Within a large European consortium, TU Delft is collaborating with industrial partners to develop new instrumentation for high-throughput nanoscale imaging. Electron beam technology is essential as an electron beam can be focused to a nanometer resolution probe that scans the sample to generate an image. However, scanning a single electron beam in nanometer-scale steps over a macroscopic sample is too slow for relevant applications, such as wafer inspection in the semiconductor industry or for imaging biomedical tissue in pathology. Scanning with multiple beams in parallel can tremendously increase throughput enabling revolutionary new possibilities for nanoscale microscopy. At TU Delft, several multi-beam (>50 parallel beams) electron microscopes have been invented and are being adopted for commercial use with industrial partners. We are now looking for a PhD candidate to work on the further technological development and industrial adaptation of our multi-beam microscopes. Work includes adopting the system to operate with more beams, higher (<5nm) resolution by controlling aberrations, and further developing detector technology, including towards multi-modal technology.

The successful candidate has a MSc degree in (applied) physics, is a skilful experimentalist, and has an interest in microscopy and/or electron optics. She/he likes to work in an international, multi-disciplinary environment on industrially relevant technological problems, and easily communicates and collaborates with partners from industry and (biomedical) end users.

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, a discount for health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. An International Children’s Centre offers childcare and an international primary school. Dual Career Services offers support to accompanying partners. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment; an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor; and a Doctoral Education Programme aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

Please visit www.tudelft.nl/phd for more information.

Technische Universiteit Delft

Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a multifaceted institution offering education and carrying out research in the technical sciences at an internationally recognised level. Education, research and design are strongly oriented towards applicability. TU Delft develops technologies for future generations, focusing on sustainability, safety and economic vitality. At TU Delft you will work in an environment where technical sciences and society converge. TU Delft comprises eight faculties, unique laboratories, research institutes and schools.

Faculty Applied Sciences

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is the largest faculty of TU Delft, with around 550 scientists, a support staff of 250 and 1,800 students. The faculty conducts fundamental, application-oriented research and offers scientific education at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. The faculty is active in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Applied Physics.
The Faculty of Applied Sciences has a strong program in Imaging Physics in which new instrumentation and new methods are developed for microscopy and medical imaging (www.imphys.tudelft.nl). The Imaging Physics program has led to innovations in electron microscopy, lithography, light microscopy, ultrasound imaging, terahertz imaging, focused ion beam milling, plus many quantitative image processing methods. Most of the instruments in the lab are prototypes with unique functionalities. Instrumentation development is done in collaboration with scientific and industrial users for evaluation and first scientific observations.
This position is a position in the Microscopy Instrumentation and Techniques Section of Imaging Physics.