Are you interested in solving challenging scientific problems on limits of what is currently possible and for a real industrial application?

UHV chambers are used for many scientific and industrial application, including chambers for thin film growth setups, synchrotron beamlines and manifold semiconductor chip manufacturing tools. We are looking for a motivated and skilled PhD student to work on characterization of ultra-small traces of steel wall material that evaporates into the vacuum under the influence of light and hydrogen, and which are harmful for the latest generation lithography optics inside ultra-high vacuum (UHV) chambers.

The overall goal of the PhD research is to characterize ultra-low levels of surface contaminations coming from the steel, and develop a contamination characterization scheme with best-possible sensitivity.

The XUV Optics Group at Twente has started a new multidisciplinary research programme on these topics. We develop forefront fundamental research, relevant to EUV and X-ray optics. 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 industrial partners. As a starting point for this PhD research at the XUV optics group we have a set of in-house developed and commercially available techniques for characterization of thin films and surfaces such as XPS, XRF, XRR and LEIS. The end point of the project will be to both demonstrate their sensitivity in the lab, but also implement them in an industrial environment.

Challenge

Your goal is to develop an atomic-level composition analysis technique capable of detecting hydrogen-induced outgassing from steel surfaces.

• You have a MSc degree in physics, materials science, physical chemistry or scientific engineering.
• You have demonstrated experience in surface characterization applications, preferably during master research project, preferably in combination with UHV systems.
• You have affinity with the development of new or extending existing characterization techniques.
• You are an excellent team player in an enthusiastic group of scientists and engineers working on a common theme.
• 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 € 2.395 (1st year) to € 3.061,- (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 theMESA+ 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.