Summary
The Institute of Physics (IoP) at the University of Amsterdam is seeking an ambitious postdoc to join the Ultracold Strontium Gases group and its spin-off, OpticsFoundry B.V. The role involves developing advanced technology to robotically manufacture robust optical circuits for quantum technology and beyond, in collaboration with the Nonlinear Nanophotonics group of UTwente.
Postdoc on Stable Optical Circuits for Quantum Technology, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Designation
Postdoctoral Researcher (UFO profile: Researcher)
Key Job Details
| Category | Details |
| Institution | University of Amsterdam (Faculty of Science) |
| Working Hours | 38 hours per week |
| Salary Range | €3,546 – €5,538 gross per month (Scale 10) |
| Contract Duration | 12 months (temporary employment) |
| Starting Date | As soon as possible |
Research Area
Experimental Atomic, Molecular, and Optical (AMO) Physics for Quantum Technology.
Experimental Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics / Quantum Technology
Location
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Eligibility/Qualification
Candidates must possess a passion for solving technical puzzles and a desire to help grow a startup into a successful company. You should also have:
- A recent PhD in experimental atomic, molecular, and optical physics.
- Strong skills in optics, alongside experience with electronics and control software.
- Excellent teamwork and learning skills for rapid adaptation to project needs.
- Strong initiative and effective time-management abilities.
- Good oral and written communication skills in English.
Job Description
You will operate as an end-to-end problem solver in a fast-paced startup-style environment. Key responsibilities include:
- Designing and building robust optical circuits that incorporate new elements such as gain media, active positioning elements (piezos, stepper motors), cavities, spectroscopy cells, and photonic integrated circuits.
- Developing robotic manufacturing techniques to place, align, and integrate these components into scalable production workflows.
- Building and benchmarking functional optical systems (e.g., laser lock circuits and laser sources), iterating quickly based on experimental feedback.
- Prototyping, validating, and debugging production processes while working closely with users to ensure practical and reliable solutions.
- Opportunity: If successful, you may have the opportunity to officially join OpticsFoundry to ship advanced optical circuits to customers as part of the core technical team.
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online via the application link on the EURAXESS portal. All documents (excluding the CV) must be combined into one single PDF file.
Your application should include:
- A detailed CV (including start and end months for education and work experience).
- A letter of motivation.
- A list of publications.
- The names and email addresses of two references who can provide letters of recommendation.
(Note: A knowledge security check may be part of the selection procedure.)
Last Date for Apply
30 September 2026 (Applications are accepted until the position is filled, but must be received within the response period)
