Senior Research Centre Leader – Electron-Beam Engineering and CVD Synthesis of Low-Dimensional Materials

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a coherent and internationally recognised research record spanning low-dimensional carbon nanomaterials; graphene, carbon nanotubes and related sp² carbon nanostructures; chemical vapour deposition of carbon-based and/or two-dimensional materials; and advanced electron microscopy encompassing complementary SEM and TEM approaches for materials characterization, synthesis and electron-beam-driven nanoscale engineering.

The candidate should additionally demonstrate expertise across several closely connected areas, including high-resolution and atomic-scale characterization of low-dimensional materials; in-situ and/or aberration-corrected electron microscopy; electron–matter interactions and electron-beam-induced structural transformations; defect formation and dynamics; nanoscale restructuring of carbon and related low-dimensional materials; controlled doping and atomic-scale modification of graphene and related structures; integration of nanomaterial synthesis with advanced microscopy; synthesis and structural investigation of emerging two-dimensional and low-dimensional materials; and electron-beam-enabled precision and/or additive manufacturing involving local materials synthesis, fabrication, restructuring, functionalisation or controlled transformation.

The Centre Leader is expected to demonstrate not simply excellence in individual techniques, but a coherent scientific profile connecting materials synthesis, advanced electron microscopy, electron–matter interactions and electron-beam-driven materials engineering, together with the senior leadership capacity required to translate these capabilities into an integrated and sustainable Centre-level research strategy.

Develop new approaches to precision and additive manufacturing using focused electron beams, exploiting controlled electron–matter interactions to locally synthesize, deposit, transform, restructure, functionalise and fabricate materials and nanoscale structures. Particular emphasis will be placed on manufacturing concepts in which electron beams provide spatially controlled energy or stimulation to drive local material formation and transformation, allowing fabrication to progress from nanoscale structures toward near-atomic and atomic-scale control.

Investigate focused electron-beam interactions with carbon, two-dimensional and other low-dimensional materials and develop controlled approaches to structural modification, defect engineering, local graphitization, atomic and substitutional doping, nanoscale restructuring, local synthesis and functionalisation, and transformation of precursor materials into functional nanostructures. Develop strategies for translating fundamental understanding of these processes into electron-beam-enabled precision and additive manufacturing methodologies capable of producing or modifying functional material structures with controlled dimensions, composition, defects and properties.

Use SEM and TEM not only as imaging and analytical platforms, but as complementary tools for electron-beam precision manufacturing, enabling controlled synthesis, additive fabrication, restructuring, modification and discovery of nanoscale material structures. Develop approaches connecting the flexible processing capabilities of SEM with the high-resolution and atomic-scale capabilities of TEM, establishing pathways between nanoscale fabrication and progressively higher precision materials engineering.

Integrate controlled material synthesis with mechanistic electron microscopy to understand the formation, evolution and transformation of low-dimensional materials at the nanoscale and atomic scale. Establish correlations between synthesis conditions, structural defects, dopant configurations, electron-beam response and resulting material properties, using this understanding to inform controlled fabrication and materials engineering.

Develop complementary SEM and TEM approaches linking nanoscale synthesis, processing and materials discovery with high-resolution and atomic-scale structural investigation. Explore electron-microscopy-enabled strategies for identifying, producing and stabilising new low-dimensional and two-dimensional material structures and phases, establishing relationships between synthesis pathways, local structure, composition and functional properties. Translate these insights into new strategies for electron-beam-driven synthesis, local materials transformation and precision fabrication.

Lead the development of EBEAM as a sustainable research centre extending beyond the duration of the ERA Chairs project. Develop and periodically review the Centre's scientific and organisational outlook, including future research priorities, competence requirements, research infrastructure, recruitment needs and opportunities for institutional and international growth.

Provide scientific and strategic input into resource allocation, research budget planning, infrastructure priorities and future investment requirements associated with implementation of the Centre's scientific strategy, working in cooperation with the responsible financial and administrative structures of VSB-TUO. Monitor the relationship between scientific objectives, available resources and future funding requirements and contribute to forward resource and financial planning necessary to maintain the Centre's international competitiveness and develop its capabilities in electron-beam precision manufacturing, advanced microscopy and low-dimensional materials.

Develop a diversified and forward-looking funding strategy based on competitive national, European and international research programmes, strategic collaborations and other appropriate opportunities. Contribute to the long-term institutional embedding of EBEAM and the development of the scientific, human and infrastructural capacity required for its continued operation and growth.

Initiate, prepare and coordinate competitive national and international research proposals and develop a forward-looking funding strategy supporting the Centre's scientific development and long-term sustainability. Particular emphasis will be placed on Horizon Europe, ERC, MSCA and other major European and international funding opportunities relevant to electron-beam manufacturing, advanced materials, nanotechnology and research infrastructure.

Develop strategic collaborations with internationally leading research institutions working in electron microscopy, electron-beam processing, carbon nanomaterials, two-dimensional materials, controlled synthesis, materials discovery and nanoscale manufacturing. Strengthen EBEAM's international visibility and establish partnerships supporting scientific excellence, researcher mobility, infrastructure development, knowledge and technology transfer and future collaborative funding.

