Doctoral fellow

Ghent University is a leading European research university with a strong international profile. Employing more than 15,000 staff members, it is actively engaged in education, cutting‑edge research, and societal service. With 11 faculties and more than 85 departments, Ghent University offers high‑quality, research‑driven study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic disciplines. It is one of the largest and most attractive employers in the region, offering excellent career opportunities in an inspiring academic environment.

This PhD position is hosted by the Conformal Coating of Nanomaterials (CoCooN) research group within the Department of Solid State Sciences (). CoCooN is internationally recognized for its expertise in Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) and advanced materials characterization. The group has extensive experience with in‑house and at leading synchrotron facilities worldwide. CoCooN offers an international research environment, strong industrial collaborations, and access to state‑of‑the‑art experimental research facilities.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is a key enabling technology for continued scaling in the semiconductor industry. As device dimensions shrink and architectures become increasingly three‑dimensional, thin‑film deposition requires atomic‑scale thickness control and exceptional conformality. Modern semiconductor manufacturing operates at the 300 mm wafer scale, integrating billions of nanoscale devices on a single chip, placing ever‑increasing demands on materials performance. ALD is widely used for fabricating critical nanoscale features such as gate dielectrics and metal interconnects.

A particularly promising development is area‑selective deposition, in which material growth is restricted to predefined regions through chemical passivation of non‑growth surfaces, for example using gas‑phase inhibitor molecules. However, optimization of such passivation strategies is currently slow and largely manual. This project aims to accelerate and rationalize this process by exploiting the advanced in‑situ characterization capabilities available within the CoCooN research group.

• Conduct experimental research primarily within the state‑of‑the‑art facilities of the CoCooN group and, where relevant, at synchrotron facilities abroad.
• Develop passivation strategies for area‑selective ALD using gas‑phase inhibitor molecules, investigate controlled surface cleaning approaches and apply in‑situ spectroscopy to unravel the underlying chemical and physical surface processes.
• Perform script‑based data analysis of large experimental datasets.
• Publish your research findings in leading international journals and present your work at prominent international conferences.
• Supervise M.Sc. students during their thesis projects.
• Contribute to teaching activities within the Department of Solid State Sciences.

• Hold a Master of Science degree in physics, chemistry, engineering physics, chemical engineering or related discipline. The diploma requirements must be met by the date of appointment. Students graduating this academic year can therefore apply.
• Show a strong interest in nanofabrication, nanopatterning, thin‑film deposition and spectroscopy.
• Proficient in Python programming, essential for handling and analyzing large datasets.
• Have strong oral and written communication skills and fluency in English.
• Motivated and committed to successfully complete a PhD within the 4‑year project duration.

• Perform cutting‑edge research in materials and surface science in a stimulating and supportive setting, with frequent engagement with supervisors and colleagues, regular CoCooN group meetings, and comprehensive mentoring throughout your PhD.
• Offer a full‑time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Contract start at August 01, 2026 at the earliest.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations…