PhD student position (f/m/d) K 8/25

The Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) is a leading research institution in the field of science & technology as well as service & transfer of crystalline materials. Our goal is to enable solutions for pressing societal challenges (e.g. communication, artificial intelligence, climate protection, health, etc.) through modern electronic & photonic technologies. The work covers the entire spectrum from basic and applied research to pre-industrial development and is carried out in cooperation with national and international partners from universities, academies and industry. The institute is part of the Forschungsverbund Berlin (https://www.fv-berlin.de/) and a member of the Leibniz Association (https://www.leibniz-gemeinschaft.de). You can find more details on the institute webpage: https://www.ikz-berlin.de. 

The Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung is currently looking for a 

PhD student (f/m/d)

for the BMBF NanoMatFutur funded project “All-GO-HEMT” with the topic:

“Growth and characterization of modulation-doped β-(Al_xGa_1-x)₂O₃/Ga₂O₃ heterostructures with high electron mobility for highly efficient power transistors”

Starting time: May 2025

Semiconductor-based power electronics is a key technology for solving the greatest challenge facing society - sustainable energy generation. In addition to the conversion of energy generation to renewable and decentralized sources, the efficient use of energy is the most important lever for achieving sustainability goals in the energy sector. More efficient power electronics not only help to reduce harmful emissions through more efficient use of energy, but also increase the cost-effectiveness of energy-intensive processes. Gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) is currently the subject of intensive research and development activities in the field of semiconductor power electronics. With its ultra-wide band gap, it enables an even more compact design and is therefore ideal for applications in power electronics. Even though power electronics based on Ga₂O₃ promise to be more efficient, the material is inferior to established materials in terms of charge carrier mobility. The central goal of the project is to overcome the material limitation of Ga₂O₃ in terms of charge carrier mobility with the help of the innovative design of an aluminum-alloyed heterostructure and thus eliminate this disadvantage. Our research group is widely recognized as one of the leading teams in this field, and this position will provide you with a unique platform to make significant contributions to the scientific community of oxides for power electronics. As part of the All-GO-HEMT project, we are ultimately going to create a material basis for aluminum-alloyed gallium oxide-based high electron mobility transistors.

As a PhD student, you will contribute to the project by developing the growth of the layers via metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE). The evaluation of the growth will be done by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), ellipsometry, and electrical transport (Van der Pauw and Hall) measurements. Ultimately, it is the PhD student's task to develop growth models and optimize the growth on this basis. The selected student will mainly work with state of the art MOVPE equipment and will benefit from the unique selling points of IKZ which performs in-house bulk crystal growth, thin film epitaxy and advanced materials characterization. Do application focused material research with the aim to make energy conversion more efficient and make your contribution to meeting the EU CO₂ Net-Zero targets! All-GO-HEMT, do you go, too?

 The key responsibilities of the PhD student will include:

• Developing the epitaxial growth of β-(Al_xGa_1-x)₂O₃/Ga₂O₃ heterostructures with high aluminum content by metal-organic vapor-phase epitaxy (MOVPE)
• Performing process-accompanying standard characterization (e.g. AFM, Ellipsometry, XRD, Hall-effect measurements)
• Unraveling the growth mechanics and developing growth models
• Optimizing growth parameters utilizing deep learning algorithms
• Foster strong collaborations with scientists from structural characterization and electrical characterization to promote interdisciplinary resear
• Develop an international reputation and broaden your experience and skills to prepare for your future career inside or outside academia on the one hand and to strengthen the experimental expertise of IKZ on the other 

The applicant must have the following minimum qualification:

• A master’s degree and strong knowledge in physics, chemistry, crystallography, materials science, or a related discipline
• Experience in experimental work, sample handling and preparation
• Basic knowledge of fundamental and solid-state physics
• Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and students
• Exceptional communication skills both verbal and written in English
• Effective analytic and problem-solving skills

In addition, some of the following skills and qualifications would be preferred:

• Experience in epitaxial growth, preferably of oxides
• Experience in semiconductor physics with respect to electrical transport
• Distinctive programming skills, preferably in Python, Matlab or C++

What we offer:

The position is embedded in the BMBF NanoMatFutur project “All-GO-HEMT”. Within this project, the position is available from January 1, 2025 and is limited to three years with the possibility to be extended by one year. Payment is according to TVöD Bund (E13 75%) (Collective agreement for the public sector). The contract includes the usual social benefits (30 vacation days in a 5-day week, flexible working hours). The Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung actively promotes the development of young scientists and follows the guidelines of the Leibniz Association.

The Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung actively supports a healthy work-life balance and is an equal opportunities employer. Female candidates are encouraged to apply and will be given preference if suitably qualified. Among equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to candidates with disabilities. IKZ promotes diversity. We welcome every qualified application, regardless of age, belief, disabilities, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation.

If you want to have more information about the project, please contact us: 
Dr. Andreas Fiedler (andreas.fiedler@ikz-berlin.de)
Dr. Andreas Popp (andreas.popp@ikz-berlin.de)  

Have we aroused your interest? 

Then apply with a letter of motivation, curriculum vitae and all relevant certificates. To do so, please go to Job offers/jobs on our homepage and click on this advertisement and then on "Apply online". Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

We look forward to receiving your application!