About the position

Position as PhD Research Fellow in Materials Science available at Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN), Department of Physics, University of Oslo.

The fellowship period is 3 years. 

A fourth year may be considered with a workload of 25 % that may consist of teaching, supervision duties, and/or research assistance. This is dependent upon the qualification of the applicant and the current needs of the department.

Preferred starting date is June 1, 2025 and no later than October 1, 2025.

No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo.

Job description

Quantum technologies are expected to enable disruptive and advanced future applications. The goal of this project is to functionalize ultra-bright quantum emitters motivated by future applications in quantum sensing and secure photonic communication. However, it has been challenging to find the balance between control of the quantum state, robustness to noise, signal detection and, importantly, scalability. Thus, there is an ongoing race to discover and characterize new quantum compatible platforms that satisfy these fundamental criteria.

In the research group LENS (Light and electricity from novel Semiconductors) at UiO we explore and develop point defects in semiconductors – imperfections in the material that are often seen as something to avoid – for QT applications. Point defect-based QT facilitates quantum bits based on either the electron spin or photon polarization and is well suited for optical readout using the single photon emitter (SPE) property. Importantly, point defect SPEs can operate at room temperature (RT), in contrast to most other available QT platforms that require milli-kelvin temperatures to function.

The PhD Research Fellowship is funded by the Research Council of Norway as part of the Groundbreaking Research Project QuTe at LENS and a collaboration with the Norwegian De-fence Research Establishment (FFI). Our long-term goal is to develop sustainable next generation quantum technologies that are compatible with the semiconductor industry. Specifically, in this project we aim to unravel the potential for AlN as a platform for QT. This involves elucidating the defect formation mechanisms and identifying the origin(s) of novel single-photon emitters, thereby revealing how they can be used in quantum sensing and quantum communication applications. Defect integration with electrical and photonic devices will be pursued in collaboration with other relevant activity at UiO.

The work of the PhD research fellow will be of experimental or theoretical character depending on the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications. Note that the candidate must be eligible for a security clearance by the Norwegian authorities, as some of the work will be carried out at FFI (see below). 

Relevant tasks may be a combination of: 

• Investigation of defect formation in AlN by ion implantation and annealing
• Optical characterization of quantum emitters in AlN
• Theoretical modeling of defects in AlN using density functional theory (DFT)
• Theoretical modeling of the defect-environment interaction for quantum sensing applications
• Design and modeling of nanophotonic devices
• Fabrication of waveguides in AlN

The PhD research fellow will be affiliated with the semiconductor physics group LENS (Light and electricity from novel Semiconductors) with around 50 highly dedicated professors, researchers, postdocs, PhD fellows, engineers, admin and master students. The research group has an excellent infrastructure covering chemical, structural, optical, and electrical characterization methods, device fabrication and simulations. The infrastructure includes the Micro- and Nanotechnology Laboratory (MiNaLab) with a clean room area in excess of 400 m2 with a multitude of modern fabrication and characterization facilities. The PhD Research Fellow will be closely knit with the supervisors’ other projects and activities, and in several cases work in a larger team with colleagues at the University of Oslo, FFI, and partners internationally.

The LENS group is part of the Physics Department and the Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN). SMN is an interdisciplinary collaboration between five research groups in physics and chemistry, and spearheads the MN faculty’s efforts for sustainable energy solutions. The Centre comprises UiO’s focus on renewable energy, materials science, and nanotechnology. 

Qualification requirements

The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials.

Required qualifications

• Master’s degree or equivalent in physics or materials science

• Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system

  Candidates without a master’s degree have until 30 June 2025 to complete the final exam.

• Solid background in semiconductor physics including experience with semiconductor modelling, processing or characterization
• Strong data analysis skills
• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English
• This project is in collaboration with Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) and the candidate must therefore be able to obtain a security clearance. More information about this can be found here (in Norwegian)
• All candidates and projects will have to undergo a check versus national export, sanctions and security regulations. Candidates may be excluded based on these checks. Primary checkpoints are the Export Control regulation, the Sanctions regulation, and the National security regulation

Desired qualifications

Two or more of the following:

• Well-documented experience with processing in a cleanroom facility
• Experience with optical characterization, particularly using luminescence spectroscopy (or related techniques). Experience with quantum emitter characterization is a plus
• Experience with semiconductor modeling such as density functional theory (DFT)
• Experience with data analysis using, e.g., Origin or MatLab
• Programming skills, e.g. proficient with Labview or Python 

Grade requirements

• The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system
• The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system

Language requirements

• Fluent oral and written communication skills in English

English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/EEA/EFTA countries and exemptions from the requirements

The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. For more information see:

Doctoral degree: PhD at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences - The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences

Personal skills

• We seek a candidate who is flexible, good at taking initiative and has excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Having to work in a setting with many co-workers, we seek a candidate who enjoys working in a team 

We offer

• Salary NOK 536 200 – 575 400 per annum depending on qualifications and seniority as PhD Research Fellow (position code 1017)
• Attractive welfare benefits and a generous pension agreement
• Vibrant international academic environment
• Career development programmes
• Oslo’s family-friendly surroundings with their rich opportunities for culture and outdoor activities

Inclusive worklife and diversity at UiO

Inclusion and diversity are a strength. The University of Oslo has a personnel policy objective of achieving a balanced gender composition. Furthermore, we want employees with diverse professional expertise, life experience and perspectives.

If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, employment gaps or immigrant background, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these categories to an interview.

We hope that you will apply for the position. 

More information about gender equality initiatives at UiO can be found here.

How to apply

Your application should include:

• Cover letter - statement of motivation and research interests
• CV (summarizing education, previous positions and academic work)
• Copies of the original Bachelor and Master’s degree diploma, transcripts of records
• Up to one letter of recommendation from a direct supervisor/mentor (optional)
• Documentation of English proficiency
• List of publications and academic work that the applicant wishes to be considered by the evaluation committee 
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number)

Application with attachments must be submitted via our recruitment system Jobbnorge, click "Apply for the position".

When applying for the position, we ask you to retrieve your education results from Vitnemålsportalen.no. If your education results are not available through Vitnemålsportalen, we ask you to upload copies of your transcripts or grades. Please note that all documentation must be in English or a Scandinavian language.

General information

The best qualified candidates will be invited for interviews. 

Applicant lists can be published in accordance with Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25. When you apply for a position with us, your name will appear on the public applicant list. It is possible to request to be excluded from this list. You must justify why you want an exemption from publication and we will then decide whether we can grant your request. If we can't, you will hear from us.

Please refer to Regulations for the Act on universities and colleges chapter 3 (Norwegian), Guidelines concerning appointment to post doctoral and research posts at UiO (Norwegian) and Regulations for the degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at the University of Oslo.

The University of Oslo has a transfer agreement with all employees that is intended to secure the rights to all research results etc.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact:

• Professor Lasse Vines, e-mail: lasse.vines@fys.uio.no
• Researcher Marianne E. Bathen, phone: +47 99107859, email: m.e.bathen@fys.uio.no

For questions regarding recruitment system Jobbnorge, please contact:

• HR advisor Olga Holmlund, e-mail: olga.holmlund@mn.uio.no

Apply for the position