We are advertising the university professorship (W3) for Physical Chemistry of Microscopic Systems, we seek an outstanding researcher having a high reputation in the area of the spectroscopic / spectrometric characterization of structures and dynamics of microscopic systems The applicant should be able to represent the full scope of the subject of physical chemistry within the context of both research and academic education.

The Professor should focus on scientific work on in-depth understanding and manipulation of atomic and molecular aggregates of variable dimensions in the gas phase and on surfaces. Of particular interest is the application and further development of spectroscopic / spectrometric methods to characterize and study dynamic processes, such as chemical reactions, ionization processes, and energy transfer in excited systems. Examples are single-molecule spectroscopy in optical cavities, non-linear laser spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and tunnelling spectroscopy studies.

Applicants are expected to work in the following areas: Spectroscopy under extreme conditions, e.g. of isolated ions at low temperatures in ion traps and/or of microscopic amounts of condensed matter at high pressures. These studies can be complemented by time and spatially resolved spectroscopy in order to study for example energy transfer and quantum phenomena in light-harvesting complexes as well as catalytically relevant processes.

The candidate is expected to have a comprehensive understanding of modern spectroscopic / spectrometric measurements and modelling methods. Collaboration with existing and future research groups at KIT is desired. Examples are collaboration on heterogeneous catalysis for emission control or energy storage, quantum technologies based on molecular quantum states, 4f molecular chemistry, in addition to establishing the use of AI-controlled autonomous laboratories.

The university professorship is part of the collegial leadership of the Institute of Physical Chemistry.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.