As part of the research training group GRK2516 (https://grk2516.uni-mainz.de/), we are seeking a motivated PhD candidate at the Technical University in Darmstadt.

The project aims to investigate composite materials made of stimuli-responsive polymer on solid substrates, using adsorbed polymer microgels or polymer brushes as coatings and nanoparticles (NP) as doping agents. The NP serve as sensors, making the composite sensitive to specific outer stimuli.

The project comprises preparation and analysis of the composite materials by the PhD candidate.  As experimental techniques, atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) and dip coating for preparation and atomic force microscopy as well as X-ray and neutron reflectometry on large-scale research facilities are, among other lab techniques, foreseen for characterisation.

More details and the application process can be found at
https://www.career.tu-darmstadt.de/tu-darmstadt/job/56078