Postdoctor (2 years) in Organic Electronics with focus on the development of a novel light-emission technology

Umeå University, Sweden, is inviting motivated and skilled scientists to apply for a 2-year postdoctoral position aimed at the development of a novel organic-electronics technology, termed a light-emitting electrochemical cell (LEC). The LEC is currently attracting increasing interest from both academia and industry since it can: (i) deliver bright and easily patterned light emission at low voltage; (ii) be thin, lightweight and flexible; (iii) be fabricated in its entirety by cost- and energy-efficient ambient-air printing; (iv) be highly sustainable (free from toxic and rare compounds and potentially recyclable).

The research will be performed in “The Organic Photonics and Electronics Group” (web: opeg-umu.com), and the selected postdoc will be part of a larger collaboration, with industry and international academic actors, aimed at the development of printed white-emitting LECs that fulfill specific performance criteria for practical applications. The postdoc’s primary task will be to develop such light-emitting devices, and it is desirable if you have experience with the utilization and/or development of solution-processable emitters for the attainment of white and/or blue light emission. It is further preferable if you are interested in both academic publishing and in the realization of practical devices in collaboration with industry.

For information on relevant background research, please refer to our earlier publications: doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-55954-3 and doi.org/10.1002/ente.201402201 and doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-24761-x

Why Join?

• Innovative Research: Contribute to cutting-edge research that aims to revolutionize how future light-emission devices can be fabricated and utilized.
• Professional Growth: Training on, and utilization of, state-of-the-art facilities, funding for conferences, and ample possibilities for professional development.
• Collaborative Environment: Work in a dynamic and supportive team with ongoing collaborations with leading groups in academia and with a direct connection to industry.
• Quality of Life: Enjoy Umeå’s vibrant cultural scene and experience its grand natural surroundings, its beautiful winters, and the magical northern lights.

Qualifications
To be appointed under the agreement on fixed-term employment as a postdoctoral fellow, the candidate is required to have completed a PhD degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a PhD degree. This requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the appointment decision (i.e. it is not required that you have completed your PhD degree at the time of application).

To be appointed under the postdoctoral agreement, priority should be given to candidates who completed their degree, in accordance with what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years before the time of the appointment decision. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree earlier than that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, military service or similar circumstances, as well as other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.

The PhD degree should be in Materials Science, Organic or Printed Electronics, Experimental Physics, Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Additional requirements

• Documented experience with light-emission devices, such as OLEDs or LECs.
• Documented experience with the development and/or utilization of solution-processible emitters for implementation in light-emission devices.
• Demonstrated early-career achievements, including scientific publications and international academic and/or industrial collaboration.
• Strong proficiency in written and spoken English.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary position for two (2) years. The employment starts April 1, 2026 or according to agreement.

Application procedure
Your application should be written in English (preferred) or in Swedish and in the form of PDF files. It must be submitted through our electronic recruitment system, Varbi. You can log in to Varbi and submit your application via the button at the bottom of this page.

Required documents:

• Curriculum vitae (CV), including a full list of publications with DOIs.
• Personal letter (1-3 pages) describing your qualifications and research interests, as well as your motivation for application to this particular position, and future professional goals.
• Electronic copy of your PhD thesis.
• Certified copies of degrees, grades, and other relevant certificates.
• Contact information (email and phone number) to two scientists willing to act as references.

Application deadline February 28th, 2026. 

Contact information 
For questions, please contact Prof. Ludvig Edman (email: ludvig.edman@umu.se) or
Dr. Erik Zäll (email: erik.zall@umu.se)

We look forward to receiving your application!