The Group of Science, Engineering and Technology, and the Faculty of Sciences of KU Leuven invite scholars to apply for a full time research professorship in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. This position is funded by the Special Research Fund (BOFZAP), established by the Flemish Government.
We are looking for motivated and internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with educational skills in the field of experimental quantum physics and technology. The appointment is expected to start on September 1, 2024. Applications will be evaluated in parallel and independently by
the KU Leuven Research Council in a global process across academic domains and
the faculty advisory committee.
During the first 10 years, the teaching duties as a research professor will be limited. Afterwards, the position will be transformed into a regular professorship. Current experimental quantum research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is mainly focused on the development and understanding of solid-state quantum systems, in particular superconducting circuits, quantum defects in diamond and related systems, and materials for topological qubits. To reinforce these research efforts, the Department has recently embarked on an ambitious initiative to significantly broaden and deepen its research portfolio in experimental quantum physics and technology with the aim to reach a leading international position in quantum science and technology, at the forefront of the 2nd Quantum Revolution.
The successful candidate is expected to bring in new expertise in experimental quantum science and technology. In particular the Department welcomes a candidate who will work in synergy with the department s existing research activities in the area of quantum science and technology (both experimental and theoretical) and the department s existing expertise and infrastructure in order to develop research line(s) at the international forefront dedicated to exploiting quantum systems and phenomena for information processing, communication, sensing etc., or to test foundational aspects of quantum mechanics. The successful candidate will join a team within a rich ecosystem of various research lines, expertise and infrastructure related to quantum research, not only in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but also in other departments (e.g. electrical engineering, materials science, computer science) of the KU Leuven s Science, Engineering and Technology Group as well as with the neighbouring research institute imec. Given the breadth of that ecosystem and the multitude of opportunities that it provides, the Department is inviting applications from interested researchers within a wide range of profiles. The successful candidate is expected to carry out research that is aligned with and complements the existing activities at the Department.
In the following, a non-exhaustive list is given with examples of such future research lines that can build on and complement the Department s current activities:
research on hybrid qubits, for example, on interfacing a superconducting qubit as quantum processing unit and a spin qubit as quantum memory unit;
research on topological qubits, for example, based on topological superconductivity emerging at the interface between a quantum anomalous Hall insulator and a superconductor;
research on experimental methods (e.g. based on spin resonance, scanning probe microscopy, magnetotransport, photonics, etc.) to study quantum coherence, quantum entanglement, quantum gating, etc.;
research on quantum metrology, for example, two-level systems, quantum noise, microwave spectroscopy etc.;
other experimental research topics dealing with the development and understanding of solid-state quantum systems for quantum information processing/communication, quantum sensing etc.
The successful candidate will join the Quantum Solid State Physics (QSP) research unit, an experimentally oriented research laboratory with currently seven full time professors, two part-time professors and a total staff of about 50 people. QSP hosts a wide spectrum of experimental facilities dedicated to preparation, characterization and determination of the physical properties of low-dimensional solid-state physics systems. Apart from the in-house research, QSP also hosts ample expertise in conducting advanced experiments at international large-scale research infrastructures such as synchrotrons, free-electron lasers, (radioactive) ion beam facilities and neutron sources.
The successful candidate is expected to link closely with the theoretical quantum physics research group and the semiconductor physics research group within the department, as well as to explore synergies with other research units in the department. The candidate is also expected to keenly seek collaboration with other KU Leuven departments which are active in the related fields (e.g. electrical engineering, materials science, computer science) and with imec (https://www.imec-int.com/en/about-us).
How to apply
More information on the content of the job can be obtained from the academic contact person Prof. dr. Kristiaan Temst, tel.: +32 16 32 76 20, mail: kristiaan.temst@kuleuven.be.
More information on the guidelines, regulations and application file is available from Ms. Kristin Vermeylen (kristin.vermeylen@kuleuven.be , tel. +32 16 32 09 07), Ms. Martine Van Nierop (martine.vannierop@kuleuven.be, tel. +32 16 32 76 98) or Ms. Christelle Maeyaert (christel.maeyaert@kuleuven.be , tel. +32 16 31 41 94).
