PhD Student in ferroelectric field effect transistors

Your tasks ##

As part of an international collaboration investigating ferroelectric field effect transistor technologies, you will:

• Perform epitaxy and characterization of functional perovskite oxide thin films and their heterostructures 
• Establish a composition-structure-function relationship for ferroelectric, semiconducting and metallic materials, together with collaborators 
• Grow metal-ferroelectric-semiconductor multilayers, define and optimize lithographic workflows to process the multilayers into device architectures and perform electrical testing and benchmarking of both the individual layers and the multilayer structures as ferroelectric field effect transistors 
• Supplement this information with band structure computations towards building a high-performance ferroelectric field effect transistor 
• Employ the collected data to publish peer-reviewed articles

Your profile ##

• Master-s degree or equivalent in materials science, chemistry, physics or a related discipline 
• Foundational knowledge on solid state chemistry and/or physics, with knowledge on semiconductors and ferroelectrics considered advantageous 
• Understanding of physical vapor deposition and vacuum infrastructure, computational studies of the electronic structure of materials, familiarity with cleanroom device fabrication and experience with Python are considered advantageous 
• A communicative and team-oriented profile, who enjoys working in an interdisciplinary research environment 
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English is required; knowledge of German is an asset

We offer ##

Our institution is based on an interdisciplinary, innovative and dynamic collaboration. You will profit from a systematic training on the job, in addition to personal development possibilities and our pronounced vocational training culture. If you wish to optimally combine work and family life or other personal interests, we are able to support you with our modern employment conditions and the on-site infrastructure. 

You will be enrolled in the Doctoral program at ETH Zürich, from which you will receive the PhD title.

For further information, please contact Dr Nikita Shepelin, email [email protected]. 

Please submit your application online by 22 November 2026 including addresses of referees for the position as a PhD Student (Index-Nr. 3704-30793).

Paul Scherrer Institute, People & Culture, Emily Kulowatz, 5232 Villigen PSI, Switzerland