The Nanophotonics section of the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science is looking for a technician and laser safety coordinator (f/m/+) to support our scientific research in the field of interaction between light and matter.

No day is the same as a Research Technician in our group. In this role, you help researchers, PhD candidates, and students in performing cutting-edge experiments to achieve reproducible results. You will participate in the design and construction of laser set-ups and you take care of the installation and maintenance.

As laser safety coordinator, you will be supervising the procedures, installations, and design of the experiment rooms. You have received laser safety education (possibly as part of your BSc study program) and/or are willing to take courses on the subject. You like to bring or keep your knowledge up-to-date through courses and self-study.

As manager of the laser laboratory, you are the one to order equipment, optics, and components and manage the consumables. You will become part of the research group and work intensively with fellow technicians, also from other research groups, and from the general support and technical departments of Utrecht University.

We are looking for a new colleague to complement our team of technicians and who is passionate about working with a group of young researchers.

A few must-haves we would like you to bring:

• a B.Sc. diploma (preferably from a University of Applied Sciences) in a relevant technical/physical field or a secondary vocational education diploma with extensive experience;
• experience with laser systems and a good working knowledge of optics;
• a commitment to safety and you can also show international PhD candidates and students how important safe working is;
• you can be flexible and are able to set priorities well;
• you enjoy working on multiple projects at the same time and you are comfortable communicating with those involved as well as with other colleagues.

 Nice to haves:

• experience and knowledge in the field of data acquisition systems.

• a position for a year with the prospect of permanent employment;
• a full-time gross salary ranging from € 3,098 to € 4,257 in scale 9;
• 8% holiday bonus and 8.3% end-of-year bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave, and flexible employment conditions based on the Collective Labour Agreement Dutch Universities.

In addition to the employment conditions laid down in the CAO for Dutch Universities, Utrecht University has a number of its own arrangements. For example, there are agreements on professional development, leave arrangements, and sports. We also give you the opportunity to expand your terms of employment via the Employment Conditions Selection Model. This is how we like to encourage you to continue to grow.

For more information, please visit working at the Faculty of Science. 

Utrecht University is a friendly and ambitious university at the heart of an ancient city. We love to welcome new scientists to our city – a thriving cultural hub that is consistently rated as one of the world’s happiest cities. We are renowned for our innovative interdisciplinary research and our emphasis on inspirational research and excellent education. We are equally well-known for our informal atmosphere and the can-do mentality of our people. This lively and inspiring academic environment attracts professors, researchers, and PhD candidates from all over the globe, making both the University and the Faculty of Science a vibrant international and wonderfully diverse community.

At the Faculty of Science, there are 6 departments to make a fundamental connection with: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Computing Sciences, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Physics. Each of these is made up of distinct institutes that work together to focus on answering some of humanity’s most pressing problems. More fundamental still are the individual research groups – the building blocks of our ambitious scientific projects.

The Nanophotonics group is part of the Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Science at Utrecht University. Our research focuses on the shaping and control of light and matter waves and their applications in technology for a sustainable society. Our existing research lines focus on the fundamental physics of Bose-Einstein condensates, optical metrology for industrial and medical applications, and light-material interaction at very high intensities. We work closely with groups that conduct research into, among other things, the theory of quantum materials, the experimental realisation of electron waves in quantum materials constructed on an atomic scale, electrochemistry, catalysis and energy storage materials, and self-assembly of quantum materials.

The character of the Nanophotonics group is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign PhD students. We have an open and informal approach to communication. In our group, experienced scientists work together with PhD students and technicians on projects that have the potential to result in a publication, dissertation, or outreach.