Doctoral College Advanced Functional Materials

The development of new materials with tailored properties is key for addressing the challenges of modern society in a wide range of fields ranging from energy and health to the preservation of the environment. In the Doctoral College Advanced Functional Materials (DCAFM, http://dcafm.univie.ac.at/), research groups at the Faculties of Physics and Chemistry of the University of Vienna have joined forces to train doctoral students on this topic at the highest international level. Research in DCAFM focuses on the synthesis, manipulation, characterization, analysis and theoretical description of novel functional materials, ranging from low-dimensional materials with exotic electronic and optical properties to soft matter systems with designed mechanical responses to external stimuli. With the funds of the FWF, ten new positions for doctoral students will be created in the DCAFM to widen its research scope and address new scientific questions. The new DCAFM fellows will work on joint projects focusing on the hierarchical design of hybrid systems, including van der Waals heterostructures, carbon nanomaterials and polymer assemblies. A particular strength of the DCAFM consortium lies in the strong synergy of experimental and theoretical/computational approaches, which provides the DCAFM doctoral fellows with a comprehensive training in the field of advanced functional materials. Admission to DCAFM is highly selective and aims at attracting the most motivated and scientifically promising doctoral candidates. Beyond a stimulating research environment and training-on-the-job, DCAFM fellows also benefit from a variety of multidisciplinary activities at the Faculty of Physics and crucial transferable skills training. All doctoral students participating in the DCAFM will have the opportunity to widen their scientific horizon and gain international experience during extended visits in laboratories at leading institutions world-wide. The thorough training provided by the DCAFM will enable its graduates to take leading roles in industry or successfully pursue careers in research and teaching in academia.