PhD Position on Optical Atomic Clocks

Are you a eager to apply optical clocks to real-world challenges and to explore new optical clock operating principles, all in a lively international research group?

Our Ultracold Strontium Gases Group is offering a postdoc position on our QuantumDelta NL (QDNL) Ultracold Atom Quantum Sensing Testbed. QDNL advances quantum technology and brings it closer to applications by collaborating with industry, startups and users.  Our group is headed by Prof. Florian Schreck and is part of the Quantum Gases & Quantum Information (QG&QI) cluster at the Institute of Physics (IoP) of the University of Amsterdam (UvA). We exploit ultracold Sr for quantum simulation, quantum sensing, and quantum computing.

What are you going to do?

You will work on two projects. You and the QDNL team will design and build a highly reliable optical lattice clock, based on our AQuRA project. With our partners from VSL and VU, we will distribute the frequency reference of this clock through fibre links across the Netherlands and ultimately Europe. In parallel, you and the QDNL team will create continuously operating optical clocks (a superradiant clock and a zero-deadtime, multi-ensemble clock). Such a clock should ultimately be able to average down to a precision of 10^-18 in minutes instead of the hours needed by todays clocks. This benefit will unlock new possibilities from fundamental science to society.

Your experience and profile

• A master degree, having done the master project in atomic, molecular or optical physics, ideally on an ultracold atom or trapped ion experiment;
• Motivation to work with an ambitious and nice team in a challenging, but rewarding, research field;
• Good command of English.

Our offer

A temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The preferred starting date is autumn-spring 2024/25. This 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 gross monthly salary, based on 38 hours per week and dependent on relevant experience, ranges between € 2,872 to € 3,670 (scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 8,3% year-end allowance. A favourable tax agreement, the ‘30% ruling’, may apply to non-Dutch applicants. The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

Besides the salary and a vibrant and challenging environment at Science Park we offer you multiple fringe benefits:

• 232 holiday hours per year (based on fulltime) and extra holidays between Christmas and 1 January;
• multiple courses to follow from our Teaching and Learning Centre;
• a complete educational program for PhD students;
• multiple courses on topics such as leadership for academic staff;
• multiple courses on topics such as time management, handling stress and an online learning platform with 100+ different courses;
• 7 weeks birth leave (partner leave) with 100% salary;
• partly paid parental leave;
• the possibility to set up a workplace at home;
• a pension at ABP for which UvA pays two third part of the contribution;
• the possibility to follow courses to learn Dutch;
• help with housing for a studio or small apartment when you’re moving from abroad.

Are you curious to read more about our extensive package of secondary employment benefits, take a look here.

About us

The University of Amsterdam is the Netherlands' largest university, offering the widest range of academic programmes. At the UvA, 30,000 students, 6,000 staff members and 3,000 PhD candidates study and work in a diverse range of fields, connected by a culture of curiosity.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8,000, as well as 1,800 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 laboratory 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) and the Quantum Delta NL Ultracold Quantum Sensing Testbed.

Want to know more about our organisation? Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions or do you require additional information? Please contact:

• Prof. Florian Schreck      
• email: schreck@uva.nl

Job application

If you feel the profile fits you, and you are interested in the job, we look forward to receiving your application. Please submit your application online via the button below and by email to schreck@uva.nl. We will invite potential candidates for interviews on an ongoing basis.    

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a CV;
• a short letter of motivation;
• the name and email address of one reference who can provide a letter of recommendation.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure.
(for details: national knowledge security guidelines)

Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.

Als werkgever handhaaft de UvA een beleid van gelijke kansen. We vinden diversiteit belangrijk en zetten ons volledig in om een plek te zijn waar iedereen zich thuis voelt. We koesteren de onderzoekende geest en het doorzettingsvermogen en laten de ruimte om door te vragen. Bij ons vormen nieuwsgierigheid en creativiteit de heersende cultuur.

Wij stellen acquisitie niet op prijs