We are looking for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with excellent laboratory skills to join our team! The position focuses on performing state-of-the-art atomic physics experiments and supervising PhD students, within the hybrid atom-ion quantum systems lab (HyQS), headed by Dr. Rene Gerritsma. The group is part of the Quantum Gases and Quantum Information (QGQI) cluster at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). 

What are you going to do?

The hybrid atom-ion setup combines the two well-established fields of ultracold atoms and trapped ions and explores the interplay between an ultracold gas of fermionic lithium atoms and an ytterbium ion. The atoms are trapped using an optical dipole trap, while the ion is confined within a Paul trap. The Li-Yb+ combination offers prospects for  studying the quantum regime of interacting atoms and ions owing to its large mass ratio. Furthermore, it accommodates the study of intermediate-range quantum impurity physics and quantum chemistry. For these applications, it will be crucial to be able to tune the interactions between the atoms and ions as well as to cool the fermi gas to the degenerate regime.

As a Postdoc you will work on these two challenges by searching for the Feshbach resonances that have been predicted to exist between the atoms and ions and upgrading the experiment to further cool down the atoms, working together with and supervising the two PhD researchers of the team. Furthermore, you will be in charge of supervising master- and bachelor projects and developing new experimental avenues for the setup to explore quantum effects.

Relevant references:

Hirzler et al., arXiv 2110.14475 (2021)

Trimby et al., arXiv 2109.15195 (2021)

Hirzler et al., Phys. Rev. A 102, 033109 (2020)

Feldker et al., Nat. Phys. 16 413 (2020)

Tomza et al., Rev. Mod. Phys. 91, 035001 (2019)

The main focus of the HyQS group is to study the quantum dynamics of atom and ion systems while at the same time developing technology for emerging quantum applications, such as quantum computing and simulation. Next to the atom-ion setup, the group of Dr. Rene Gerritsma, consists of two more experiments focusing on trapped ions and quantum information.  Besides the PI, the group currently consists of two postdocs and four PhD students and we have close contacts with the theory group of Dr. Arghavan Safavi-Naini and the ultracold quantum gases group of Prof. Dr. Florian Schreck.

What do we require of you?

• A PhD in Experimental Physics or Physical Chemistry, preferably with previous experience in an atomic physics lab and with atom/ion cooling, trapping and detection techniques.
• Excellent experimental skills, e.g. working with optics, lasers, control electronics, ultra-high vacuum.
• Good leadership and supervision skills.
• Excellent English communication skills, both oral and written.

Fixed-term contract: two years.

A temporary contract for two years with the possibility of a one year extension based on the availability of funding, preferably starting on 1 May 2022. 

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,846 to €4,490 (scale 10) gross per month, based on a fulltime contract (38 hours a week). This is exclusive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Dutch Universities is applicable.

Are you curious about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits like our excellent opportunities for study and development? Take a look here.

University of Amsterdam

With over 6,000 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.

Faculty of Science – Institute of Physics

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 7,000, as well as 1,600 members of staff working in education, research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works, be it elementary particles, the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

The Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam is located in the center of the Amsterdam Science Park. The IoP – as part of the Faculty of Science –is housed in a modern building with excellent labs and technical facilities. Surrounded by several national research institutes and with our partners at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the institute is part of a strong physics center of international standing.

The Van der Waals - Zeeman Institute for Experimental Physics (IoP-WZI) is part of the IoP and home to three research clusters: Quantum Gases & Quantum Information (QG&QI), Quantum Materials (QMat), and Soft Matter (SM).

The hybrid atom-ion quantum systems group, headed by Dr. Rene Gerritsma, is part of the Quantum Gases and Quantum Information (QGQI) cluster at the University of Amsterdam. The main focus of the group is to study the quantum dynamics in trapped ions and ultracold atoms while at the same time developing technology for emerging quantum applications, such as quantum computing and simulation.