PhD on experimental quantum twistronics

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of ‘engineers of the future’ with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.

Introduction

Are you interested in the electronic transport of 2D materials? Do you enjoy hands-on work including building setups, fabricating devices and performing electrical measurements? As a PhD student of Advanced Nanomaterials & Devices group, you will have the opportunity to build state-of-the-art fabrication and measurement setups that enable controlled tuning of twist angle in-situ, which has emerged as an exciting new avenue of research in the recent years.

Job Description

What is it about?

Controlling the stacking orientation of 2D materials through twisting and sliding allows precise engineering of their electronic properties. For instance, when two sheets of 2D materials are twisted to their “magic angle”, an entirely new “flat band” is formed, where correlation-driven phenomena, including superconductivity and magnetism unexpectedly emerge, making twistronics an exciting frontier in condensed matter physics. However, despite their promising properties, twistronics devices are structurally unstable, and issues such as uncontrollable strain and twist-angle inhomogeneity hinder reproducibility and device yield. To tackle these challenges, we aim to develop experimental tools that turn strain and twist-angle into tuning parameters, allowing us to explore their roles in the emergence of correlation.

The team

You will work in the “2D Transport Lab” led by the newly appointed Assistant Professor, Dr. Martin Lee of the Advanced Nanomaterials and Devices (AND) group. The AND group is a part of the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI) which hosts a wealth of world leading researchers of photonics, electronics and quantum technology. You will perform experimental research in collaboration with international experimental and theoretical researchers. You will also be involved in education, mentorship and supervision of BSc and MSc students.

What will you learn?

Throughout your PhD, you'll acquire a range of technical skills including the famous “Scotch Tape” exfoliation method, van der Waals assembly, in-situ twistronics, nanofabrication, magnetotransport, strain engineering, development of cryogenic instruments, scanning probe microscopy, finite element modelling, data analysis, hardware programming and others. You will benefit[MT1]  from and make full use of the world-class scientific infrastructure such as the NanoLabTUe cleanroom, Institute for Complex Molcular Systems (ICMS) and Equipment & Prototype Center (EPC). Moreover, you will also develop personal skills on how to establish collaborations, perform frontier research, write in a scientific style, publish in reputable top journals and present to an international group of scientists.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (applied) Physics, Chemistry, or Engineering (electrical or mechanical).
• Drive and enthusiasm to learn new things
• Ability to think critically and communicate clearly.
• An optimistic, research-oriented attitude.
• A systematic approach to problem-solving and curiosity to understand things in-depth.
• Ability to perform team work in an international environment.
• Motivated to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).
• Affinity with hands-on work in laboratory.
• Skills in programming (C++, Matlab or Python)
• Experience in electronics design, finite element modelling (COMSOL or Ansys), cleanroom fabrication, and cryogenic engineering are not required but greatly appreciated.

Conditions of Employment

• A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you: 
• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment. 
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).  
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%. 
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.  
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates. 

Information

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager, Martin Lee, [email protected] in case of questions or check out the lab website.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact [email protected].

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.
• Pdf of your MSc thesis (or a work-in-progress draft of it).

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.