Currently open PhD projects
The research in the VDSP covers a wide range of topical experimental, theoretical and computational projects. Explore your options in the list of current open positions.
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Quantum Nanophysics Group - Markus Arndt
We want you in our team !
- Are you driven by curiosity and by the ambition to tackle experimental challenges?
- Are you proud of your study grades?
- Do you have a background in quantum physics, atomic or molecular beam science or physical chemistry?
- Do you like to be part of a diverse, interdisciplinary and international team?
If the answer to all these questions is yes, please apply for
- Master studies or Postdoc fellowships with markus.arndt@univie.ac.at.
- PhD positions will be filled via https://vcq.quantum.at/application/
Cold Clusters in Deep UV Light Fields for Quantum Interferometry
We are setting up a new beam line for cold metal clusters, aiming at quantum states of particles the mass range up to 1 MDa. This combines the latest advances in cluster science, deep ultra-violet laser physics, mass spectroscopy, matter-wave technologies and quantum optics.
LUMI Cluster Interferometry
Quantum interferometry with large metal clusters promises to push the boundaries between quantum experiments and classical phenomena. Long coherence times, large beam separations and high masses will provide an unprecedented sensitivity to still hypothetical non-standard phenomena in physics, while at the same time offering a specific and highly sensitive tool to measure tiny forces.
Slow Proteins
Advances in biomolecular quantum optics and analysis will profit from slow and cold proteins. If you are interested in working at the interface between the life sciences, laser physics, quantum optics and mass spectrometry, please contact us for more details.
Tools for Protein Interferometry
Our group has pioneered universal interferometry, from atoms over fullerenes and hydrocarbons to vitamins, polypeptides and tailored macromolecules. We are advancing on this path to develop tools for the coherent manipulation of genuine biomolecules in the gas phase, aiming here at quantum interference of proteins.
Cooling of Non-Spherical Nanoparticles
We are preparing, exploring and utilizing rotational quantum states of trapped dielectric nanorods. This work at the interface between optomechanics and quantum interferometry shall enable new tests of quantum linearity and advanced quantum sensing applications.
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Operational Quantum Information - Borivoje Dakic
Your personal sphere of influence:
As a university assistant (praedoc) in this 4-year position, you will be part of the Operational Quantum Information Team around Professor Borivoje Dakić, and you will be focusing on research topics in quantum foundations and quantum information theory.
Our research focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics, quantum information theory, and practical applications of quantum information. Examples include operational reconstruction of quantum theory and quantum particle statistics, exploring quantum phenomena at macroscopic scales, and advancing quantum verification theory.
Our Team is part of the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information group of the Faculty of Physics.
We are member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), one of the largest quantum hubs in Europe, and of the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), advancing basic research in quantum sciences, aiming to expand the frontiers of knowledge and thus being the engine for future innovations.
You will also benefit from being fellow of the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics (VDSP), being part of a thriving community with more than 100 quantum scientists on premise, about 300 quantum researchers in Vienna.
The Dakić group is an international team of eight young scientists (Master & PhD). Our expertise lies in quantum foundations and quantum information theory.
Your future tasks:
You will actively participate in research, teaching & administration. This means:
- You are involved in a well-funded research project with the research topics in quantum foundations and quantum information theory.
- You will present your research plan to the faculty and complete a dissertation agreement within 12-18 months. This will be reviewed and adapted on an annual basis.
- You will work on your dissertation and towards its completion in time. We expect a large degree of independence paired with a high level of social awareness as the goal will only be achieved in a team.
- You will contribute to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes) within the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
- You will fill some administrative tasks, contributing to the success and self-organization of the group for research, teaching and administration.
- You will continuously stay informed about the state of the art in your field.
- You contribute to outreach by publications, conference presentations and public activities.
This is part of your personality:
- You have completed your Master's degree or Diploma in physics.
- You have experience in academic writing
- You should come with a background in general quantum theory and mathematics.
- Ideally, you should have experience with the usual tools of quantum information, linear algebra and programing (e.g. Mathematica/Python/Matlab)
- You have an excellent command of written and spoken English
What we offer:
- Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.
- Good public transport connections: Your workplace in the center of beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.
- Potential for development: Success in life depends on what you make of it, but if you are ambitious and successful, there are plenty of opportunities to connect you to all relevant top research groups in the world.
- Internal further training & Coaching: The Vienna Doctoral School as well as the department of human resources offer plenty of opportunities to grow your skills in over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.
- Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 2.457,00 (30h, 14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience.The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.
- Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!
It is that easy to apply:
- Your scientific curriculum vitae
- A summary of your previous academic and research achievements.
- A short statement on your research interests for the future.
- Your Bachelor’s and Master‘s degree: an excellent academic degree is a good entrance statement for this position.
- Please note, that while a Master’s degree is the usual legal prerequisite for a PhD position at the University of Vienna, we can consider Bachelors (preferentially with Honor’s) in exceptional cases, too.
- APPLY HERE: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/University-assistant-predoctoral/981551401/
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Broadband Precision Spectroscopy - Oliver Heckl
PhD Position: Broadband Precision Spectroscopy
The Christian-Doppler Laboratory, co-funded by the Christian Doppler Research Association and Thorlabs, Inc., is looking for an aspiring scientist to fill a PhD position at the prestigious University of Vienna.
We invite you to become an integral part of our team, working on a cutting-edge project that promises to push the boundaries of broadband precision spectroscopy.
Project Overview
As part of our team, you will:
- Develop and operate a mid-infrared high-average power frequency comb, using a state-of-the-art near-infrared fiber laser as the system's seed. Your goal is to amplify it to achieve an average power of approximately 100 W and convert the system to the mid-IR range through multiple nonlinear stages.
- Conduct advanced spectroscopy experiments leveraging crystalline supermirrors and contribute to the development of mid-infrared mirror technology, with a focus on improving wavelength coverage, reducing absorption, and minimizing scatter losses.
- Engage in our ongoing research, which includes design and characterization of highly reflective mirrors in the mid-infrared (4.5 µm and beyond), high-precision measurements of the refractive index of optical materials.
This research holds the potential to significantly impact photonics and frequency comb spectroscopy in the mid-infrared, and as such, your contribution will be pivotal.
Employment Conditions
To our PhD students, we offer:
- A competitive gross salary: 2 464.80 € per month, paid 14 times per year (in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement of the Austrian universities §48).
- A comprehensive benefits package that includes medical and social insurance.
- English as the main working language.
- Freedom to focus entirely on your research, with no mandatory teaching duties, but the option to teach if you so desire.
- A lab located in the city center of Vienna (9th district), one of the cities with the best quality of living worldwide.
- Membership in the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics, including many activities and benefits (vds-physics.univie.ac.at).
In our research group, collaboration and open communication form the backbone of our success. We foster an environment where frequent discussions are encouraged, and every idea is heard. Teamwork is paramount within our group: We believe in supporting each other and working collectively towards our shared research goals.
As the principal investigator, I offer frequent guidance, ensuring that all members of our group have the support and mentorship they need to thrive.
Requirements
We’re looking for candidates who have:
- Earned a Master's degree in Physics/Engineering, Optics/Photonics, or related fields.
- Advanced Proficiency in English (CEFR C1)
- Hands-on experience with solid-state/fiber lasers, pump-probe experiments, optical fibers, nonlinear optics, precision measurements, and frequency stabilization techniques is preferred.
- Familiarity with MATLAB/Python/LabView is a plus.
We value individuals who thrive in a challenging environment and are eager to contribute to groundbreaking research.
Your passion for problem-solving and the ability to overcome challenges will be key for success in our team.We're excited about the difference we can make together!
To learn more about the project or to express your interest, please visit our website at cdl-mid-infrared.univie.ac.at or contact Ass.Prof. Oliver Heckl at oliver.heckl@univie.ac.at.
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Quantum phenomena at low and high energies - Beatrix Hiesmayr
Are you intrigued by challenges at the forefront of research for the upcoming quantum technologies? Are you passionate about science and working as a scientist? Do you want to contribute to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge in the upcoming field of quantum machine learning? Then apply to the Quantumparticle group.
Your personal sphere of influence:
As a university assistant (praedoc) on this 4-year position, you will be part of the ambitious team around Professor Beatrix Hiesmayr working on quantum phenomena at low and high energies. You will be focusing on quantum algorithms and quantum machine learning for qubits and qudits. Here you will have to combine sophisticated mathematical/theoretical knowledge with dedicated simulations on (classical) computers. For an orientation you can read https://arxiv.org/abs/2212.12906 and the publications of the group (https//www.quantumparticlegroup.at).
We are working on developing theoretical tools for the new upcoming quantum technologies and we are also interested in purely foundational studies. One focus is on the geometry of the state space and group theoretical methods and on methods to detect entanglement, in particular bound entanglement and entanglement at high energies.
