The Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Attosecond Science group at the Laboratory of Physical Chemistry (Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich) is offering a fully funded, 4-year doctoral position. This position is part of Attochirality, an ambitious, newly launched ERC Advanced Grant project aiming to establish attosecond chiroptical pump-probe spectroscopy.
PhD Opportunity: Circularly Polarized Attosecond Pulses & Chiral Charge Migration at ETH Zurich, Switzerland
Position Overview
| Detail | Information |
| Designation | Doctoral Researcher (PhD Student) |
| Institution | ETH Zurich (Laboratory of Physical Chemistry) |
| Location | Zurich, Switzerland |
| Employment Type | 100%, Fixed-term (4 Years) |
| Project Funding | Fully funded (ERC Advanced Grant: Attochirality) |
| Application Start Date | Review of applications began on July 13, 2026 (open until filled) |
| Preferred Start Date | October 1, 2026 (or upon agreement) |
Research Area
The project lies at the exciting intersection of attosecond science, molecular chirality, and chemical dynamics.
Specifically, this doctoral project focuses on:
- The generation and complete characterization of circularly polarized isolated attosecond pulses.
- Applying these pulses to observe and understand chiral charge migration using three-dimensional electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy (reaction microscope/COLTRIMS).
Eligibility & Qualifications
- Academic Degree: A Master’s degree in physical chemistry, physics, chemistry, photonics, electrical engineering, or a closely related discipline (must be completed by the starting date).
- Research Interests: A strong interest in experimental molecular science, ultrafast optics, and quantum dynamics.
- Hands-on Experience: Practical research experience in at least one of the following fields:
- Femtosecond lasers or nonlinear optics
- High-harmonic generation or XUV spectroscopy
- Electron/ion spectroscopy or molecular beams
- Vacuum instrumentation, detector systems, or precision optical experiments
- Technical Skills: Experience with scientific programming and quantitative data analysis (ideally in Python, MATLAB, LabView, C/C++, or similar).
- Work Style & Language: Careful, independent, and collaborative working style with excellent written and spoken English.
- Pluses (Not Required): Experience with coincidence spectroscopies, reaction microscopes, attosecond metrology, CEP stabilization, or charged-particle optics is advantageous.
Job Description
- Beamline Operation: Contribute to building, aligning, and operating an attosecond beamline based on a CEP-stabilized, few-cycle 100 kHz Yb-fibre laser.
- Pulse Generation: Generate and characterize the temporal structure and complete polarization state of circularly polarized attosecond pulse trains and isolated attosecond pulses.
- Experimentation: Integrate these pulses into a reaction microscope and perform 3D electron-ion coincidence measurements.
- Investigation: Investigate chirality-sensitive charge migration and charge transfer in isolated molecules and microhydrated molecular clusters.
- Collaboration & Dissemination: Work closely with laser scientists, engineers, and theorists. Present your research at international conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted exclusively through the ETH Zurich online portal. Applications sent via email or postal mail will not be considered.
Please prepare and upload the following documents, preferably merged into a single PDF:
- A Cover Letter explaining your motivation and relevant experimental experience.
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Copies of Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates alongside complete academic transcripts.
- A concise summary of your Master’s thesis or principal research project (maximum 1 page).
- Contact details for at least 2 academic references.
Note on Inquiries: For questions regarding the position, you can contact Prof. Hans Jakob Wörner at hwoerner@ethz.ch (please do not send applications to this email address).
Last Date to Apply
- Deadline: Applications are being reviewed on a rolling basis. The review process began on July 13, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Early application is highly recommended!
