Vacancy No. 318/2025

PhD Position (f/m/d) - part time (75%)

X-ray Spectroscopy with Quantum Sensors at the KIT Light Source

Novel quantum sensors, such as magnetic microcalorimeters (MMCs) promise to be the next generation of detectors for x-ray spectroscopy at synchrotron light sources, offering either higher transmission or higher resolution than existing technologies.

Job description

As part of the interdisciplinary research project QS4Physics, you will work on developing a platform that enables the integration of such sensors into existing synchrotron beamlines at the KIT Light Source.

In addition, you will perform x-ray spectroscopic measurements on applied material systems. These experiments will be conducted using both existing “conventional” x-ray spectrometers and the newly developed quantum sensor systems at the KIT Light Source, both in the soft and hard x-ray regime.

You will collaborate in an interdisciplinary team and contribute to cutting-edge research at the interface between detector physics and materials research.

Your tasks will include:

  • Develop a detector platform to integrate MMCs with existing synchrotron beamlines (such as the X-SPEC beamline at the KIT Light Source)
  • Develop and test infrared blocking filters with high transmission in the soft and hard x-ray range
  • Perform soft and hard electron and x-ray spectroscopy experiments on applied material systems using various beamlines at the KIT Light Source
  • Present your results at international conferences and publishing in peer-review journals

This position is intended to lead to a PhD in Physics or Chemistry.

Personal qualification
  • Masters/Diploma in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or equivalent
  • Hands-on experience with ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems
  • Ideally background in soft and/or hard x-ray and electron spectroscopies (emission, absorption, photoelectron spectroscopy)
  • Enthusiasm for team-based and interdisciplinary science, with a focus on detector development and applied material systems
  • Good English skills (written and spoken); German skills are helpful, but not required
Organizational unit

Institute for Photon Science and Synchrotron Radiation (IPS)

Starting date

01.10.2025

Salary

Salary category 13 TV-L, depending on the fulfillment of professional and personal requirements.

Contract duration

3 years

Application up to

12.09.2025

Contact person in line-management

For further information, please contact Dr. Lothar Weinhardt, email: lothar.weinhardt@kit.edu, phone +49 721 608-29242.

Application

Please apply online using the button below for this vacancy number 318/2025 .
Personnel Support is provided by 

Ms Kaiser
phone: +49 721 608-22438,

Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany

We prefer to balance the number of employees (f/m/d). Therefore we kindly ask female applicants to apply for this job.
Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.