The Institute of Thin Films, Sensors, and Imaging (TFSI) at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) is keen to support excellent and outstanding young experienced researchers with high motivation, who are planning to submit applications for the Marie Skƚodowska Curie Individual Fellowship (MSCA-IF) 2020 in order to pursue a research career. We invite applications from highly motivated and qualified young researchers within multidisciplinary backgrounds, including Material Science, Physics, Engineering, and Chemistry. The selected candidate will write a proposal for a 24-month MSCA-IF-2020 at TFSI together with Prof. Desmond Gibson and his team. This is an excellent opportunity to accelerate your research career while developing your skills in UWS which is one of the UK's most innovative modern universities and is ranked within the top 3% of universities worldwide.

Together with the supervisor, the selected candidates will start developing their MSCA-IF-2020 application towards the deadline:

Institute of Thin Films, Sensors and Imaging (TFSI)

The Institute of Thin Films, Sensors & Imaging is a center of excellence and key laboratory in the UK for the development of thin-film technology, deposition processes, as well as characterization and dissemination of information on the applications of thin films. The institute has received extensive funding support from EPSRC, Scottish Council, RSE, EU, and STFC, amongst others in the past 15 years, and has world-leading facilities for thin film deposition. UWS has made significant recent investments to the value of £12m in the state-of-the-art thin-film fabrication facilities within TFSI. TFSI is a world-leading research institute with its research spanning across multi-disciplinary fields, comprising physics, chemistry, and engineering. In addition, UWS is home to a world-leading 5G team with a total research portfolio in excess of £15m and extensive experience in mobile technologies, computer networks, and artificial technologies, demonstrating our commitment to world-leading research. TFSI facilities comprise plasma-enhanced e-beam deposition, magnetron sputtering systems (including DC, pulsed DC, RF, microwave systems), plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (RF, hollow cathode PECVD) and various advanced film characterization facilities. Institute researchers have strong expertise in thin-film and plasma research, micro/nanoscale film/structure design, characterization/evaluation, micro-mechanics and nanotechnology. Institute facilities are unique within the academic community, providing necessary vacuum deposition capability to support institute specific and collaborative research.

The application of the potential candidate for MSCA-IF should be focused on one of the following areas:

• Thin film deposition processes. Sputtering (DC, RF, pulsed DC and microwave), chemical vapour deposition (plasma enhanced, hollow cathode and RF); liquid based deposition (Langmuir, hydrothermal and sol-gel); evaporation (molecular beam epitaxy, electron beam deposition, and thermal). Modelling and simulation of plasma sources through finite element analysis.
• Sensors. Miniaturised infrared spectrometry based on non-dispersive infrared or photo-acoustics; ultrasonic sensors; piezoelectric pressure sensors
• Imaging. Ultrasonics based on high efficiency piezoelectric thin films. Applications include imaging (medical & dental) and non-destructive testing. Linear variable optical filters for multispectral/ hyperspectral imaging.
• Gravitational Wave (GW) Detection. Process development, deposition and characterisation improved vacuum-deposited of ultralow-loss and protective thin film coatings for use in GW laser interferometric detectors such as a-LIGO, Virgo and KAGRA.
• Energy systems. Design, fabrication and characterisation of energy storage (supercapacitors), and energy harvesting (triboelectric and piezoelectric) devices. Fabrication of energy autonomous flexible electronics.

More info visit TFSI.

TYPES OF INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS

There are two types of Individual Fellowships:

• European Fellowships
• Global Fellowships

European Fellowships:

• are open to researchers moving within Europe, as well as those coming in from other parts of the world.
• can restart a research career after a break, such as parental leave.
• can help researchers coming back to Europe find a new position.

These Fellowships are held in the EU or associated countries and last for one to two years.

Global Fellowships

• fund positions outside Europe for researchers based in the EU or associated countries.
• last between two and three years.
• the researcher has to come back for one year to an organisation based in the EU or associated countries.

Both types of Fellowship can also include a secondment period of up to three or six months in another organisation in Europe.

WHO CAN APPLY?

This action is for experienced researchers from across the world.

Applicants need a doctoral degree or at least four years’ full-time research experience by the time of the call deadline.

WHAT CAN BE FUNDED?

All research areas can be funded. MSCA Fellows come from a wide variety of disciplines – from physics to linguistics, and from health-sciences to mathematical modelling.

WHAT THE FUNDING COVERS

The grant provides an allowance to cover living, travel and family costs. In addition, the EU contributes to the training, networking and research costs of the fellow, as well as to the management and indirect costs of the project. The grant is awarded to the host organisation, usually a university, research centre or a company in Europe.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Please send your CV (max 3 pages) and describe a research project that will strengthen and complement the presented research (max 2 pages) to des.gibson@uws.ac.uk and carlos.garcianunez@uws.ac.uk as soon as possible, with the subject MSCA-IF-2020 followed by your name.