Our Team is part of the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information group of the Faculty of Physics.
We are member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), one of the largest quantum hubs in Europe, and of the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), advancing basic research in quantum sciences, aiming to expand the frontiers of knowledge and thus being the engine for future innovations.
You will also benefit from being fellow of the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics (VDSP), being part of a thriving community with more than 100 quantum scientists on premise, about 300 quantum researchers in Vienna.
The Hiesmayr team is an international team of currently 2 Bachelor students, 2 Master students and 1 PhD student.
Your future tasks:
You will actively participate in research, teaching & administration. This means:
- Your PhD will center around quantum machine learning and quantum algorithms for qubits and qudits.
- You will present your research plan to the faculty and complete a dissertation agreement within 12-18 months. This will be reviewed and adapted on an annual basis.
- You will work on your dissertation and towards its completion in time. We expect a large degree of independence paired with a high level of social awareness as the goal will only be achieved in a team.
- You will contribute to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes) within the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
- You will fill some administrative tasks, contributing to the success and self-organization of the group for research, teaching and administration.
- You will continuously stay informed about the state of the art in your field.
- You contribute to outreach by publications, conference presentations and public activities.
This is part of your personality:
- You have completed your Master's degree or Diploma in physics.
- You have experience in academic writing
- You should ideally come with a background in quantum systems with higher dimensions (qudits) and programming skills and basic knowledge of classical machine learning.
- You should have experience with the usual tools for advanced theory: Mathematica or Python etc.
- You have an excellent command of written and spoken English.
What we offer:
- Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.
- Good public transport connections: Your workplace in the center of beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.
- Potential for development: Success in life depends on what you make of it, but if you are ambitious and successful, there are plenty of opportunities to connect you to all relevant top research groups in the world.
- Internal further training & Coaching: The Vienna Doctoral School as well as the department of human resources offer plenty of opportunities to grow your skills in over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.
- Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 2.457,00 (30h, 14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience.The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.
- Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!
It is that easy to apply:
- Your scientific curriculum vitae
- A summary of your previous academic and research achievements. Tell us what you’re proud of.
- A short statement on your research interests for the future. Tell us what you dream about, scientifically.
- Your Bachelor’s and Master‘s degree: an excellent academic degree is a good entrance statement for this position.
- Note, that while a Master’s degree is the usual legal prerequisite for a PhD position at the University of Vienna, we can consider Bachelors (preferentially with Honor’s) in exceptional cases, too.
- APPLY HERE: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/University-assistant-predoctoral/979335501/
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Pushing Microscopy - Thomas Juffmann
Richard Feynman once asked for better microscopes to watch biology at work. Our Quantum Imaging and Biophysics group is working at the interface of microscopy, quantum physics and electron optics to develop new imaging techniques that offer increased sensitivity and resolution. We invite you to become an integral part of our team, working on one of the following PhD projects:
Project 1: Interferometric scattering microscopy
As part of our team, you will develop and operate an iScat setup that pushes the limits in spatial resolution and sensitivity. You will analyse your results and compare them to predictions from quantum theory. In a later stage of the project you will combine iScat with a unique setup for fast fluorescence lifetime microscopy, unlocking new capabilities for research in the life sciences.
Project 2: Electrons and light
We recently developed a method for the manipulation of electrons using ponderomotive potentials created by shaped intense laser light. As part of our team, you will explore the capabilities of this novel technique for aberration correction, imaging, and probe engineering.
In both projects, you will develop new hardware and learn about experiment design, instrument control, instrument calibration, and data acquisition. You will compare your experimental results to simulations that you perform with both your own, and with commercial software. You will collaborate with national and international partners.
Employment Conditions
To our PhD students, we offer:
- Interdisciplinary environment: While we are located at the Vienna biocentre, we are also affiliated to the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology. You will thus be exposed to both cutting-edge quantum technology and the most pressing questions in the life sciences.
- The basic salary of EUR 2.457,00 (30h, 14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience. The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.
- A comprehensive benefits package that includes medical and social insurance.
- A life in the city of Vienna, one of the cities with the best quality of living worldwide.
- Membership in the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics, including many activities and benefits (vds-physics.univie.ac.at).
- Internal further training & coaching: The Vienna Doctoral School as well as the department of human resources offer plenty of opportunities to grow your skills in over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.
What we are looking for
We are looking for a curious and ambitious colleague, who wishes to learn about precision measurement, and who has a hands-on attitude towards implementing new ideas in the lab.
