the decision date for the scholarship recipient. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree prior to that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service, or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

We are looking for a candidate who has demonstrated ability to work independently with initiative, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility to reliably complete agreed research tasks.

Required qualifications are:

• A PhD degree (or a foreign degree deemed equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
• Documented experience in the synthesis and purification of organic semiconductors, nanoparticles, or quantum dots. Experience with the synthesis of carbon dots is particularly valuable.
• Documented experience in materials characterization, such as NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, and electron microscopy.
• Documented experience in photophysical characterization, including UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, PL quantum yield measurements and other relevant techniques.
• Good skills in both written and spoken English are essential.

It is meriting to have one or more of the following skills:

• General skills in the manufacture and characterization of thin-film samples, e.g. spin coating, physical vapor deposition, spray coating and surface property characterizations.
• General skills regarding fabrication or characterization of optoelectronic devices.

Application  
The complete application should include:

• Cover letter stating your motivations for applying and summarizing your qualifications for the position, your previous research experience as well as your experience in the areas mentioned above (max. two pages),
• Curriculum vitae with publication list,
• Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained,
• Verified copies of other diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades,
• Copy or download links of doctoral thesis and up to three relevant articles,
• At least one signed letter of recommendation from referees who are qualified to assess the applicant’s research competence,
• Contact information for two referees who are willing to act as references,
• Other documents that the applicant wishes to claim.

The application, including attached documents, must be written in English or Swedish. Documents sent electronically must be in PDF format. The application is made through our electronic recruitment system Varbi. Application deadline is February 2, 2026.

Further information

For more information, please contact Jia Wang, jia.wang@umu.se.

We look forward to receiving your application!