We offer a position for a predoctoral researcher in the framework of the project “TecnoUnivers: advanced technologies for the exploration of the Universe” from the “Plan Complementario for Astrophysics and High Energy Physics” funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and Next Generation EU funds.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

The project aims to engage talent young students for a Materials Science doctorate in the field of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) Materials by investigating the integration of HTS coated conductors (CC) in emerging devices for High Energy Physics by customizing them and adapting them to the specific technical requirements under real working conditions of the devices (temperature, magnetic field and injected current).

The PhD project is addressed towards the physical analysis of the material with special emphasis in electrical characterization at cryogenic temperatures under high-magnetic fields (up to 16 T), and the mechanical-thermal properties of the tapes which will be evaluated both experimentally and using finite element simulations.

Requirements

• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical or Materials Engineering or Physics
• High motivation to experimental research
• Working aptitudes in a collaborative group
• High level in written/spoken English
• Academic grades and research experience will be considered in the evaluation
• Some experience and knowledge of superconductivity and superconducting materials will be very valuable

Conditions

• The contract will be full time
• Duration of 4 years.

How to apply

The selection process will be continuous until a good candidate is found, but strong effort will be done to finish it before end of December 2023. Interested persons should send an email to hr-suman@icmab.es attaching:

• CV
• Academic grades certificate
• Letter of motivation
• Contact details of a reference person.

ICMAB is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion of people with disabilities.

About Superconducting Materials and Functional Nanoengineered Structures Group (https://suman.icmab.es/)

The candidate will be integrated in a large group with different background expertise in the field of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) materials developing cutting-edge research in the physical understanding of these materials. The research group is very international and interdisciplinary, with more than 25 years’ experience in HTS superconductivity. Superconductivity is a macroscopic quantum phenomenon based on the formation of a condensate at the energy ground state by electron-pairing (Cooper pairs), with outstanding properties and impact in many applications. Since high temperature superconducting cuprate materials were discovered 30 years ago, many additional applications were envisaged since large currents without losses could be expected at liquid nitrogen temperatures and under high-magnetic fields. Nowadays, the international community is able to fabricate HTS tapes (coated conductors) for high current energy efficient applications (high power cables, wind generators, electrical aviation) and large scale infrastructures (fusion, circular colliders, NMR beyond 1 GHz). Nevertheless, the integration of CCs into devices usually require further customization of the tapes to fulfil specific electromagnetic, thermal or mechanical requirements. The study of how to adapt CCs to each specific functionality is an essential step to develop competitive devices. The ICMAB-SUMAN group has always been very actively investigating these goals through collaborative projects with industry or engineering teams. This strategy will be further followed in this research, centred in developing emerging superconducting technologies in the areas of High Energy Physics (i.e. future circular accelerators, axion cavities for dark matter search, muon colliders). In all these cases, the low surface impedance of the HTS in a wide temperature range and at high magnetic fields is the key enabler property. The objective is to adapt CCs to the specific technical demands under the working conditions of these devices (temperature, magnetic field, injected current), generate the electromagnetic-thermal-mechanical data, and analyse the challenges to scale-up the customization processes.

About ICMAB

ICMAB is one of the world’s leading Institutes in Materials Science research, located at Campus UAB, very close to Barcelona. The ICMAB’s main strategic objectives and missions are to make an impact in the field of new materials for applications in energy, electronics and health through its research and training and empowering the next generation of scientists.

ICMAB provides facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and most importantly, excellent scientists and professionals, to assure you a rewarding environment. In the last years, we have grown up to build up a team devoted to project managing, technology transfer, innovation, communication, maintenance, technical services and administration, to team up with the researchers for the advancement of science.

The diversity of our people and the interdisciplinary research fields related to Materials Science ensures an enriching and inspiring working environment. If you are an enthusiastic and highly motivated person and would like to work in a multidisciplinary and multicultural environment, join us!