Ideally, you have some experience in one of the following fields: Optics, Microscopy, Quantum Optics, Electron Microscopy, Instrument Control and Development, and/or Information Science. Experience in coding, and an excellent command of written and spoken English are beneficial.
We foster a collaborative and curiosity-driven approach to research. We are looking forward to you joining our team!
APPLY HERE: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/University-assistant-predoctoral/979337901/
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Nonlinear optomechanical control of levitated nanoparticles - Nikolai Kiesel
Are you intrigued by challenges at the forefront of research? Are you passionate about science and the way of living as an experimental scientist? Do you want to contribute to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge? Do you want to develop your expertise in a team of curious researchers that love to discuss science and develop cutting edge experiments in the laboratory? Then you should consider becoming a member of the Stochastic Quantum Dynamics Team.
Your personal sphere of influence:
As a university assistant (praedoc) on this 4-year position, you will be part of the young and driven team of Assoc.-Prof. Kiesel. You will be focusing on nonlinear optomechanical control of levitated nanoparticles.
We conduct experiments at the intersection of quantum physics, modern thermodynamics, and nonlinear systems. Our goal is to pioneer fast and adaptable technology for dynamical quantum systems, opening new possibilities for controlling large quantum objects and gaining deeper insights into rapid quantum and quantum thermodynamic processes.
Our Team is part of the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics and Quantum Information group of the Faculty of Physics.
We are member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ), one of the largest quantum hubs in Europe, and of the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), advancing basic research in quantum sciences, aiming to expand the frontiers of knowledge and thus being the engine for future innovations.
You will also benefit from being fellow of the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics (VDSP), being part of a thriving community with more than 100 quantum scientists on premise, about 300 quantum researchers in Vienna.The Kiesel team brings together a dynamic international team of 5 young scientists (Master, PhD, Postdoc). We foster a collaborative and supportive environment where we work closely together, share our expertise, and thrive in an active atmosphere. Our team is characterized by the commitment to our goals, open-mindedness and boundless enthusiasm. In addition to our extensive experience in the field and our unique toolkit, we maintain a close-knit relationship with colleagues from other teams, ensuring a continuous exchange of knowledge and expertise.
Your future tasks:
You will actively participate in research, teaching & administration. This means:
- You are involved in a specific and well-funded research project, here focused on nonlinear optomechanical control of levitated nanoparticles. You will present your research plan to the faculty and complete a dissertation agreement within 12-18 months. This will be reviewed and adapted on an annual basis.
- You will work on your dissertation and towards its completion in time. We expect a large degree of independence paired with a high level of social awareness as the goal will only be achieved in a team.
- You will contribute to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes) within the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement.
- You will fill some administrative tasks, contributing to the success and self-organization of the group for research, teaching and administration.
- You will continuously stay informed about the state of the art in your field.
- You contribute to outreach by publications, conference presentations and public activities.
This is part of your personality:
- You have completed your Master's degree or Diploma in physics.
- You have experience in academic writing.
- You should ideally come with a background in experimental quantum optics, opto-mechanics and optical tweezers.
- You should have experience with the usual tools for advanced experiments: CAD software, Python etc.
- You have an excellent command of written and spoken English
What we offer:
- Inspiring working atmosphere: You are a part of an international academic team in a healthy and fair working environment.
- Good public transport connections: Your workplace in the center of beautiful Vienna is easily accessible by public transport.
- Potential for development: Success in life depends on what you make of it, but if you are ambitious and successful, there are plenty of opportunities to connect you to all relevant top research groups in the world.
- Internal further training & Coaching: The Vienna Doctoral School as well as the department of human resources offer plenty of opportunities to grow your skills in over 600 courses to choose from – free of charge.
- Fair salary: The basic salary of EUR 2.457,00 (30h, 14x p.a.) increases if we can credit professional experience.The employment duration is 4 years. Initially limited to 1.5 years, the employment relationship is automatically extended to 4 years if the employer does not terminate it within the first 12 months by submitting a non-extension declaration.
- Equal opportunities for everyone: We look forward to diverse personalities in the team!
APPLY HERE: https://jobs.univie.ac.at/job/University-assistant-predoctoral/984024201/
Details on the specifics of the project conditions can be explored with your potential supervisor in personal exchange.
As incomplete applications cannot be considered, please make sure that your application complies with the guidelines stated in the application procedure.
If you have not received a confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting your application please do let us know at vds-physics@univie.ac.at