Full Professor in High-Current Superconductivity

Energy, Materials and Systems (EMS)

The EMS cluster investigates materials and conductors, key technologies, cryogenic and superconducting systems for applications in Big Science and High-Tech industry. Within the cluster, High-Current Superconductivity is a crucial research line enabling high magnetic fields in compact systems. EMS' research on High-Current Superconductivity is application oriented and greatly benefits from the unique infrastructure of the cluster. Its excellence is recognized worldwide, illustrated by its track record in international pioneering projects on particle accelerators and space applications (CERN and ESA) and in projects on thermonuclear fusion (ITER, DEMO and beyond). Energy density is a key issue not only in particle accelerators for high-energy physics, but also in other high-tech fields such as in semiconductor industry, medical applications, and wind turbines.

The cluster consists of three research groups. Next to High-Current Superconductivity, the Advanced Cryogenic Technologies group (ACT) develops innovative cooling technologies, specifically vibration-free sorption-based coolers and MEMS-based microcoolers. The third group is Applied Thermal Sciences (ATS) and explores the fundamentals and applications of thermal sciences in space- and time domain with focus on heat transfer phenomena at cryogenic temperatures. These three groups operate in close synergy on the topic of thermal transport in superconducting systems (cryogenic cooling and thermal stabilization).

EMS is embedded in the MESA+ research institute with world-leading research on nanoscience and -technology with matching infrastructure. EMS has strong links to Big Science projects and institutes such as at ITER, CERN and other High Energy Physics Laboratories and High Magnetic Field Laboratories (such as in Nijmegen and Tallahassee), which are supported by the endowed chair on High-Energy Physics (HEF) that is part of the cluster.

Technological support is provided by a strong and versatile engineering staff that is indispensable in the development of the experimental infrastructure and in the design and realization of demonstrator hardware increasing TRL levels in application-oriented projects.

The cluster is involved in the educational BSc programs Applied Physics and Advanced Technology and in the MSc programs Applied Physics, Nanotechnology and Sustainable Energy Technologies, contributing to general physics and engineering courses as well as to more specialized and advanced topics connected to the research in the group.

High-Current Superconductivity (HCS)

The University of Twente has opened an exciting Full Professor position for leading the High-Current Superconductivity research within EMS. You will find research challenges in various domains: An important and rich domain is the behavior of practical and yet complex Nb3Sn conductors in high-field magnets for application in future particle accelerators, e.g., at CERN and in fusion magnets such as used in ITER. A second area of special attention is high-temperature superconducting materials and systems. This field is becoming increasingly relevant for extreme high-field magnets, in fundamental physics research at high magnetic field, in renewable energy applications, in medical diagnostics and therapy, in mobility and in waste recycling through magnetic separation. Since various physics domains meet, combining electro-magnetics as well as thermal and mechanical aspects, multi-physics modelling is crucial. On the materials side, scientific issues lie in dealing with the intrinsic anisotropy of high-temperature superconductors, the limits regarding their current-carrying capacity, induced losses and the thermal and mechanical properties of the composites. On the systems side, these translate into technical challenges such as the operational stability of high-temperature superconducting magnets, their response to extreme mechanical and repetitive loads resulting from the combination of high currents and magnetic field, and the realization of competitive and robust application designs.

Job Description

You will be leading the High-Current Superconductivity research group as part of the Energy, Materials and Systems cluster, which consists of about 40 members of which HCS is roughly half. HCS has 3 permanent scientific staff members and 2 engineers, on average 8 PhD students, a varying number of post-doc and visiting researchers, as well as MSc students and interns. Your research will be on materials, wires, cables, coils and applications, spanning the whole spectrum within high-current superconductivity from materials to full system applications. It concerns all practical superconductors as NbTi, Nb3Sn, MgB2 as well as BSCCO and ReBCO. Core competences are in particular study of transport properties, losses, stability, propagation and quench behavior through experiments and modeling.

A close synergy with the research on cryogenic thermal transport greatly strengthens EMS' position in this fast-developing research field. High-current superconductivity has enormous potential in innovative market applications, resulting in strong relations and joint projects with major high-tech companies in and outside of the Netherlands.

Heading the HCS research program, you will further develop and expand the program's connections to Big Science and industry. In addition, you will be giving guidance to the permanent scientific and technical staff, you will be reflecting on and participating in the educational efforts of the cluster, and you will assume responsibility in the management and organizational tasks of the cluster and the faculty.