[Neutron] “Complex Electronic Materials” Postdoctoral Position at CHESS

[Jacob Ruff]

The Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS), in collaboration 
with the Cornell Center for Materials Research (CCMR), has an opening 
for a Postdoctoral Associate. This individual will be jointly affiliated 
with CHESS and the “Controlling Complex Electronic Materials” 
Interdisciplinary Research Group (IRG) in the CCMR. Applicants must have 
a Ph.D. and previous experience with materials physics and x-ray or 
neutron scattering. Individuals selected for this position will exploit 
CHESS undulator beams to perform high-resolution scattering studies of 
materials of interest to the IRG, particularly thin films and 
heterostructures.

The IRG is focused on understanding and controlling complex electronic 
materials where quantum many-body interactions can produce spectacular 
electronic and magnetic properties. These properties include colossal 
magnetoresistance, giant thermoelectric power, spin-polarized 
“half-metallic” ferromagnetism, high temperature superconductivity, huge 
electric field effects, and many forms of nanoscale electron 
self-organization. Recent work in the IRG has been published in Science, 
Nature Physics, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Materials, and Physical 
Review Letters. Affiliated PIs include Joel Brock (Applied & Engineering 
Physics & Director of CHESS), J.C. Seamus Davis (Physics), Craig Fennie, 
David Muller, and Lena Fitting Kourkoutis (Applied & Engineering 
Physics), Andrew Millis (Columbia University), Jacob Ruff (CHESS), 
Darrell Schlom (co-leader, Materials Science & Engineering), and Kyle 
Shen (co-leader, Physics).

The successful candidate will be expected to work closely with members 
of the IRG on numerous collaborative projects, including graduate 
students and postdoctoral scholars for whom synchrotron x-ray scattering 
is not a primary research focus. Strong communication skills are a must, 
including fluency in English. Appointments are for one year and are 
renewable for up to two years, contingent upon availability of funds and 
employee performance.

Applications should be submitted at 
https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/5507 and should include a cover 
letter, a CV, a list of publications, and a detailed summary of research 
experience and interests. Applicants must arrange to have two letters of 
recommendation sent, as per instructions on the academicjobsonline 
website. The starting date is negotiable. For more information about the 
position, please contact Dr. Jacob Ruff (jruff at cornell.edu) and/or Prof. 
Kyle Shen (kmshen at cornell.edu).

Located on an Ivy League university campus in picturesque upstate New 
York, CHESS is a NSF-funded lightsource serving a world-wide user base 
of biologists, chemists, physicists, and engineers. Co-located on the 
Cornell campus, the CCMR is an NSF-funded MRSEC supporting dozens of 
researchers in dynamic interdisciplinary groups. Diversity and Inclusion 
are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We’re a recognized employer 
and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with 
Disabilities.