Postdoctoral position in topological quantum systems

Lund University, Faculty of Engineering, LTH, Department of Physics

Lund University was founded in 1666 and is repeatedly ranked among the world’s top 100 universities. The University has 40 000 students and 7 400 staff based in Lund, Helsingborg and Malmö. We are united in our efforts to understand, explain and improve our world and the human condition.

LTH forms the Faculty of Engineering at Lund University, with approximately 9 000 students. The research carried out at LTH is of a high international standard and we are continuously developing our teaching methods and adapting our courses to current needs.

The Department of Physics is with a staff of about 350 scientists and educators one of the largest departments within Lund University. There are seven research divisions and a number of research centra within the department. The research activities at the department cover a broad spectrum of modern physics. www.fysik.lu.se/english.
The research at the division of Solid State Physics is focused around different aspects of semiconductor physics, ranging from materials science to quantum physics, to different applications. The division also leads NanoLund, the major interdisciplinary research environment within nanoscience and nanotechnology at Lund University. Lund Nano Lab is a central key facility for fabrication of material and devices on the nanoscale. The division is also heavily involved in the undergraduate education, especially within the "Engineering Nanoscience" program.

More information is found at: www.ftf.lth.se and www.nano.lu.se

Work duties The main duties involved in a post-doctoral position is to conduct research. Teaching may also be included, but up to no more than 20% of working hours. The position shall include the opportunity for three weeks of training in higher education teaching and learning. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to interact with the master students and the PhD students in the research group and contribute to meetings and seminars.

In this project, you will perform experimental work to study superconductor - semiconductor hybrids. These systems host Majorana states that promise virtually decoherence-free and fault-tolerant quantum computation based on topological protection. Thanks to material and experimental advances achieved during the last years, Majorana zero modes are now routinely observed in multiple research laboratories. Your task is to work in an EU-wide QuantERA project that aims to bring research on Majorana modes to the next level in a twofold way. First, we will develop cleaner InAs-based systems as well as novel InSb systems that allow the integration of multiple Majorana wires, and second, we will optimize fast electronic control and measurements techniques to be directly applied to study the physical properties of Majorana modes and in performing basic quantum operations.

You will have a key role in this project to develop charge detectors for the 2DEG devices, determine parity lifetimes and to fabricate and measure InAs and InSb quantum well devices with epitaxial Al in collaboration with the other project partners and staff at Solid-State Physics division and NanoLund. The overall aim is to realize Majorana states in patterned 2DEG devices and build multi-dot 2DEG devices and demonstrate non-abelian properties of the Majorana states in collaboration with the project consortium.

Qualification requirements Appointment to a post-doctoral position requires that the applicant has a PhD, or an international degree deemed equivalent to a PhD, within the subject of the position, completed no more than three years before the last date for applications. Under special circumstances, the doctoral degree can have been completed earlier.

Additional requirements:

• The subject of the doctorate degree should be physics or equivalent with preferentially focus on low-temperature transport or high frequency studies of nanodevices.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria and other qualifications This is a career development position primarily focused on research. The position is intended as an initial step in a career, and the assessment of the applicants will primarily be based on their research qualifications and potential as researchers. Particular emphasis will be placed on research skills within the subject.

For appointments to a post-doctoral position, the following shall form the assessment criteria:

• A good ability to develop and conduct high quality research.
• Teaching skills.

Additional assessment criteria:

• Good knowledge of quantum physics, ideally on quantum dot structures, superconducting devices or the hybrids of the two.
• Experience on low-temperature techniques such as high frequency experiments and/or nanofabrication
• Ability to perform numerical and analytical calculations is considered as an advantage

The research is to a large extent interdisciplinary, and a broad competence profile and experiences from relevant areas of physics, high frequency electronics and nanoscience are of special value. Applicants with diverse background, for example towards quantum optics or fabrication and experiments of other nanosystems, are thus strongly encouraged to apply. Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, how the applicant’s experience and skills complement and strengthen ongoing research within the department, and how they stand to contribute to its future development.

Terms of employment This is a full-time, fixed-term employment of a maximum of 2 years. The period of employment is determined in accordance with the agreement "Avtal om tidsbegränsad anställning som postdoktor" ("Agreement on fixed-term employment as a post-doctoral fellow") between Lund University, SACO-S, OFR/S and SEKO, dated 4 September 2008.

Instructions on how to apply Applications shall be written in English. Please draw up the application in accordance with LTH’s Academic qualifications portfolio - see link below. Upload the application as PDF-files in the recruitment system. Read more:

http://www.lth.se/index.php?id=71223

If the application is not designed in accordance with the academic qualifications portfolio it shall be compiled into a PDF containing a covering letter in which applicants describe themselves and their particular research interests, including contributions to the described research project (maximum 2 pages). Applications must also include a CV, publication list, a copy of the applicant’s doctoral thesis, contact details of at least two references, copies of grade certificates, and any other documents that the applicant wishes to refer to. Applicants are also required to answer the job specific questions in the final step of the application process.

Lund University welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We regard gender equality and diversity as a strength and an asset. We kindly decline all sales and marketing contacts.

Type of employment Temporary position longer than 6 months
Contract type Full time
First day of employment as soon as possible or according to agreement
Salary monthly
Number of positions 1
Working hours 100%
City Lund
County Skåne län
Country Sweden
Reference number PA2018/664
Contact Ville Maisi, Associate Professor, +46 46 222 43 63
Union representative OFR/ST:Fackförbundet ST:s kansli, 046-222 93 62
SACO:Saco-s-rådet vid Lunds universitet, 046-222 93 64
SEKO: Seko Civil, 046-222 93 66
Published 08.May.2018
Last application date 19.Jun.2018 11:59 PM CET

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