Post-Doctoral Researcher x2, School of Physics

14 Months, Fixed-Term, Whole-Time Post

Position Summary

Davis Group research concentrates upon the fundamental physics of electronic, magnetic, atomic and space-time quantum matter. A specialty is development of innovative instrumentation to allow direct visualization (or perception) of characteristic quantum many-body phenomena at atomic scale.

Davis Group operates three suites of ultra-low vibration laboratories, one at Kane Building at University College Cork (IE) , a second in Clark Hall at Cornell University (US), and  a third at Beecroft Building at Oxford University (UK). The overall objective is to exploit the distinct capabilities and facilities at all laboratories to maximize scientific efficiency.

Ours is as single research group conducting scientifically harmonized studies with complementary scientific instruments at all three locations. Other key components of our program are at the Max Planck Graduate Center for Quantum Materials in Dresden.

The ideal PDRA candidate will have a combination of specialized knowledge, skills and successful experience in several of the following research areas:

•         Sub-Kelvin Refrigeration

Concepts, operation and maintenance of sub-kelvin 3He-refrigerators and 3He-4He dilution refrigerators, based on both liquid 4He and cryofree cryostats.

•         Ultra-low Vibration Techniques

Concepts, operation and maintenance of ultra-low vibration experiments, including control of mechanical, acoustic, cabling, vacuum-line, and cryogenic noise.

•         High-field Superconducting Magnets

Concepts, operation and maintenance of persistent superconducting magnets at fields up to 20 Tesla.

•         Superconducting Quantum Inference Devices & Qubits       

Concepts and operation of Josephson junctions, SQUIDS and superconducting qubits.

•         High-frequency Data Acquisition and Control Electronics

Concepts, operation and maintenance GHz bandwidth , high signal/noise data acquisition and storage.

•         Instrument Design and Fabrication

Principles of, and experience with, scientific instrument design; project management, CAD tools, prototyping, machining, assembly, integration, testing and operation of custom built instruments.

•         Spectroscopic Imaging Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

Concepts, operation and maintenance of low temperature spectroscopic imaging STM including, quasiparticle interference imaging of correlated metals, topological states and superconductors.

•         Quantum Matter Theory

Knowledge and experience of contemporary theory for topological superconductors, Bose condensates, topological heavy fermions, ferromagnetic topological insulators, Dirac and Weyl semimetals, magnetic monopole fluids, quantum spin liquids and exciton fluids.

•         Data Management, Analysis & Machine Learning

Knowledge and experience in high volume image-array data acquisition and management, development of custom software and machine learning techniques for advanced image-array data analysis.

Project Title: Quantum Visualization of Quantum Materials for Quantum Technology

Post Duration: 14 Months

Salary: €42,781 - €49,177 (IUA Post-Doctoral Researcher PD1 Scale)

For an information package including further details of the post see https://ore.ucc.ie/.

Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Prof. J.C. Séamus Davis, Professor of Quantum Physics, Physics Department , Tel: + 353 (0) 21 4902482; Email: [email protected]

Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to [email protected], quoting the job-title and project name.

Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Thursday, 2nd of May, 2024

No late applications will be accepted.

Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector.

UCC is committed to creating and fully embracing an inclusive environment where diversity is celebrated.  As a University we strive to create a workplace that reflects the diversity of our student population where people from a wide variety of backgrounds learn from one another, share ideas, and work collaboratively. UCC is committed to being an employer that recognises the value of diversity amongst its staff.  We encourage applicants to consult our policies at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/policies/ and initiatives at https://www.ucc.ie/en/edi/implementation/ and we welcome applications from everyone, including those who are underrepresented in the protected characteristics set out in our Equal Opportunities & Diversity Policy. 

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