Overview

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (fixed term for 36 months)

Location : Liverpool

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (fixed term for 36 months)

Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) is a distinctive, unique institution, rooted in the Liverpool City Region and with a global presence. Our students and staff, past, present, and future, are the beating heart of our city and can be found in every corner of every industry and community. We couldn’t exist anywhere else and have shaped the city in which we belong. Working with the people of Liverpool to improve lives and support communities is at the heart of why we were founded and why we exist today.

Applications are invited for a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (PDRF) position at School of Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), working in a research project co-funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) in the UK and the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the US. This project will be in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin, and with the world-leading institute IMEC in Belgium whose consortium members include top companies such as Intel, Micron, Samsung, Kioxia and Western Digital, and also with a number of other industrial project partners in the UK and US. The PDRF will have chances to work at IMEC with scientists from the above-mentioned organisations, providing excellent opportunities for career development.

This project will focus on overcoming the endurance challenge in atomic non-volatile resistive switching (RRAM/ReRAM) memristors (Atomristor) and 2D MOSFET transistors (2DFET) made in monolayer two-dimensional semiconductor materials. These novel devices can substantially reduce the interelectrode distance to sub-nanometers, resulting in the thinnest memory and logic devices with smaller switching voltages (~300 mV) and the potential for several orders of higher energy efficiency than existing devices. To address this challenge, rigorous study is required to gain physical and operational insights that can translate into better-engineered devices (e.g., defects, interfaces, fields) and tailored testing protocols for improved switching cycles and reliable performance. This project will lay the groundwork for a new paradigm of deployable atomic devices that can be used ubiquitously towards ultra-low energy AI, neuromorphic and in-memory computing systems, 6G, and logic systems with unprecedented efficiency and scalability.

Professor Weidong Zhang and his group at LJMU have extensive research expertise into the use and characterisation of memory and logic devices, through close collaboration with IMEC. The Microelectronics Research Group at LJMU has well-established research track record and advanced research facilities. In the latest UK’s official Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, LJMU is one of the top performing universities in Engineering. 100% of our research group’s outputs have been assessed as international excellence and above. Detailed information of the research group can be found in the following link: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/research/centres-and-institutes/electrical-and-electronic-engineering-research-centre/expertise/microelectronics-group?az=.

You will have a strong background and interest in the areas of nano-electronics, microelectronics, semiconductor and VLSI devices. You will hold a PhD and have strong ability in either electrical and electronic engineering, physics, material, or a related field. Experience in characterisation and modelling of microelectronic devices is preferred but not essential. The post requires excellent communication and team work skills. The expected starting date is before 01 July 2024.

Informal enquiries may be made to Prof. W. Zhang (w.zhang@ljmu.ac.uk).

In return, we offer an excellent benefits package including generous annual leave entitlement, pension scheme, induction, and development support as well as family-friendly policies.

This is an exciting time to join the university as we deliver the LJMU Strategy 2030 and its vision of LJMU as an inclusive civic university transforming lives and futures, by placing students at the heart of everything we do. 

If you feel that this is the role you have been looking for and your skills and experience can make a real difference at LJMU, we look forward to hearing from you.

The School/ department is committed to promoting equality and diversity, including the Athena SWAN Gender Equality charter for promoting the career of Women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) in higher education. We particularly welcome applications from women for this post and all appointments will be made on merit.

Please note all of our vacancies will be closed to applications at midnight on the advertised closing date, unless otherwise stated.

LJMU are committed to adhering to the Principles set out in the Researcher Development Concordat; in line with this all fixed-term researchers will be supported to complete 10 days professional development activities per year (pro-rata).