PhD Position in Ultrafast Physics

The University | About us...

The University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University's faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine. Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its "international outlook," #20 in the Young University Ranking 2021 and among the top 250 universities worldwide.

The Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine (FSTM) contributes multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Life Sciences and Medicine. Through its dual mission of teaching and research, the FSTM seeks to generate and disseminate knowledge and train new generations of responsible citizens, in order to better understand, explain and advance society and environment we live in.

Your Role...

We are seeking highly motivated candidates to be employed either at Postdoctoral or Doctoral level (PhD) to set up a new research line at the University of Luxembourg (UL). In particular we will target the development of advanced ultrafast tools and techniques with the goal to exploit them for the investigation of fundamental light-matter interaction processes occurring on the femtosecond timescale.

The goal of the experimental activity will be to investigate electron-electron and electron-phonon dynamics in layered and 2D materials, in metallic/semiconducting nanostructures and in strongly correlated systems. We will also exploit the electric field of single cycle pulses to drive ultrafast currents in nanocircuits with the appealing perspective of studying electronic transport in quantized systems with unprecedented temporal resolution. The research activity will be based on the development of novel ultrafast laser sources that work at high repetition rates while keeping the possibility to generate pulses approaching the single-cycle duration combined with broad tunability from UV to the THz frequency range. By pushing the experimental sensitivity to its limits it will be possible to study fundamental processes in physical systems where dimensionality plays a key role.

The projects available are:

• Ultrafast plasmonics in single metallic and semiconducticting nanostructured studied with sub-optical-cycle precision
• Investigation of dynamical phenomena in condensed matter (correlated systems, 2D materials, ...) via advanced ultrafast techniques (pump-probe, THz, 2D spectroscopy)
• Development of novel ultrafast laser sources and of frequency coversion based on nonlinear optics concepts

What we expect from you…

• Master in Physics or similar subjects
• Curiosity and self-motivation
• Experience in ultrafast optics and ultrafast lasers is preferential
• The University of Luxembourg is set in a multilingual context. The person hired on this position must be proficient in English

How to apply...

Applications should include:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter
• A short statement about research interests, publications (including Bachelor or Master theses if available), copies of all relevant certificates
• Contact addresses of possible referees

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

General information:

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 36 Month (extendable up to 48 months if required)
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Limpertsberg
• Employee and student status
• A strong doctoral program with training in scientific and transferable skills, participation in schools, conferences and workshops
• Job Reference: UOL06333

The yearly gross salary for every PhD at the UL is EUR 40952 (full time)