PhD fellowship in Ultra-high-vacuum fabricated Quantum Hardware Components

The newly established Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Program (NQCP) is building a talented and diverse international team to create a cutting-edge program in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. At the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, where the formulation of Quantum Mechanics was born 100 years ago, the ambition is to build a mission-driven full-stack approach which will involve exciting innovations at every level, from the quantum processor to the quantum-classical interface all the way quantum algorithms and applications. The vision of the programme is to enable the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware and quantum algorithms that solve important problems in the life-sciences.

NQCP invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) molecular beam epitaxy of quantum computing components utilizing lithography techniques. The PhD project is part of the research project “Deterministic Quantum Dots for Quantum Photonics (DeQD)” financed by the Innovation Fond Denmark and will also contribute to the development of UHV compatible mask techniques for superconducting circuits. The student will become part of a larger team at NQCP including other students developing these directions.

The project will be done in close collaboration with the Danish Fundamental Metrology (DFM) which is the National Metrology Institute of Denmark and also a part of the NATO DIANA Quantum Test Center. With a rich history in quantum technology, standards, and metrology, DFM plays a key role in the area of quantum computing & metrology in Danish quantum ecosystem. In addition to the NQCP facilities, the PhD candidate will also join DFM’s advanced Quantum Materials Laboratory (QML) with the focus in the development of high-quality III-V materials and various superconductors for quantum computing, primarily using in-situ lithography. Besides, the candidate will have the opportunity to access DFM's state-of-the art in-situ and ex-situ characterization systems.

Start date is (expected to be) 1 February 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project

Quantum computing is currently pursued in various physical implementations including the photonics and superconducting platforms. One of the crucial parameters for obtaining high performance is the quantum material purity and controlled-positioning of the quantum component. This PhD project involves the development and characterization of novel ways of transferring material (quantum hardware components) to substrates using state-of-the art UHV molecular beam epitaxy. The work includes high quality fabrication and development of masks, growth of ultra-pure materials by molecular beam epitaxy and material characterization of the produced quantum hardware components both in-situ and ex-situ.

One of the goals of the project is to establish and improve single quantum dots sources for single photon emission. This will be pursued by growth of the quantum dots utilizing stencil mask techniques going beyond state of the art in this field. Furthermore, these in-situ masking techniques will be used to realize and potentially improve the performance of superconducting components.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of physics, material science, engineering, nanoscience, nanotechnology or similar, preferably with experience in cleanroom fabrication, material growth and/or characterization of quantum devices/computing hardware.



Our group and research- and what do we offer?

We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and highly international research environment hosted by a collaboration between the NNF Quantum Computing Programme (NQCP) at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen. The project will be done in collaboration with DFM as well as partners at NBI/Denmark (Center for Hybrid Quantum Networks, Sparrow Quantum, ICN2 Barcelona) and abroad.

Principal supervisor is Assoc. Prof. Kasper Grove-Rasmussen, [email protected]. Co-supervisor: Prof. Peter Krogstrup [email protected], Co-supervisor: Sangeeth Kallatt, Co-supervisor: Senior Scientist, Sabbir A. Khan (DFM), [email protected].



The PhD programme

Depending on your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.

Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

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Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Physics. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

The terms of employment and salary are in accordance to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure. Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme

If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Physics.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: www.science.ku.dk/phd, “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of 150 working hours per year.
A PhD grant portion is currently (2024) DKK 6.820 before tax.

When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure. Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme

(ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)

• Carry through an independent research project under supervision

• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in device processing, ultra-high-vacuum and stencil mask techniques.
• Good language skills

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Application and Assessment Procedure

Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Your motivation for applying for the specific PhD project
3. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
4. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
5. Publication list (if possible)
6. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:

The deadline for application is 18. Nov 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at http://employment.ku.dk/faculty/recruitment-process/.



Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: https://www.science.ku.dk/phd/.

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.