Job Description

at the University of Bern.



The FemtoMat group, led by Prof. Natalie Banerji at the University of Berne, is now seeking Doctoral applicants to take part of a European Marie Sklodowska-Curie Training Network programme FADOS. The successful candidate will join a cohort of 17 Doctoral students scattered among 16 research groups in Europe, the UK and Switzerland.

About FADOS

FADOS, Fundamentals and Applications of Doped Organic Semiconductors, is a consortium composed of eight universities, four research institutes, and four companies from EU countries, the UK and Switzerland. The mission of FADOS is to achieve targeted modification of semiconductor properties through electronic doping to control and modify its electronic characteristics. The project's goal is to develop fundamental understanding and innovative fabrication processes to solve urgent problems in organic electronic devices and enable new components with sustainable functionalities. Collaboration with industry partners will enhance the translation of research into real-world applications.



The 17 Doctoral candidates recruited for this international project will receive training at the forefront of research and innovation in organic electronics. Moreover, the network will provide Doctoral candidates with exposure to academic and commercial working environments through a balanced secondment plan, and access to a complete training programme complementing scientific skills with personal and entrepreneurial skills, including communication to various audiences, career development, intellectual property and startup-funding. The doctoral candidates will form a strong cohort through participation in seven network-wide events as well as secondments and collaborations, which entail travel to several different EU countries.

About FemtoMat group at University of Berne

We are a dynamic research group based at the Department of Chemsitry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Berne, Switzerland. In our group, physical chemists as well as physicists and material scientists work side by side to understand electronic devices based on organic electronic materials. We welcome a diverse team of 15-20 people from all over the world and offer state-of-the-art facilities. Those include a device fabrication/testing lab, and home-built spectroscopic experiments from the ultrafast to steady-state time scale, covering the terahertz to visible spectral range. The combination of different backgrounds and experiences forms a powerful symbiosis that enables us to understand the underlying principles of organic optoelectronic, photovoltaic and bioelectronic devices.


JOB DESCRIPTION
The project focusses on the spectroscopic elucidation of transport properties in doped organic thin films. The main tools will include film preparation, optimization of doping protocols, electrical conductivity measurements, temperature-dependent terahertz (THz) spectroscopy, and time-resolved spectroscopy of photocatalytic doping processes. The work will be done in close collaboration with the other members of the FADOS network.



Objectives:



1) Understand how the intrinsic conductivity on the local scale translated to macroscopic conductivity, relating this to disorder and the presence of grain boundaries.

2) Understand the transport mechanism by combining temperature-dependent data, THz conductivity spectra and theoretical analysis.

3) Understand how the different oxidation states present in a film affect its conductivity.

4) Insight to the mechanism of photocatalytic doping with ultrafast time resolution.



The project will include three secondments:



1) Imperial College London, Prof. Jenny Nelson and Prof. Julie Euvrard (2 months): Time-of-flight and temperature-dependent Hall measurements for macroscopic transport.

2) University of Stuttgart, Prof. Sabine Ludwigs (2 months): Preparation of devices with morphology control.

3) FLUXIM, Switzerland, Dr. Davide Moia (2 months): Course drift-diffusion simulations of electronic and ionic transport
QUALIFICATIONS and ELIGIBILITY


Applications are welcomed from candidates with a M.Sc. degree (or equivalent, including candidates who are about to complete their degrees) in chemistry, physics or material science. We are seeking an outstanding and highly motivated candidate with interest in physical chemistry and spectroscopy. Preference will be given to candidates with some experience in spectroscopy and/or organic electronic devices. The candidate will prepare doped organic films, use/build optical setups, carry out data analysis, and needs to know some programming. They should have an independent and solution-driven work attitude, and we generally enjoy group members with an open personality, and excellent communication/social skills. The candidate will be integrated in an international community of collaborators and will be requested to travel to conferences and carry out research stays in other groups. This requires the willingness and the ability to travel both within the Schengen region, the UK and abroad to conduct research (including secondments) and attend conferences and network activities.



Eligibility for FADOS programme

At the time of recruitment, be in the first four years of their research career and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Mobility rule: The applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host institute (Switzerland) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the recruitment. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account. Demonstrate their ability to understand English and express themselves fluently in speech and writing. The applicant can be of any nationality.
APPOINTMENT


The appointment is for a total of 36 months, with a starting date on 1st February 2026 or by agreement. A competitive salary in the range 6500 CHF/month in accordance with the MSCA regulations for Doctoral Researchers will be offered, including a living allowance, a mobility allowance, and a family allowance (if applicable).
APPLICATION PROCEDURE


Apply for the position by clicking the "Apply" button below (if on Euraxess) or alternatively by sending an email to the below contact with Subject 'Name_PhD_FADOS'. The preselection for interviews will start on 1st October 2025, and your application must be received at latest on that day. Applications and documents received after the date above will not be considered.



Please include in the application:

A motivation letter A detailed curriculum Vitae including references that can be contacted Copy of the M.Sc. and bachelor's degrees and all corresponding transcripts (lists of courses taken during bachelors and M.Sc. studies).

CONTACT

Prof. Dr. Natalie Banerji

natalie.banerji@unibe.ch

Professor of Physical Chemistry



University of Bern

Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Freiestrasse 3

CH-3012 Bern



Applicants are encouraged to contact the project supervisor(s) directly in addition to the online application procedure.





www.karriere.unibe.ch
Legal Notice