Multiple PhD studentships are currently available in the International Max Planck Research School for Ultrafast Imaging and Structural Dynamics, Hamburg, Germany.

The IMPRS-UFAST is a structured PhD programme which offers exciting training opportunities in the areas of ultra-intense electron and x-ray sources for directly observing atomic motions during primary events, and ultrafast imaging over the relevant length and time scales to come to new levels of understanding of the interplay between structure and dynamics.  More specifically, research in this interdisciplinary PhD programme encompasses theoretical and experimental aspects of condensed matter and atomically resolved dynamics, fundamental light-matter interaction, accelerator-based light sources, coherent imaging, coherent controlled molecular and solid state dynamics, molecule imaging, extreme timescale spectroscopy, ultrafast optics and x-ray science, and their relevance and applications in chemistry, biology and medicine.

Supervision and teaching within the School are a synergistic effort of experts from relevant fields within Physics, Chemistry and touching on Biology. Thesis research is complemented by a programme of lectures, interactive workshops, advanced courses, and general academic and soft skills courses.

The duration of the programme is 3 years. All doctoral positions within the IMPRS are fully funded by generous stipends or work contracts. The language of the programme is English.

IMPRS-UFAST welcomes applications from qualified and talented students world-wide. Applicants will hold (or are about to receive) an MSc, a German “Diplom” or an equivalent degree in an area relevant to the programme.

Applications for a start of the PhD in summer/autumn 2012 are now open. Applications are submitted online on www.imprs-ufast.de  .
Informal enquiries are welcome under imprs.ufast@mpsd.cfel.de .

The IMPRS-UFAST is a joint enterprise of the Max Planck Research Department for Structural Dynamics at the University of Hamburg (MPSD), the University of Hamburg, Deutsches Elektronen Synchrotron (DESY), parts of the Max Planck Advanced Study Group (MP-ASG), and European XFEL GmbH.