PhD / Postdoctoral Opportunity: The Autonomous Alloy Discovery Lab, led by Prof. Sebastian A. Kube in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, is offering an exciting PhD (starting Summer/Fall 2026) or Postdoctoral (starting 2025/26) research opportunity. The project focuses on deciphering the liquid state of metallic alloys – exploring atomic structure, kinetics, and glass formation. This role provides hands-on experience in advanced experimental methods, clean-room fabrication, x-ray diffraction, synchrotron experiments, robotics, and computational AI-driven modeling.
📌 Position Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Designation | PhD Student (Research Assistantship) / Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Research Area | Metallic Liquids, Atomic Structure, Kinetics, Glass Formation, Solidification Pathways |
| Location | Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
| Supervisor | Prof. Sebastian A. Kube |
| Start Date | PhD: Summer/Fall 2026; Postdoc: 2025/26 |
🎓 Eligibility / Qualification
- Background in Materials Science, Physics, or related fields.
- Strong interest in metals, alloys, and liquid-state physics.
- Desirable skills/experience:
- Thin-film deposition
- Clean-room processing
- Advanced materials characterization (e.g., x-ray diffraction)
- Instrument design and automation
- Synchrotron experiments and computational/AI methods
🧪 Job Description
The selected candidate will:
- Investigate composition–structure–property relationships in metallic liquids.
- Study how atomic structure governs liquid kinetics such as viscosity, diffusion, and crystallization.
- Work on vapor deposition, clean-room fabrication, robotics-assisted experiments, and synchrotron characterization.
- Integrate computational modeling and AI to enhance predictive understanding of metallic liquids.
- Contribute to advancing the field of glass formation and crystallization pathways in alloy systems.
📝 How to Apply
- PhD applicants: Apply through the Materials PhD Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
- Deadline: December 15, 2025.
- Applicants are encouraged to email Prof. Sebastian Kube (Sebastian.Kube@wisc.edu) for inquiries.
- PhD position is supported via Research Assistantship (includes stipend + tuition).
📅 Last Date to Apply
December 15, 2025