Lead the development of an international and multidisciplinary research team aligned with the Centre's scientific strategy. Identify scientific competence requirements and contribute centrally to the recruitment, selection and development of researchers required for the future development of EBEAM's research programme.

Lead, supervise and mentor researchers, postdoctoral researchers, doctoral students and students, developing complementary expertise spanning CVD and controlled synthesis, advanced SEM and TEM, electron–matter interactions, electron-beam precision and additive manufacturing and emerging low-dimensional materials. Promote international recruitment, researcher development, mobility, mentoring, succession planning and high standards of scientific integrity and research practice.

Lead the scientific and strategic development of EBEAM in accordance with the objectives of the Horizon Europe ERA Chairs programme and contribute to the structural development and long-term institutional embedding of the EBEAM Centre at Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava. Support the development of institutional conditions that enable scientific excellence, international recruitment, competitive funding and sustainable research capacity.

Drive the development and periodic review of the Centre's scientific strategy, future outlook, international positioning, research capacity and sustainability, and contribute scientific and strategic input to decisions concerning research priorities, recruitment, infrastructure development, resources, competitive funding and future investment. Promote internationalisation, Open Science, researcher development, effective research management, technology transfer and integration into the European Research Area, with the objective of establishing EBEAM as a sustainable internationally recognised centre in electron-beam precision manufacturing and advanced materials research extending beyond the duration of the ERA Chairs grant.

• Professorial, senior academic or equivalent senior research experience.

• International leadership in graphene, carbon nanotubes, low-dimensional carbon materials or closely related fields.

• Long-standing experience in the synthesis of graphene and carbon nanotubes by chemical vapour deposition.

• Expertise in low-voltage aberration-corrected TEM of beam-sensitive low-dimensional materials.

• Research experience in atomic-scale analysis of defects and structural transformations in graphene and related materials.

• Expertise in electron-beam-induced modification of carbon nanostructures.

• Substantial experience in scanning electron microscopy, particularly the use of focused electron beams for nanomaterial synthesis, restructuring, functionalisation, local processing and/or nanoscale fabrication.

• Research experience in controlled graphitization or electron-beam-driven transformation of carbon-containing precursor materials.

• Research experience in substitutional or atomic-scale doping of graphene or related two-dimensional materials.

• Experience studying dopant incorporation and defect configurations by high-resolution electron microscopy.

• Expertise in mechanisms of CVD growth of graphene, carbon nanotubes and related nanostructures.

• Experience combining synthesis, electron microscopy and theoretical or mechanistic interpretation of structural transformations.

• Experience integrating complementary SEM and TEM approaches with controlled synthesis and mechanistic investigation of low-dimensional materials.

• Research experience extending beyond established graphene systems toward the synthesis, discovery or investigation of emerging two-dimensional materials, novel low-dimensional phases and heterostructures.

• Experience in electron-microscopy-enabled materials discovery or investigation of new low-dimensional structures and phases.

• Successful acquisition or coordination of competitive international research funding.

• Participation in major European or international research programmes.

• Established international network in electron microscopy, carbon nanomaterials, two-dimensional materials and/or nanoscale manufacturing.

• Experience managing research teams, advanced microscopy infrastructure or nanomaterials laboratories.

• Experience in international scientific programme development, strategic research planning, researcher mentoring and development of sustainable research capacity.

• Internationally recognised scientific profile in nanomaterials, electron microscopy and/or low-dimensional materials.

• Extensive research experience in carbon-based low-dimensional materials, particularly graphene, carbon nanotubes and/or related sp² nanostructures.

• Demonstrated research experience in chemical vapour deposition or closely related controlled synthesis methods for low-dimensional materials.

• Strong publication record in internationally recognised journals in nanomaterials, electron microscopy, carbon materials and/or two-dimensional materials.

• Extensive practical and scientific experience in advanced electron microscopy, with substantial expertise across advanced TEM and complementary SEM-based methodologies.

• Demonstrated expertise in high-resolution, in-situ and/or aberration-corrected electron microscopy.

• Published research addressing electron-beam-induced modification, restructuring, defect dynamics, synthesis or transformation of nanomaterials.

• Demonstrated ability to integrate material synthesis with advanced structural characterization and electron-beam materials engineering at the nanoscale and atomic scale.

• Demonstrated senior-level experience in scientific leadership, strategic research development and the coordination of international and multidisciplinary research activities, including responsibility for developing research programmes, teams and external funding.

• Experience supervising PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and early-career scientists.

• Demonstrated experience preparing, coordinating or participating in competitive national or international research projects.

• Established international research collaborations.

• Excellent written and spoken English.

• Strong scientific leadership, strategic planning, organisational and communication skills.

Candidate selection will be based on scientific excellence, international research leadership, expertise in low-dimensional carbon and two-dimensional materials, CVD synthesis, advanced electron microscopy including complementary SEM and TEM approaches, electron-beam-driven materials engineering and precision manufacturing, and demonstrated capacity to provide scientific and strategic leadership for the future development, international positioning and long-term sustainability of the EBEAM Centre at Nanotechnology Centre, CEET, VSB – Technical University of Ostrava.

In assessing candidates, particular consideration will be given to the coherence, depth and international standing of the candidate's overall profile across these areas, rather than excellence in an individual technique or research area considered in isolation.