About the Position

The Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) invites applications for a PhD position in Optical Atomic Clocks within the Ultracold Strontium Gases Group. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research, exploring new principles and real-world applications of optical clocks. The research is part of the Quantum Delta NL (QDNL) Ultracold Atom Quantum Sensing Testbed, a collaborative initiative bridging academia, industry, and startups to advance quantum technologies.

Project Overview

As a PhD candidate, you will work on two key projects:

1. Highly Reliable Optical Lattice Clock: Collaborate with QDNL partners to design and build an optical lattice clock. This clock's frequency reference will be distributed via fiber links across the Netherlands and Europe.
2. Continuously Operating Optical Clocks: Develop and test superradiant and zero-deadtime, multi-ensemble optical clocks, aiming to achieve unprecedented precision of 10−1810^{-18}10−18 in minutes. These advancements could have transformative impacts on both fundamental science and practical applications.

The research will be conducted within the vibrant Quantum Gases & Quantum Information (QG&QI) cluster at the Institute of Physics (IoP), situated in the Science Park Amsterdam.

Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A Master’s degree in atomic, molecular, or optical physics, with a thesis ideally related to ultracold atom or trapped ion experiments.
• Strong motivation to work in an ambitious, collaborative research team.
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken).
• A solid foundation in experimental physics, with an interest in quantum sensing and optical systems.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and optimize optical atomic clocks.
• Collaborate with experimental and theoretical teams to advance clock performance and reliability.
• Conduct research on frequency reference distribution and clock precision.
• Present findings at conferences, contribute to peer-reviewed publications, and mentor undergraduate and Master’s students.

What We Offer

• Contract: A 4-year full-time position (initial 18-month contract, extendable upon satisfactory evaluation).
• Salary: Gross monthly salary ranges from €2,872 to €3,670 (scale P) based on a 38-hour workweek, plus an 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% year-end bonus.
• Training and Development: Comprehensive educational program for PhD students, with access to courses on leadership, time management, stress handling, and more.
• Additional Benefits:
  • 232 holiday hours annually (based on full-time) and extra holidays between Christmas and New Year.
  • Paid parental leave and partner leave (7 weeks at 100% salary).
  • Housing assistance for international candidates.
  • Pension contributions via ABP.
  • Opportunities for remote work and support for learning Dutch.

The University also offers a vibrant research environment within the Science Park Amsterdam, home to national research institutes such as AMOLF, NIKHEF, and ARCNL, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.

Application Process

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application as soon as possible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

Application Documents:

• A CV.
• A short motivation letter.
• Contact details of one reference who can provide a recommendation letter.

How to Apply:
Submit your application via the official UvA recruitment portal or by emailing Prof. Florian Schreck. Ensure all files (except the CV) are submitted as a single PDF.