PhD Fellowship in Experimental Aspects of Non-Local Condensed Matter Physics

We seek outstanding candidates for a PhD position to work on condensed matter experiments at the Center for Quantum Devices, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen.

The position is open from 15 July 2023 or by arrangement.

The Project
The Center for Quantum Devices has played a pivotal role in the field of epitaxial superconductor-semiconductor devices, both in material growth, device development, and underlying theory. This fellowship project ushers in the next generation of experiments that probe the non-local nature and coherence properties associated with hybrid quantum devices through cutting-edge experiments using advanced gate geometries, high-frequency techniques, and low-temperature operations in high-bandwidth cryostats. 

The project is sponsored through an ERC Synergy grant. It combines nanofabrication, low-temperature physics using cryofree dilution refrigerators, low-noise and high-frequency electrical measurement techniques, data analysis, interaction with theoretical physicists, and scientific writing in English.  

Applicants should hold a master’s degree or a US undergraduate degree in Physics or Applied Physics with relevant experimental experience, ideally including published research.

Inquiries about the position can be made to Professor Ferdinand Kuemmeth ([email protected] ) and Professor Charles Marcus ([email protected] ). The principal supervisor will be Prof. Ferdinand Kuemmeth.  

Who are we looking for?

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant work experience
• Relevant publications
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in super-semi condensed matter physics
• Good language skills

Our group and research - and what do we offer?
The Center for Quantum Devices is a research center supported by the Danish National Research Foundation, comprising materials research, experimental solid-state physics, quantum nanoelectronics, and condensed matter theory. It has a state-of-the-art fabrication cleanroom enabling researchers to conduct their experiments on the highest-quality devices.

The Center provides a vibrant scientific environment with cutting-edge research performed across many different groups in fundamental condensed matter, with close ties to a strong theory department as well as longstanding collaborations with industry. The center is part of the Niels Bohr Institute, which has played a pivotal role in shaping our understanding of quantum physics for the past century.

Further information about QDev can be found at www.qdev.dk .

The PhD programme
Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

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Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Physics or Applied Physics. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database .

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database .  

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Physics.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd , “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totaling a workload of at least 150 working hours per year.
A PhD grant portion is DKK 6,243.

When you have obtainedtheMSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme  (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include: 

Application deadline:
The deadline for applications is 15 March 2023, 23:59 GMT +1.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After the deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at https://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/ .

Interviews with selected candidates are expected to be held shortly after the application deadline.

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/ .

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position. 

Part of the International Alliance of Research Universities (IARU), and among Europe’s top-ranking universities, the University of Copenhagen promotes research and teaching of the highest international standard. Rich in tradition and modern in outlook, the University gives students and staff the opportunity to cultivate their talent in an ambitious and informal environment. An effective organisation – with good working conditions and a collaborative work culture – creates the ideal framework for a successful academic career.