We are happy to announce that ten PhD positions are open for the 40th cycle of the PhD School in Physics and Nanoscience at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. Applications for the three-year program that starts in November 2024 must be submitted by July 26th 2024 (1 p.m. CET), following the procedure detailed below.

PhD School in Physics and Nanoscience
Students of the PhD School have the opportunity to receive specialized training and develop skills in key areas of physics and nanoscience, acquiring a transversal knowledge useful for interacting with operators in multi-disciplinary sectors. The PhD School is part of a stimulating and interdisciplinary environment that combines faculty members of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and scientists of the CNR-NANO National Research Laboratory. Significant efforts are devoted to the development of advanced computational algorithms and methods for condensed-matter and nano-systems, from density-functional theory to many-body perturbation theory, with particular emphasis on high-throughput materials discovery and excited-state phenomena. PhD students carrying out research activities within this context have the opportunity to join international networks such as the MaX Centre of Excellence and the Midwest Integrated Center for Computational Materials.

Research topics
Students perform original research under the supervision of an expert in the field in one of the following macro-areas:

• Materials systems for sustainability and health: Energy harvesting and energy storage, Flexible electronics and low-power technologies, Tribology at the nanoscale, Biosystems for health
• Quantum science and nanotechnology: Quantum technologies, Quantum information science, Low dimensional and quantum materials, Micro- and nano-fabrication, Microscopy and spectroscopy
• Condensed matter theory and computation: First principles and multiscale simulations, Quantum theory of many-body systems, Advanced simulations of materials and molecules (excitations and spectroscopies), theory and method development for computational condensed matter physics, high performance computing for materials, data-driven design and discovery of materials: machine learning and automated workflows
• Fundamental interactions and astrophysics: Quantum field theory, String theory, High energy and astroparticle physics, Theory and computational methods for black holes and galaxy simulations.

During the three-year program, the students’ salary is fully covered by scholarships (~1200 Euro/month, after tax) awarded based on merit. For the current cycle we offer:

• 3 scholarships to carry out any topic reported in this list.
• 2 scholarships with topic: “Computational Materials Science for Quantum Technologies”. Point of contact: Marco Govoni (mgovoni@unimore.it) [see here].
• 2 scholarships with topic: “Quantum Machine Learning”. Point of contact: Guido Goldoni (guido.goldoni@unimore.it) [see here]
• 1 scholarship with topic: “Development of electrochemical devices for energy conversion and storage”. Point of contact: Roberto Biagi (roberto.biagi@unimore.it) [see here]
• 1 scholarship with topic: “Low temperature experiments for qubit encoding with Molecular Spins”. Point of Contact: Marco Affronte (marco.affronte@unimore.it) [see here ]
• 1 scholarship with topic: “Investigation of reversal processes in thermoset polymers”. Point of Contact: Andrea Alessandrini (andrea.alessandrini@unimore.it) [see here ]

Candidates interested in multiple topics need to apply separately to each selection procedure. You are warmly encouraged to contact the point of contact who can guide you through the submission procedure.

Admission requirements
Candidates must hold a degree obtained at a University by October 31st, 2024. Accepted degrees: Italian second level degree (laurea specialistica, under D.M. 509/99 or laurea magistrale, under D.M. 207/04), or Italian degree obtained prior to D.M. 13 509/99, or equivalent qualification issued abroad.

How to apply
Deadline for applications: July 26th 2024 at 1:00 p.m. CET. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview to take place at the end of August. Online interviews are possible. Applications (CV, and research statement) need to be submitted online as described here (see in particular the full text of the call, and specifically section 13 on Physics and Nanoscience). Instructions on how to fill the application form can be found at this link.

University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), founded in 1175, is among the oldest universities in the world. UNIMORE, with roughly 27 000 students, is large enough to offer all the facilities one would expect from a major university but small enough to retain a personal and friendly learning environment. UNIMORE is located in two cities with the highest quality of living standards in Italy, in a region with a strong technological vocation. Both Modena and Reggio Emilia are considered important cities of art and culture, and Modena’s cathedral and main square are on the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.