Head of Department of Diamond and Associated Materials

The Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v. v. i. (FZU) is a public research institution, focusing on basic and applied research in physics. The Institute of Physics is the largest of the institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences with more than 1300 employees, including a considerable number of international workers. The ambition of the Institute of Physics is to push forward the boundaries of knowledge and to conduct first-rate research in the fields of elementary particles, solid state physics, optics, plasma physics, and laser physics.

We are currently opening a permanent scientific job position (full time-based in Prague, Czech Republic) for the head of the newly established research Department of Diamond and Associated Materials. The new department is based on the existing FZU research groups active in the research of diamond and carbon-related materials, their properties and potential applications; and eventually, it should consist of the group Diamond Thin Films and Carbon Nano-structures, the group Functional Nanomaterials and Interfaces, and the group Materials for Nanosystems and Biointerfaces. The department will have almost 40 employees, more than half of them will be researchers. The position will be available immediately, as soon as the hiring process will be concluded.

Head of Department of Diamond and Associated Materials

The successful candidate (m/f) will be responsible for leading the new research department.

What you will do

• Develop a medium to long term strategy and vision of the department in conjunction with group leaders, head of division, and FZU director
• Organize research work within the department in the context of national and international research projects by supporting the work of current research groups and group leaders in managing their research
• Administer work within the department based on FZU policies under guidance from the Head of the Division and FZU director
• Develop the research environment of the department in close collaboration with the group leaders (i.e. equipment, labs, offices, methods, software, etc.)
• Support application for and managing of research projects within the department
• Support Ph.D. training in the department
• Support group leaders in the development and management of national/international academic and industrial research collaboration
• Represent the department by the publication of high-quality articles in scientific journals, keynote lectures at international conferences, organization of conferences, seminars, and workshops, etc.
• Be guarantor of good practices and ethical standards in the fields of human resources, financial management, and scientific research

Required qualifications

The applicants should have a Ph.D. degree in physics or in related specializations and should demonstrate:

• Extensive research experience (at least 7 years) in material science (knowledge in semiconductors, optoelectronics, nanomaterials, corrosion, electrochemistry, and/or thin-film technologies are added values)
• Outstanding research record in the last 10 years (publications, patents, citations, etc.)
• Excellent HR management and communication skills with a good command of English – (knowledge of Czech language is an added value)
• Excellent administrative skills (proven record of managing a research team is an added value)

Application procedure

The applicants should provide in their application:

• A cover letter addressing individually all the aforementioned criteria
• Three recommendation letters from researchers, who may be contacted as references, familiar with the applicant’s career
• A curriculum vitae including 5 most relevant scientific results (publications, patents, etc.)

Information on the selection process can be found here. He/she will be offered a salary based on their qualification and will receive standard benefits as FZU employees.  FZU is an equal opportunity employer that strongly supports and encourages diversity.

Applications with a CV, cover letter, reference letters, and contacts of references, should be submitted in English by April 15^th, 2021 to Monika Svobodová (monika [dot] svobodova [at] fzu [dot] cz). Reference letters might be sent to Monika Svobodová directly by recommending researchers.

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