Research Assistant

Research Assistant - 0.75 working-time

Technische Universität Berlin Faculty II - Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physics and Astronomy

About us

The position is embedded in the Emmy Noether Independent Junior Research Group led by Dr. Laura Niermann. The group focuses on the numerical inversion of dynamical electron diffraction and works at the interdisciplinary bridge between theory and experiment, as well as between (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) and materials science.

Your responsibility

You will contribute to the development of physics-based algorithms for the reconstruction of strain fields and electric fields at interfaces of nano-heterostructures. The focus is on the numerical inversion of dynamical electron diffraction. For your experimental work, you will have direct access to the highly specialized, state-of-the-art 300kV S/TEM infrastructure at Technische Universität Berlin.

Your tasks will include:

• Development of experimental measurement methods for acquiring dynamical electron diffraction datasets, for example using 4D-STEM or electron holographic beam tilt series.
• Simulation and analysis of dynamical diffraction effects.
• Optimization, evaluation, and validation of numerical inversion approaches, especially regarding algorithms and regularization methods.
• Application of the developed inversion methods to interfaces in nanostructures (such as semiconductor heterostructures) and domain walls in ferroelectrics.
• Acquisition and analysis of comparison datasets using Nano-Beam Electron Diffraction (NBED), Differential Phase Contrast (DPC), and Off-Axis Electron Holography.
• Exploration of machine learning approaches for the reconstruction.
• Independent collaboration with national and international project partners in the fields of computational electron microscopy and materials science.

The position offers the opportunity to pursue a doctorate. For further information, please contact Dr. Laura Niermann (Jetzt bewerben).

Your profile

• Successfully completed university degree (Master, Diplom, or equivalent) in physics or a related discipline; the degree must be completed by the start of employment.
• Very good knowledge of numerical programming, computational modeling, and their application to the analysis of experimental data.
• Experience in software development and programming (ideally in Python).
• A high degree of independence and self-motivation, as well as experience in independent scientific work desirable.
• Good knowledge of German and/or English required; willingness to acquire the respective missing language skills.
• Experience working with numerical libraries and machine learning frameworks (like PyTorch or JAX) desirable.
• Experience in (scanning) transmission electron microscopy and/or solid-state physics desirable.
• Knowledge of statistical methods as well as basic knowledge of machine learning desirable.

Facts

Published: 05.11.2026 Number of employees: ca. 7000 Category: Research assistant Job location: Germany, Berlin, Charlottenburg Area of responsibility: Academia and research, Research (academic) Start date (earliest): 01.02.2027 Duration: until 30/06/2029 Full/Part-time: 0.75 working-time Remuneration: Salary grade 13 TV-L Berliner Hochschulen

Requirements

Qualification: Master, Diplom or equivalent

Contact

Reference number: II-423/26 Contact person: Dr. Laura Niermann Contact email: Jetzt bewerben

Apply

Application deadline: 03.12.2026 Reference number: II-423/26 By email: Jetzt bewerben