The University of Rostock offers a diverse, varied and challenging position in a tradition-conscious, yet innovative, modern and family-friendly university in a lively city by the sea.
At the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physics, Working Group of Quantum Technology, subject to allocation of funds, we are filling the following position at the earliest possible date on a temporary basis for the duration of the project "MOMENTUM" valid for 4 years:
Research Assistant (m/f/d) - Magnetic Microscopy (Postdoc)
Start date at the earliest possible date
Working hours full-time
Remuneration pay group 13 TV-L
Location Rostock
Tender number P 43/2026
Limitation for a fixed term of 4 years
Application time 2026-05-01
Please do not hesitate to contact us for further information:
HR department:
Kati Barth
Phone number: 0381/498-1312
E-mail:
Department:
Prof. Dr. Friedemann Reinhardt
Phone number: 0381/498-6840
E-mail:
Nearly every material becomes slightly magnetic in a strong magnetic field, owing to weak diamagnetism and paramagnetism. While this effect can be easily measured on large samples, we cannot presently image it with nanoscale resolution. Building a microscope for magnetic suscpetibility that will fill this gap will be the key goal of your project. You will design and construct a dedicated microscopy head for imaging magnetic susceptometry, to operate in an existing closed-cycle cryostat with vector magnetic field control, and you will apply this novel tool to the study of Lithium batteries and High-Tc superconductors. In these materials and many others, macroscopic measurements have demonstrated that their magnetic susceptibility changes with external parameters, e.g. upon cooling across the superconducting transition, but a microscopic picture is lacking.
The group is presently looking for a new PhD student (m/f/d) to join our team. The person hired shall spearhead a line of research towards imaging of action potentials in cell cultures and tissue by “label-free” interferometric microscopy, which does not require staining with chemicals. We have recently been able to demonstrate such a scheme, which can even recover electrical activity from an unspecific optical speckle pattern scattered from a cell culture (Trelin et al., Nano Letters 24, 12374 (2024)). The person hired shall take this technique to the next level. He/she shall explore novel biological and optical mechanisms to translate neural activity into optical signals, as well as novel data science techniques for signal processing. Ultimately, he/she will pave the way towards imaging of action potentials inside organoids and tissue rather than single cells.
THESE ARE YOUR TASKS:
- design and construction of a microscope head for widefield diamond magnetometry in a strong background field
- development of imaging magnetic susceptometry using diamond sensors
- study of solid-state materials by imaging magnetic susceptometry
- publication of the results and dissemination in talks on national and international conferences
THIS MAKES YOU A GOOD FIT:
- completed university degree (state exam, diploma, master's degree or comparable degree) in a STEM subject, preferably physics
- strong background in design and construction of scanning-probe microscopes, or demonstrated ability to rapidly build expertise in this domain
- strong background in design and construction of optical microscopy setups, or demonstrated ability to rapidly build expertise in this domain
- strong background in design and constructions of microwave electronics, or demonstrated ability to rapidly build expertise in this domain
- excellent academic track record
- reliable language skills in English (C1 or similar)
- ability to cooperate in a diverse team and in an interdisciplinary environment
- willingness to investigate scientific questions in depth and search for fundamental understanding of phenomena
WE AS AN EMPLOYER:
Equal opportunities are important to us. We welcome applications from suitable severely disabled people or people from traditionally underrepresented groups. We aim to increase the proportion of women in research and teaching and therefore encourage suitably qualified women to apply. We welcome applications from people of other nationalities or with a migration background.
WE OFFER YOU:
FURTHER INFORMATION:
We will determine the experience level individually, taking into account your previous professional experience.
If you would like to work part-time in this position, this is possible subject to the requirements of the position.
The temporal limitation of the employment relationship is based on § 2 (2) Wissenschaftszeitvertragsgesetz.
We look forward to receiving your application (cover letter, CV, degree certificate stating your final grade) by 01.05.2026 at the latest. We can only consider applications received via our homepage. Please send us your documents via the ‘Online application’ button at the end of a job offer. Unfortunately, we cannot accept e-mail applications.
Incomplete application documents may not be considered in the further course of the selection process.
Unfortunately, we can not cover application and travel costs.
Become part of the team
The quantum technology group at the Institute of Physics of the University of Rostock is performing research on quantum sensing and its application. One focus of the group is imaging magnetometry, using diamond quantum sensors for magnetic fields. The new project will open a new research direction within this field, aiming at measuring weak induced magnetization (susceptometry) and applying this technique to outstanding questions of solid-state science.
Contact
Universität Rostock
18051 Rostock
Tel.: +49 381 498 - 0
Sitze des Rektorats:
Universitätsplatz 1
18055 Rostock
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