Research Group Leader​/Head of Electron Microscopy Group; m​/f​/d

The Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) is a leading research institution in the field of science & technology as well as service & transfer of crystalline materials. Our goal is to enable solutions for pressing societal challenges (e.g. communication, artificial intelligence, climate protection, health, etc.) through modern electronic & photonic technologies. The work covers the entire spectrum from basic and applied research to pre-industrial development and is carried out in cooperation with national and international partners from universities, academies and industry.

The institute is part of the Forschungsverbund Berlin () and a member of the Leibniz Association (). You can find more details on the institute webpage:

We are seeking an experienced scientist to lead and further develop the Electron Microscopy Group at IKZ, with a strong scientific focus on analytical TEM/STEM, electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS/EDX). An important requirement of the successful applicant are excellent communication skills; strong interaction with IKZ crystal growth departments to enable internationally leading science & technology developments for electronics & photonics is in the focus of the Electron Microscopy Group.

The group is embedded in the Joint Lab for Electron Microscopy Adlershof (JEMA), operated jointly by IKZ and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and in the new ERDF Application Laboratory for In-Situ Electron Microscopy (ALISE). This provides an outstanding environment for structural, analytical and in-situ electron microscopy.

The available infrastructure includes:

• a Thermo Fisher Spectra Ultra, equipped with ILIAD EELS, integrated monochromator and Ultra-X EDS detector for high-energy-resolution spectroscopy and chemical mapping;
• an aberration-corrected FEI Titan 80–300 (S)
  TEM with fast camera and in-situ capabilities for heating, electrical biasing and controlled gas atmospheres;
• a Helios 5 Hydra UX Plasma FIB-SEM for advanced site-specific TEM sample preparation;
• complementary 4D-STEM, SEM and cathodoluminescence capabilities available within the IKZ.

• Scientific leadership and strategic development of the Electron Microscopy Group.
• Development and application of advanced EELS and EDS/EDX spectroscopy.
• Investigation of structure–property relationships, interfaces, defects and phase formation in crystalline materials.
• Development of high-energy-resolution, low-loss and momentum-resolved EELS, including studies of electronic excitations, excitons and plasmons.
• Combination of analytical microscopy with in-situ and operando TEM approaches.
• Quantitative analysis of multidimensional microscopy and spectroscopy datasets.
• Supervision of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
• Acquisition of national and European third-party funding and development of academic and industrial collaborations.

• PhD in physics, materials science, chemistry or a related field.
• Excellent expertise in TEM/STEM and analytical electron microscopy.
• Strong experience in EELS, ideally including low-loss and/or high-energy-resolution spectroscopy, complemented by EDS/EDX.
• Strong background in solid‑state or materials physics and electron–matter interactions.
• Experience in quantitative spectroscopy and advanced microscopy data analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to develop independent research directions, supervise researchers and establish collaborations.
• Experience in acquiring competitive research funding.

Experience in momentum-resolved EELS, exciton/plasmon spectroscopy, in-situ TEM, semiconductor heterostructures, two-dimensional materials or advanced spectral data analysis would be…