PhD - Ultracold Quantum Gases

ICFO

Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain

Description

ICFO is offering a predoctoral fellowship to a well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic graduate student who wishes to enhance his/her scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment, as well as to obtain a doctoral degree in Photonics in collaboration with the Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya – BarcelonaTech (UPC). The students at ICFO benefit from the extensive course offerings of local universities and focused instruction by ICFO professors while carrying out research activities at ICFO groups with local and international collaborators.

The successful candidate will be working at ICFO as part of the newly established Ultracold Quantum Gases group led by Prof. Leticia Tarruell. The group’s research focuses on simulating condensed-matter physics problems using degenerate Bose and Fermi gases in non-standard optical lattices. Specific topics of interest include graphene and topological phases, quantum phase transitions in magnetic systems and multi-orbital models. The project involves the construction of a new experimental apparatus for the production of degenerate potassium gases, the development of new optical lattices and the implementation of local manipulation and detection tools.

Requirements

We are looking for PhD applicants with a good background in quantum optics, atomic physics or condensed-matter physics, and a strong motivation for setting up and conducting challenging experiments in a team of three to four people. We offer training in a broad range of cutting-edge experimental techniques (from optics, electronics, ultra-high vacuum technology and computer control to quantum state engineering), as well as in theoretical atomic, quantum, statistical, and condensed matter physics.

Candidates must hold an internationally-recognized master degree (or evidence of its completion in the nearest future). No restrictions of citizenship or gender apply to the ICFO PhD fellowships.

More information and applications

The fellowships are offered for periods of one year, renewable for a total of four years. The annual renewal of the ICFO-UPC fellowship is conditional on satisfactory performance in research and teaching activities, as well as on positive evaluation by the thesis director and the ICFO Board.

Suitable candidates are requested to submit:

- A presentation letter with declaration of research interests,

- A Curriculum Vitae, including contact details,

- A scanned copy of your University academic transcripts in English, Catalan or Spanish,

- A scanned copy of the degree, if available at the time of application,

- The contact e-mail of two potential referees.

- If available, a scanned copy of standardized GRE test results. Note that submission of GRE test results is optional, but they can be particularly helpful for evaluating candidates with degrees obtained outside the European Higher Education Area.

For more information on the project, please visit

http://www.qge.icfo.es or contact Prof. Leticia Tarruell: leticia.tarruell@icfo.es

Note that the formal application shall be submitted online via http://jobs.icfo.es/

Please note that candidates should be willing to be contacted by phone during the entire selection process.

Candidates may contact icfojobs@icfo.eu for informal enquiries regarding the application.

The call will remain open until suitable candidates are identified.

For updated information about ICFO, please visit http://www.icfo.eu/