This PhD position is part of the Gen-Q programme, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement number 101217386.
This PhD position is part of the Gen-Q programme, which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement number 101217386.
We will develop a new platform for quantum computing, based on trapped ions in combination with optical tweezers. We will explore the use of tightly focused laser beams and their interaction with crystals of trapped ions to realize new ways to prepare and control qubits, making particular use of the so-called optical Magnus effect, an optical analogue of the well-known classical Magnus effect that is for instance applied in football, causing ball trajectories to curve. In trapped ions, this effect can be used to implement state-of-the-art quantum gates. The tweezers can also be used to sub-Doppler cool the ion crystal and for qubit readout. We will also explore the scalability of the scheme by designing ion traps based on integrated photonics for tweezer delivery.
For MSCA PhD positions it is required that the applicant shall at the date of recruitment be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. The applicant must not have resided or carried out her/his main activity (e.g. work or studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior the recruitment date.
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible after that. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.
We will develop a new platform for quantum computing, based on trapped ions in combination with optical tweezers. We will explore the use of tightly focused laser beams and their interaction with crystals of trapped ions to realize new ways to prepare and control qubits, making particular use of the so-called optical Magnus effect, an optical analogue of the well-known classical Magnus effect that is for instance applied in football, causing ball trajectories to curve. In trapped ions, this effect can be used to implement state-of-the-art quantum gates. The tweezers can also be used to sub-Doppler cool the ion crystal and for qubit readout. We will also explore the scalability of the scheme by designing ion traps based on integrated photonics for tweezer delivery.
For MSCA PhD positions it is required that the applicant shall at the date of recruitment be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. The applicant must not have resided or carried out her/his main activity (e.g. work or studies) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years immediately prior the recruitment date.
A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is 1 October 2025 or as soon as possible after that. This should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.
The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.
The hybrid quantum systems group is headed by Rene Gerritsma and is part of the Quantum Gases & Quantum Information cluster at the Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The main focus of the group is the use of trapped ions for quantum technology and quantum chemistry.
Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.
The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.
The hybrid quantum systems group is headed by Rene Gerritsma and is part of the Quantum Gases & Quantum Information cluster at the Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). The main focus of the group is the use of trapped ions for quantum technology and quantum chemistry.
Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.
If you feel the profile fits you and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application by email to [email protected] and in addition by an online submission via the button below. We accept applications until and including 24.8.2025.
If you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:
Rene Gerritsma, [email protected] and/or Robert Spreeuw, [email protected]
Applications should include the following information (for the application through this website: all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file; for the application by email: simply describe everything except the CV in the email itself and attach your CV):
A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines).
If you feel the profile fits you and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application by email to [email protected] and in addition by an online submission via the button below. We accept applications until and including 24.8.2025.
If you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:
Rene Gerritsma, [email protected] and/or Robert Spreeuw, [email protected]
Applications should include the following information (for the application through this website: all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file; for the application by email: simply describe everything except the CV in the email itself and attach your CV):
A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines).
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