This postdoctoral position aims to model 2D intrinsic magnetic materials and 2D diluted magnetic semiconductors.

What you will do

This postdoctoral position aims to model 2D intrinsic magnetic materials and 2D diluted magnetic semiconductors. In particular the possibility of room temperature intrinsic ferromagnetism in 2D materials and the controllability of 2D diluted magnetic semiconductors for faster domain switching and thus faster magnetic memory. Methods of interests are first principles calculations to determine the strength of the exchange interaction and lattice Monte Carlo.

The revolution in memory devices, enabled by the giant magnetoresistance, led to the realization of memory devices of smaller physical size with large memory capacity. However, a problem currently present in memory devices is the high power consumption due to high spin current requirement for changing the spin domains. Therefore, ferromagnetic materials in which the spin orientation can be changed rapidly are of great practical interest. Layered materials which possess a magnetic order in their ground state are ideal for spintronic applications. Recent experimental advancement in the field of layered magnetic materials such as CrI3 and CrTeGe3, MnSe and VSe2 has sparked a great interest in the realization of 2D magnetic materials. Realization of 2D magnetic materials opens a plethora of opportunities ranging from spintronics, valleytronics, the realization of skyrmions, applications in magnetic memories and even topological phase transitions giving rise to new physical phenomena. Another interesting set of 2D-materials which have shown promise of possessing a 2D magnetic order are conventional 2D materials doped with impurity atoms, i.e. doped graphene, metal doped transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) such as Mn or Fe doped WSe2. There is currently a great interest in realizing 2D diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) in heavy transition metal dichalcogenides, which combine the properties of both ferromagnets and semiconductors. DMS can be advantageous over the magnetic crystals due to their controllable magnetic order by charge transfer.

You will be responsible for:

• Modelling and simulation of 2D layered magnetic materials.
• Innovative thinking on different novel 2D magnetic layered designs for MRAM
• Investigate feasibility of integrating novel spintronic concepts involving 2D magnetic materials for advancing technology
• Generate and validate disruptive ideas, that contribute to our innovative portfolio of technological solutions
• Assisting in the exploratory part of the memory program in imec
• Publishing papers, filing patents, increasing your research network.

What we do for you

We offer you the opportunity to join one of the world’s premier research centers in nanotechnology at its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium. With your talent, passion and expertise, you’ll become part of a team that makes the impossible possible. Together, we shape the technology that will determine the society of tomorrow.

We are proud of our open, multicultural, and informal working environment with ample possibilities to take initiative and show responsibility. We commit to supporting and guiding you in this process; not only with words but also with tangible actions. Through imec.academy, ‘our corporate university’, we actively invest in your development to further your technical and personal growth.

We are aware that your valuable contribution makes imec a top player in its field. Your energy and commitment are therefore appreciated by means of a competitive scholarship.

Who you are

• You hold a PhD in Physics or (Electrical/ nano/physics) engineering or equivalent.
• We are looking for your experience in DFT / Monte Carlo methods for modelling of low-dimensional magnetic materials.
• We value your deep interest in combining theory, modeling and conceptualizing novel memory devices.
• Both extensive coding skills as well as up-to-date simulation program experience is considered a plus
• Experience with supervising master and PhD students in the subject matter is an extra asset
• We are looking for a constructive team player who actively shares experience and knowledge with colleagues.
• We appreciate your creativity, persistence and passion for what you do.
• We value your excellent networking and communication skills in English, as you will work in a multicultural environment.

This postdoctoral position is funded by imec through KU Leuven. Because of the specific financing statute which targets international mobility for postdocs, only candidates who did not stay or work/study in Belgium for more than 24 months in the past 3 years can be considered for the position (short stays such as holiday, participation in conferences, etc. are not taken into account).

Please click here to apply.