PhD Position: Condensed Matter Research in High Magnetic Fields with Intense THz Radiation

Are you passionate about experimental condensed matter physics? And are you ready to dive into groundbreaking research in high magnetic fields and intense free‐electron laser radiation? If so, join the High Field Magnet Laboratory (HFML) and Free‐Electron Lasers for Infrared eXperiments (FELIX) as one of three PhD candidates!

HFML-FELIX builds on a strong background in cutting-edge advanced spectroscopy using high magnetic fields, intense infrared/THz radiation and a combination thereof. As a PhD candidate you will conduct research and answer questions in fundamental condensed matter physics on one of the topics listed below. You will actively cooperate with other PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers and staff of HFML-FELIX working on related topics and you will be involved in collaborations with external users to carry out related experiments. You will work as a teaching assistant in the Radboud University’s teaching programme with a teaching load of up to 10% of your working time.

Topic PhD position 1:
You will develop new ways to optically control the magnetic state of materials with the lowest possible energy dissipation and at the fastest possible speed, using infrared/THz radiation for excitation of coupled spin-lattice dynamics. The problems of ultrafast angular momentum transfer are at the heart of many phenomena, and a hot topic of modern magnetism.

Topic PhD position 2:
You will explore the strong light-matter interaction in semiconducting materials with the goal to couple the optical excitations (excitons) to plasmons, magnons, phonons and/or topological excitations. This way, quasi-particles at entirely different energy scales (from meV to eV) are coupled to each other, opening up fundamentally new avenues to control matter. You will use an experimental set-up that is capable to measure the changes in the optical emission of the material induced by intense infrared/THz light under an applied magnetic field. The materials under study, such as halide perovskite semiconductors and layered van der Waals materials, both down to monolayer thickness, are relevant for electro-optic, photovoltaic, lighting and spintronic applications.

Topic PhD position 3:
You will use a recently developed setup to track THz-induced resistance changes in semiconductor nanostructures such as 2D InSb, graphene, TMDCs and oxide heterostructures. Combining high magnetic fields and THz radiation will allow you to access their field-dependent energy level structure and to explore their high-field electronic properties far into the THz regime.

Requirements:

• You have a Master's degree in experimental physics, or a related subject area.
• You have a strong interest in fundamental condensed matter physics and curiosity-driven research as well as the development of experimental instrumentation.
• You have a good command of written and spoken English.
• Experience with optical and far-infrared spectroscopy, transport experiments, high-frequency techniques and/or low-temperature techniques is welcome.

Salary Benefits:

• We will give you a temporary employment contract (0.8 FTE 5- year contract - 1.0 FTE 4- year contract) of 1,5 years, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, your contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4-year contract) or 3.5 years (5-year contract).
• You will receive a starting salary of €2,872 gross per month based on a 38-hour working week, which will increase to €3,670 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

30.4 - 38 hours per week

Houtlaan 4