Doctoral student in nanofluidics with integrated nanophotonic functionalities

 We are looking for a Doctoral student to become part of the Langhammer Group at the Division of Chemical Physics at the Department of Physics.  Join our dynamic and cross-diciplinary team and contribute to groundbreaking research by combining nanofluidics with nanophotonics in the context of heterogeneous catalysis and polaritonic chemistry. 

About us 

The Langhammer group operates at the interfaces between nanomaterial science, nanoplasmonics, nanofluidics, label free single-molecule optical microscopy, single particle catalysis and hydrogen nanosensors. For that purpose, we continuously develop and evolve our own methodologies for state-of-the-art nanofabrication, as well as build our own customized research instrumentation.

Now, we are deepening our efforts towards integrating nanofluidic devices with nanophotonic functionalities in the context of heterogeneous catalysis and polaritonic chemistry. For this endeavour we are seeking a highly-motivated and scientifically ambitious PhD candidate to join our dynamic, cross-diciplinary team.

This recruitment is connected to a cross-diciplinary research project funded by the Swedish Research Counsil and executed in collaboration with Prof. Timur Shegai  and Prof. Angela Grommet at Chalmers University.

About the research project  

In this project, as its main goal, we will merge two paradigms – nanofluidics and nanophotonics – to confine both matter and light in unified tailored nanoarchitectures fabricated into nanofluidic systems that enable direct access to the interior of, for example, optical cavities in a flow-through manner, and that via their fascinating light scattering properties can make individual molecules directly visible. The similar length scales of optical and geometrical confinement combined in these devices will revolutionize both the active control and the nanoscale in situ characterization of photochemical and catalytic processes.

To achieve this ambitious goal, we will build on the project team’s recent achievements in single particle catalysis and single molecule microscopy (Langhammer group: Nat Methods 2022, 19 (6), 751-758; Nat Commun 2019, 10, 4426; ACS Nano 2023, 17, 21030-21043); optical microcavities (Shegai group: Nature 2021, 597, 214-219; Nat Phys 2023, 19, 271-278 ), and modulation of photochemical behavior under confinement (Grommet group: J Am Chem Soc 2020, 142, 14557-14565; Acc Chem Res 2020, 53, 2600-2610).

Who we are looking for

The following requirements are mandatory:

• A Master's degree (masterexamen) of 120 credits or a Master’s degree (magisterexamen) of 60 credits* in Physics/Applied Physics or Nanoscience/Nanotechnology 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English 
• Experience in experimental scientific work through, e.g., a master thesis in the nanophysics and/or nanofluidics and/or nanophotonics and/or nanomaterials and/or nanocatalysis domain(s)  
• Personal competences, such as good social and collaboration skills that make you excel in a teamwork-oriented environment where initiative- and responsibility-taking are a key parameter  

*for students with an education earned outside of Sweden, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree is accepted. 

The following experience will strengthen your application: 

• Hands-on experience with micro- and nanofabrication
• Hands-on experience with nanophotonics
• Hands-on experience with nanofluidics
• Hands-on experience withandvanced optical microscopy/spectroscopy
• Hands-on experience with catalysis/photochemistry
• Programming skills using Python and MATLAB
• Analysis of complex scientific data through machine learning  

What you will do

• Plan experiments together with your supervisor and/or with other members of the Langhammer group and the project team with members of the Grommet and Shegai groups, execute the planned experiments, characterize your sample systems, analyze the generated data, present the data at supervison and project meetings, present your results at scientific conferences, publish your results in high impact scientific journals.
• Take courses at an advanced level within the Graduate school of Physics or Materials Science 
• Teaching at the undergraduate level or performing other departemental duties corresponding to a maxiumum of 20 percent of your working time 

Contract terms  

• The Doctoral student positions are fully funded from start. 
• The position is a fixed-term appointment of four years, with the possibility to teach or similar tasks up to 20%, which extends the position to up to five years. 
• A starting salary of 34,550 SEK per month (valid from May 25, 2025). 
• Doctoral studies require physical presence throughout the entire study period. A valid residence permit must be presented by the study start date; otherwise the admission may be withdrawn. 

What we offer 

• As a Doctoral student at Chalmers, you are an employee and enjoy all employee benefits. Read more about  working at Chalmers  and our benefits for employees. 
• A dynamic and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
• Read more about Sweden’s generous parental leave, subsidized day care, free schools, healthcare etc at Move To Gothenburg. 

Chalmers is dedicated to improving gender balance and actively works with equality projects, such as the GENIE Initiative for gender equality and excellence. We highly value diversity and consider equality and inclusion as fundamental aspects of all our activities. 

If Swedish is not your native language, Chalmers offers Swedish courses to help you settle in.

Find more general information about doctoral studies at Chalmers here.  

Application procedure 

The application should be written in English and attached as PDF-files, as below. Maximum size for each file is 40 MB. Please note that the system does not support Zip files. 

CV 

Personal letter 

• A brief introduction about yourself. 
• A brief motivation as to why you are interested in this position and what makes you a good candidate for it. 

Bachelor’s and, if available, master’s thesis together with the transcripts. 

Use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form.  

Please note: The applicant is responsible for ensuring that the application is complete. Incomplete applications and applications sent by email will not be considered. Contact details to references will be requested after the interview. 

We welcome your application no later than March 22nd, 2026.   

For questions, please contact:  

Christoph Langhammer 
Professor of Physics
clangham@chalmers.se

We look forward to your application! 

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. ***  

 Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg conducts research and education in technology and natural sciences at a high international level. The university has 3100 employees and 10,000 students, and offers education in engineering, science, shipping and architecture. With scientific excellence as a basis, Chalmers promotes knowledge and technical solutions for a sustainable world. Through global commitment and entrepreneurship, we foster an innovative spirit, in close collaboration with wider society. 
Chalmers was founded in 1829 and has the same motto today as it did then: Avancez – forward. 

Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society.

The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our eight Areas of Advance; Built Environment, Energy, Information & Communication Technology, Life Science, Materials Science, Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!