PhD students (f/m/d) in Superconducting Qubits

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) – The Research University in the Helmholtz Association creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is our goal to make significant contributions to mastering the global challenges of mankind in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9.800 employees of KIT cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in research, academic education, and innovation.

We are looking for the Institute of Physics (PHI) as soon as possible and limited for 3 years for two

PhD students (f/m/d) in Superconducting Qubits

We are looking for highly motivated scientists to work on experiments with superconducting qubits. These positions will be funded by the European Research Council (ERC) through the Advanced Grant „Millimeter-Wave Superconducting Quantum Circuits” - Milli-Q. The goal is to develop novel superconducting quantum circuits which are operating at frequencies one order of magnitude larger than those demonstrated until now, going up to the 100 GHz frequency range, introducing numerous advantages, including:

• Higher operating temperature, resulting with more qubits per fridge,
• Higher operation speeds allow applying more gates before decoherence,
• Smaller size decreases wafer sensitivity to cosmic radiation.

Once successful, our approach will open a new, game changing, way to build superconducting quantum computers. Along the way we are facing novel engineering challenges as well as basic material-science questions.

Due to the increased qubit energy level separation, millimeter-wave quantum processors could be operated at temperatures much higher than their present counterparts, qubit logic gates can be performed faster and circuit components reduced in size thus allowing for a smaller footprint, denser packaging and better integration. These numerous potential advantages face many challenges and pose intriguing physics questions that are aimed to be answered in this project. Once successful, our approach will open a new way to build superconducting quantum computers.

The group led by Prof. Alexey Ustinov is located at the university campus of KIT and has a long successful record of exploring the physics of superconducting circuits, both classical and quantum. We are using superconducting qubits for state-of-the-art experiments, challenge new physics questions and explore opportunities for the next generation of quantum information processing. Our group pioneered frequency domain multiplexing readout of qubits, detection and manipulation of microscopic two-level defects, and studied qubit arrays as quantum metamaterials. Our labs are equipped with 6 dilution refrigerators and microwave and mm-wave measurement facilities. We have full access to the in-house cleanroom located next to the lab at Nanostructure Service Laboratory / KIT.

The multiple offered PhD positions cover a broad range of directions within Milli-Q project, ranging from the development of cryogenic measurements for mm-wave frequencies to the fabrication of prototype mm-wave qubits and studies of their quantum coherence properties. Our project team will closely cooperate with mm-wave experts and high-frequency electrical engineers, both on and outside the KIT campus.

Personal qualification:

• A master degree in experimental physics.
• Good command of English.
• Strong ambition towards excellence in science and technology at the highest international level is expected. Experience on superconducting circuit design, modeling, and fabrication is highly appreciated.

Become a member of staff of the only German University of Excellence that conducts large-scale research on the national level. Work under excellent working conditions in an international environment and be active in research and academic education for our future. Benefit from specific train-ing when starting your job and from a wide range of further qualification offers. Use our flexi-ble working time models (flexitime, work from home), our sports and leisure offers, as well as our child and holiday care services. We also pay a share of EUR 25/month in the Job Ticket Baden-Württemberg. Enjoy a large variety of dishes, snacks, and beverages at our canteens.

We prefer to balance the number of employees (f/m/d). Therefore we kindly ask female applicants to apply for this job.

Recognized severely disabled persons will be preferred if they are equally qualified.

Please apply online until June 19, 2024 using the vacancy number 1124/2024 to Ms Carrasco Sanchez, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Human Resources, Kaiserstr. 12, 76128 Karlsruhe, Germany.

To apply for the position, please submit your application via e-mail addresses given above as one single PDF document, which should include

• letter of motivation (no more than one page)
• CV (indicating your contact information, work history, list of publications, knowledge areas of physics and engineering, experimental skills, language skills, university degrees and grades, honors and awards)
• two letters of recommendation or contact details of two possible referees.

For further information, please contact
Prof. Alexey Ustinov, e-mail: ustinov@kit.edu,
Dr. Hannes Rotzinger, e-mail: rotzinger@kit.edu or
Dr. Sergei Masis, e-mail: sergei.masis@kit.edu.

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