Are you enthusiastic about exploring scientific challenges with an industrial application perspective?

Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) is the latest generation of the semiconductor manufacturing technology. Future EUVL machines require improved wafer flatness during lithography process for enhanced performance. It is challenging to provide the necessary flatness with the current electrostatic wafer stages. An active wafer stage with locally tunable actuators made from piezoelectric thin films is a promising candidate.

We are looking for a motivated and skilled PhD student to carry out research on the fundamental physics questions on the growth and characterization of piezoelectric thin films and usage of these films as building blocks for actuators with multiple degrees of freedom.

The XUV Optics Group at Twente has started a new multidisciplinary research program on these topics. We develop forefront fundamental research, relevant to high tech applications (www.utwente.nl/xuv/). The research will take place in a state-of-the-art thin film laboratory within the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology at the University of Twente, in collaboration with various academic and industrial partners. The XUV group has a track record in developing thin film physics and holds several records in functional film properties, including the reflectivity of thin film multilayer optics.

Challenge

Your goal is to develop the key material science required for growing and using piezoelectric thin films in actuator configurations. This includes:

• Exploring the layer growth processes and molecular scale process engineering of piezoelectric thin films, using physical vapor deposition techniques such as pulsed laser deposition, aiming for high piezoelectric functional properties on industrially relevant substrates.
• Developing the understanding of the piezoelectric film structures and their functional properties using characterization techniques such as AFM, XRD, SEM and DBLI and detailed data analysis.
• Exploring new actuator geometries enabling movement with multiple-degrees of freedom using piezoelectric thin films.

• You have a MSc degree in physics, materials science, physical chemistry or engineering, solid state or surface physics or a related field.
• You have affinity with the physical vapor deposition of piezoelectric thin films and their optical, structural, and chemical characterization.
• You are an excellent team player in an enthusiastic group of scientists and engineers working on a common theme.
• You are creative, like to push boundaries, and are highly motivated to address a major science challenge in thin film physics.
• You are fluent in English and able to collaborate intensively with industrial and academic parties in regular meetings and work visits.

The terms of employment are in accordance with the Dutch Collective Labour Agreement for Universities (CAO) and include:

• A fulltime PhD position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year.
• Full status as an employee at the UT, including pension and health care benefits.
• The salary will range from € 2.434 (1st year) to € 3.111,- (4th year) per month, plus a holiday allowance of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Excellent facilities for professional and personal development

The University of Twente stands for life sciences and technology, High tech and human touch, Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university in the Netherlands. We have a strong focus on personal development and give scope for carrying out pioneering research. The Faculty of Science & Technology works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. Research, which enjoys a high profile internationally, has been accommodated in the multidisciplinary research institutes MESA+ and MIRA.

The XUV Optics group is embedded in the MESA+ Institute, which is one of the largest nanotechnology research institutes in the world, delivering competitive and successful high-quality research. The institute employs 500 people of which 275 are PhDs or Postdoc's. With its unique NanoLab facilities the institute holds 1250 m2 of cleanroom space and state-of-the-art research equipment.

The University of Twente is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity. We do not discriminate on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.