The Quantum Matter Amsterdam (QMA) cluster of the Institute of Physics (IoP) is looking for a highly-motivated student who wants to be the driving force behind a collaboration between the optical spectroscopy lab at the University of Amsterdam and the EUV targets group at the Advanced Research Centre for Nanolithography (ARCNL).

The optical spectroscopy lab, supervised by Dr. Erik van Heumen, is part of the QMA cluster and focusses on spectroscopy of topological and strongly correlated electron materials. The EUV targets group, supervised by Prof. Dr. Paul Planken, is part of ARCNL and focusses on the interaction between intense laser light and metals.

More information on our research can be found on the QMA or EUV targets webpages.

Project description

The project will focus on determining nanoscale resolved optical properties of metals, electronic devices and thin films using near-field optical techniques. You will take the lead in the further development of the near-field optics lab and will develop expertise in turning raw materials, single crystals grown in the QMA group, into field effect devices that can be used to tune their electronic properties. The aim of your work will be to uncover the dielectric and other physical properties of nanometre-sized metal particles for terahertz emission applications, and the impact of confined geometries on the electronic structure of topological and correlated materials. You will use this knowledge to develop new methods to enhance correlations or tune between topological phases of matter.

Relevant references:

• Huth, F. et al. Nano-FTIR Absorption Spectroscopy of Molecular Fingerprints at 20 nm Spatial Resolution. Nano Letters 12, 3973 (2012)
• McLeod, A.S., E. van Heumen et al. Nanotextured phase coexistence in the correlated insulator V2O3. Nature Phys. 13, 80 (2017)

You hold a MSc. in (theoretical) physics or physical chemistry and are requested to motivate why you apply for the position and to supply a curriculum vitae. Applicants with a degree in chemistry are also requested to detail their affinity with condensed matter physics and motivation for pursuing a PhD in experimental physics.

Other skills/experiences/documents that would benefit your application are:

• previous laboratory experience using some form of spectroscopy;
• working knowledge of a programming language (phyton, C++ or equivalent);
• a background in theoretical condensed matter physics;
• excellent English oral and written communication skills;
• scientific publications and/or a reference letter from your MSc. thesis advisor.

The appointment will be on a temporary basis for a period of 4 years (initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it can be extended for a total duration of 4 years) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). An educational plan will be drafted that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. The PhD candidate is also expected to assist in teaching of undergraduates.

Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) the gross monthly salary will range from €2,222 in the first year to €2,840 in the last year. The Collective Employment Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable. Favourable tax agreements may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 employees, 30,000 students and a budget of more than 600 million euros, the University of Amsterdam (UvA) is an intellectual hub within the Netherlands. Teaching and research at the UvA are conducted within seven faculties: Humanities, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Economics and Business, Law, Science, Medicine and Dentistry. Housed on four city campuses in or near the heart of Amsterdam, where disciplines come together and interact, the faculties have close links with thousands of researchers and hundreds of institutions at home and abroad.   The UvA’s students and employees are independent thinkers, competent rebels who dare to question dogmas and aren’t satisfied with easy answers and standard solutions. To work at the UvA is to work in an independent, creative, innovative and international climate characterised by an open atmosphere and a genuine engagement with the city of Amsterdam and society.

http://www.uva.nl/en/home

Institute of Physics

The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the Faculty of Science has three divisions: the Institute for Theoretical Physics Amsterdam (ITFA), the Institute for High Energy Physics (IHEF), and the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute for experimental physics (WZI).

http://iop.uva.nl/