Within the ERC Consolidator Grant project COMOTION — CONTROLLING THE MOTION OF COMPLEX MOLECULES AND PARTICLES there are several position openings.

For instance, the following two projects, amongst others, are open and to be filled as soon as possible. Further project descriptions are available at    https://www.controlled-molecule-imaging.org/careers/projects

Aerosols into vacuum
This project will develop strategies to optimally transfer large molecules/particles into high-vacuum through nebulization techniques, possibly combined with aerodynamic transport and focusing. Techniques include gas-dynamics-virtual-nozzle thin water jets, electrospray, and other analytical chemistry nebulization techniques, which will be combined with special aerodynamic lenses currently being developed in our group. This includes methodologies to cryogenically cool the produced beams. The resulting (bio)particle beams will be thoroughly characterized (density, distribution, charge-state,…) and applied in fundamental physics and biochemistry/structural biology studies. Subsequently, the experiments will be extended toward the control of these beams (mass selection, isomer separation, angular alignment).
The produced and well-controlled cold samples of large molecules/nanoparticles will be investigated using femtosecond lasers and with x-ray or electron diffraction experiments, using table-top (laboratory) as well as at Free-Electron laser sources.
The successful candidate will have an outstanding Ph.D. in experimental physics, physical chemistry, or a related field. Experience with aerosol technologies, lasers, vacuum equipment, or diffractive imaging is highly desirable.
Aerosol Sci. Technol. 22, 314 (1995)
Struct. Dyn. 2, 041717 (2015)
Opt. Exp., accepted (2016), arxiv:1512.06231 (2015)

Control of aerodynamically focussed beams of very large molecules and nanoparticles
In this project we develop strategies to control the transfer of very large molecules and nanoparticles to the interaction point of modern imaging experiments, in high-vacuum, through the use of cryogenic techniques and optical manipulation. “Shock-freezing” the molecules makes them especially amenable to the control of their internal and external degrees of freedom. External electric and laser fields allow for precise steering of the particles as well as for spatial separation based on physical properties (size, mass, structure). Methodologies to characterize these beams regarding density, distribution, charge-state, etc will be further developed.
The produced and well-controlled cold samples of very large molecules/nanoparticles will be investigated using X-ray or electron diffraction experiments in laboratory experiments, as well as at Free-Electron lasers.
The successful candidate will have an outstanding Ph.D. in experimental physics, physical chemistry, or a related field. Experience with lasers, aerosol technologies, vacuum equipment, or imaging is highly desirable.
Opt. Exp. 21, 30492 (2013)
Phys. Rev. X 2, 031002 (2012)
Int. Rev. Phys. Chem. X 34, 557 (2015)
Phys. Rev. Applied 4, 064001 (2015)
Opt. Expr., accepted (2016), arXiv:1512.06231 (2015)

More information at:
Controlled Molecule Imaging Group – https://www.controlled-molecule-imaging.org
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Jochen Küpper, Center for Free-Electron Laser Science, DESY and Universität Hamburg
open positions – https://www.controlled-molecule-imaging.org/careers
CFEL Molecular Physics Seminar – https://www.molecular-physics.org/news/seminar
ERC COMOTION – https://www.comotion.info