Are you a highly-motivated student with excellent laboratory skills for performing state-of-the-art quantum physics experiments on four of our projects? The strontium quantum gases group is headed by Prof. Florian Schreck and is part of the Quantum Gases and Quantum Information (QG&QI) cluster at the University of Amsterdam (Institute of Physics). The main focus of the group is the exploitation of Sr quantum gases for novel precision measurement techniques and the study of many-body physics. We have three open PhD positions within our Innovative Training Network MoSaiQC, which in this context are called early stage researchers (ESRs).

What are you going to do?

ESR1 - Compact atomic sources and beams for steady-state superradiant lasers Steady-state atomic beam sources are crucial to realizing superradiant clocks and beneficial for quantum sensing with ultracold atoms in general. We have developed a continuous beam of ultracold atoms of unprecedented brightness and phase-space density and can create steady-state Bose-Einstein condensates. This continuous source of atoms is one of the foundations of our attempts to develop continuous superradiant clocks within iqClock. The source we have developed so far is rather large and needs to be shrunk in size and complexity to enable more researchers to use them and to bring them out of the lab into the field. We are developing new concepts for generating ultra-cold strontium beams based on compact ovens, 2D MOTs, Grating MOTs and desorption cells. The starting point of ESR1's project will be to develop and compare a range of different technology approaches and to build and characterize the best approach. The ESR will then use the knowledge gained to advance our attempts to build continuous superradiant lasers and possibly even an atom laser. Another aspect of ESR1's work will be to develop advanced laser sources. ESR2 - Precision laser stabilization and locking The core of ESR2's project is to develop an ultrastable laser and use it for research. ERS2 will build an ultrastable, high-finesse cavity and lock a laser to it such that it has a linewidth well below 1 Hz. Light will be sent from this laser through phase-stabilized fiber links to the superradiant clock we develop within iqClock and serve to characterize its precision. These characterizations will be used to identify precision limiting effects and to improve the clock. A further research opportunity is to use this laser for internal state control in our programmable quantum simulator. Another aspect of ESR2's work will be the development of a scalable and simple system to lock all lasers required to operate a superradiant clock. ESR3 - High finesse cavities for strong atom-light interaction High-finesse cavities loaded with ultra-cold atoms are a key to future applications harnessing strong atom-light interactions. These include superradiant optical clocks, sensors, quantum memories, quantum simulation and quantum information processing. As part of our goal of making a steady-state superradiant optical clock we are developing high finesse UHV vacuum cavities that can be loaded with ultracold strontium atoms. For steady-state operation we need to continuously and efficiently load atoms from the ultra-cold strontium beam developed by ESR1 into the cavity. Furthermore the atoms in the cavity need to be held tightly by a magic wavelength lattice, which doesn't shift the Sr clock frequency. ESR3 will work closely with the iqClock team on all these topics. These ESR positions will be embedded within two projects. Please check: http://www.strontiumbec.com/

You hold a MSc. or equivalent in physics or a related field and are requested to motivate why you apply for the position and to supply a CV.

Other skills/experiences/documents that would benefit your application are:

• previous experience in an optical, atomic or molecular physics lab;
• working knowledge of a programming language (matlab, C++ or equivalent);
• excellent English oral and written communication skills;
• scientific publications.

To foster diversity in our research group, we will especially appreciate applications from excellent female candidates.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (initial appointment will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years) and should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The salary, depending on relevant experience before the beginning of the employment contract, will be €2,325 to €2,972 (scale P) gross per month, based on a full-time contract (38 hours a week), 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? Then find out more about working at the Faculty of Science.

University of Amsterdam

With over 5,000 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 6,500, 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 is situated in new, purpose-built laboratories and teaching space in the building of the Faculty of Science in the Science Park Amsterdam. This location also plays host to numerous national research institutes such as AMOLF (nanophotonics, biomolecular systems, photovoltaics), NIKHEF (Subatomic Physics) and CWI (mathematics and Computer Science), as well as ARCNL (Advanced Research Center for Nanolithography, which combines the leading Dutch tech firm ASML with both Amsterdam universities and AMOLF).