We have an open Ph.D. position at TU Delft in the exciting new area of 3D integrated circuits for a quantum computer.

3D stacking of cryo-CMOS chip and photonic integrated chip with color-centers in diamond will enable control and readout of a large-scale integrated qubit with many interconnects with a small pitch, improving the performance and realizing a compact overall system.

Specifically, the candidate is expected to focus on the development of an active interposer with superconducting through-silicon-via and micro-bumps between those chips. This will allow 1) the use of heterogeneous CMOS technology nodes, 2) the large temperature gradient between the two chips inside a cryostat, and 3) the interconnection of dies of side-by-side: the chiplet integration. Challenges in the active interposer are superconducting TSVs and microbumps with low-thermal conductivity, redistribution layers (RDL) of electronic and photonic interconnects with small crosstalk and loss, thermal management, and reliability in cryogenic temperature.

The active interposers will be designed, fabricated in a cleanroom and characterized in a cryogenic temperature. The layer will be integrated with diamond cavity having colour centres and electrical circuits using cryo-CMOS. The qubits are optically coupled and controlled on-chip and inside a cryostat and the fidelity of the basic quantum operation will be characterized.

The student has an opportunity to closely collaborate with QuTech and TU Delft experimentalists and theorists who are actively developing this hardware on campus.

Quantum Computing

QuTech is a mission-driven research institute founded by the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Together, we work on a radically new technology with world-changing potential. Our ambition is to develop scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and an intrinsically safe quantum internet.

The position is in the group of Dr. Ryoichi Ishihara. At Delft University of Technology, the group is a part of QuTech’s Quantum Internet Division, as well as the Department of Quantum & Computer Engineering (QCE) in EEMCS. The candidate will actively participate the QuTech-Fujitsu partnership, and also in multidisciplinary collaboration with colleagues within QuTech and the Department of Quantum and Computer Engineering. As such, it offers the opportunity to conduct work leading to real-world implementations on state-of-the-art quantum hardware.

• You have a master’s degree in microelectronics, photonics, electrical engineering, applied physics, or comparable discipline at the time of taking on the position. Prior course in photonics and/or experience in nanofabrication inside a cleanroom will be highly appreciated. While a prior course in quantum information is a plus, no prior knowledge in this is required.
• You enjoy working in a team and bring excellent organizational, communication and interpersonal skills.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate School's Admission Requirements.

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts: an initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months, followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2443 per month in the first year to € 3122 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. Challenge. Change. Impact!

Quantum & Computer Engineering in Delft

The mission of Quantum and Computer Engineering (QCE) is to invent, design, prototype, and demonstrate the potential of disruptive computing engines by harnessing unique features of emerging devices (e.g. qubits, memristors, spintronics, and graphene). Building such computing engines requires a full-stack interdisciplinary approach, encompassing fabrication and operation of qubits, electronic circuit design, micro-architecture, programming models, compilers, and simulator platforms.

QCE's research encompasses a broad range of applications, integrating multiple layers of the stack: the computing and network architecture (including AI-oriented architectures, quantum architectures, neuromorphic architectures, computation-in-memory architectures, big-data architectures, and secure architectures), the interface to the technology (Cryo-CMOS circuit design, memristive-based and graphene-based circuit design, and test and reliability of integrated circuits), and related programming and support flow (compilers, mapping tools, and simulators).

To make quantum computing a reality, the Quantum and Computer Engineering department, in collaboration with QuTech is working intensively on developing, designing and prototyping scalable quantum computing engines based on different quantum technologies, such as superconducting qubits, spin-based qubits, colour-centres in diamond, and topological qubits.