Post-doctoral position in quantum physics and quantum technology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

The research at the division of Solid State Physics is focused around different aspects of semiconductor physics, ranging from materials science to quantum physics, to different applications. The division also leads NanoLund, the major interdisciplinary research environment within nanoscience and nanotechnology at Lund University. Lund Nano Lab is a central key facility for fabrication of material and devices on the nanoscale. The division is also heavily involved in the undergraduate education, especially within the “Engineering Nanoscience” program.

In the last decade, our research within the area of one-dimensional semiconductor structures, so called nanowires, has been at the international forefront. So far, our three main areas have been epitaxial growth of nanowires, fundamental properties studied with transport physics and optical physics, and more applied nanoelectronics. More information is found at: www.ftf.lth.se and and www.nano.lu.se

Subject description
In the second quantum revolution, now unfolding worldwide, quantum mechanical superposition and entanglement are being created, characterized and controlled with unprecedented precision in a wide variety of physical systems. This development has deepened our understanding of the physical laws governing the microscopic world and provided a broader framework for technology, with fundamentally new capabilities. The defining aim of quantum technology is to harness superposition and entanglement for radical improvements, in terms of capacity, sensitivity and speed, of applications in a broad range of areas such as information processing, material science and electronics. This specific position will be a part of the Wallenberg Center for Quantum Technologies, a major Swedish quantum technology initiative with nodes in Gothenburg, Stockholm and Lund.

Work duties
The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to interact with the master students and the PhD students in the research group and contribute to meetings and seminars.

High degree of coherence and low relaxation are paramount for any application of quantum technology. In this project, we will utilize the cutting-edge expertise of growing heterostructured nanodevices such as heterostructure or polytype defined quantum dots in NanoLund to build coherent quantum devices for quantum sensing, in particular with the focus on building microwave photodetectors. Using the heterostructures allows for making hard-wall confinement to the dots instead of the smooth potential landscape that one has in the traditional gate defined dots. In this way, we will move toward firmly defined confinement potential as found in real atoms that have high coherence, while still working with solid-state devices that allow for integration and scalability. The work will be done by coupling charge and spin qubits of the nanowire devices to superconducting resonators and studying their interactions with circuit quantum electrodynamics technique. Recent theoretical work suggests that this architecture will provide efficient microwave photodetectors with quantum efficiency close to unity. You will be a part of a team aiming to realize these photodetectors experimentally and integrate them which single-shot charge readout to reach detection for individual microwave photons.

Qualification requirements
Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• The subject of the doctorate degree should be physics or equivalent with preferentially focus on low-temperature transport or high frequency studies of nanodevices.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English. 

Assessment criteria and other qualifications
This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

• Good knowledge of quantum physics, ideally on quantum dot structures or similar.
• Experience on low-temperature techniques such as circuit QED and/or nanofabrication.
• Ability to perform numerical and analytical calculations is considered as an advantage.

The research is to a large extent interdisciplinary, and a broad competence profile and experiences from relevant areas of physics, high frequency electronics and nanoscience are of special value. Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment
This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement “Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor” (“Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow”) between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

We have full understanding for current restrictions regarding moving and travel and the starting date will be set according to agreement.”

Instructions on how to apply
Applications shall be written in English and must include a cover letter (1-2 pages) motivating why you want to conduct research in this field at Lund University, how the research matches your interests and scientific background, and how you would contribute to the research topic.

Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio – see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more: www.lth.se/english/working-at-lth/to-apply-for-academic-positions-at-lth/

If the application is not designed in accordance with the academic qualifications portfolio it shall be compiled into a PDF containing a covering letter in which applicants describe themselves and their particular research interests, including contributions to the described research project (maximum 2 pages). Applications must also include a CV, publication list, a copy of the applicant’s doctoral thesis, contact details of at least two references, copies of grade certificates, and any other documents that the applicant wishes to refer to. Applicants are also required to answer the job specific questions in the final step of the application process.