This vacancy is imbedded in the general BOFZAP call. More detailed information is available on this website: [link will appear after publication by DOC]
KU Leuven seeks to foster an environment where all talents can flourish, regardless of gender, age, cultural background, nationality or impairments. If you have any questions relating to accessibility or support, please contact us at diversiteit.HR@kuleuven.be.
Research professor in Experimental Quantum Physics (BOFZAP)
The Group of Science, Engineering and Technology, and the Faculty of Sciences of KU Leuven invite scholars to apply for a full time research professorship in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. This position is funded by the Special Research Fund (BOFZAP), established by the Flemish Government.
We are looking for motivated and internationally oriented candidates with an excellent research record and with educational skills in the field of experimental quantum physics and technology. The appointment is expected to start on September 1, 2024. Applications will be evaluated in parallel and independently by
the KU Leuven Research Council in a global process across academic domains and
the faculty advisory committee.
During the first 10 years, the teaching duties as a research professor will be limited. Afterwards, the position will be transformed into a regular professorship. Current experimental quantum research in the Department of Physics and Astronomy is mainly focused on the development and understanding of solid-state quantum systems, in particular superconducting circuits, quantum defects in diamond and related systems, and materials for topological qubits. To reinforce these research efforts, the Department has recently embarked on an ambitious initiative to significantly broaden and deepen its research portfolio in experimental quantum physics and technology with the aim to reach a leading international position in quantum science and technology, at the forefront of the 2nd Quantum Revolution.
The successful candidate is expected to bring in new expertise in experimental quantum science and technology. In particular the Department welcomes a candidate who will work in synergy with the department s existing research activities in the area of quantum science and technology (both experimental and theoretical) and the department s existing expertise and infrastructure in order to develop research line(s) at the international forefront dedicated to exploiting quantum systems and phenomena for information processing, communication, sensing etc., or to test foundational aspects of quantum mechanics. The successful candidate will join a team within a rich ecosystem of various research lines, expertise and infrastructure related to quantum research, not only in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but also in other departments (e.g. electrical engineering, materials science, computer science) of the KU Leuven s Science, Engineering and Technology Group as well as with the neighbouring research institute imec. Given the breadth of that ecosystem and the multitude of opportunities that it provides, the Department is inviting applications from interested researchers within a wide range of profiles. The successful candidate is expected to carry out research that is aligned with and complements the existing activities at the Department.
In the following, a non-exhaustive list is given with examples of such future research lines that can build on and complement the Department s current activities:
research on hybrid qubits, for example, on interfacing a superconducting qubit as quantum processing unit and a spin qubit as quantum memory unit;
research on topological qubits, for example, based on topological superconductivity emerging at the interface between a quantum anomalous Hall insulator and a superconductor;
research on experimental methods (e.g. based on spin resonance, scanning probe microscopy, magnetotransport, photonics, etc.) to study quantum coherence, quantum entanglement, quantum gating, etc.;
research on quantum metrology, for example, two-level systems, quantum noise, microwave spectroscopy etc.;
other experimental research topics dealing with the development and understanding of solid-state quantum systems for quantum information processing/communication, quantum sensing etc.
The successful candidate will join the Quantum Solid State Physics (QSP) research unit, an experimentally oriented research laboratory with currently seven full time professors, two part-time professors and a total staff of about 50 people. QSP hosts a wide spectrum of experimental facilities dedicated to preparation, characterization and determination of the physical properties of low-dimensional solid-state physics systems. Apart from the in-house research, QSP also hosts ample expertise in conducting advanced experiments at international large-scale research infrastructures such as synchrotrons, free-electron lasers, (radioactive) ion beam facilities and neutron sources.
The successful candidate is expected to link closely with the theoretical quantum physics research group and the semiconductor physics research group within the department, as well as to explore synergies with other research units in the department. The candidate is also expected to keenly seek collaboration with other KU Leuven departments which are active in the related fields (e.g. electrical engineering, materials science, computer science) and with imec (https://www.imec-int.com/en/about-us).
