PhD fellowship in Detecting and Mitigating Quantum Decoherence in superconducting circuits

The newly established Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Program (NQCP) is building a talented and diverse international team to create a cutting-edge program in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. At the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, where the formulation of Quantum Mechanics was born 100 years ago, the ambition is to build a mission-driven full-stack approach which will involve exciting innovations at every level, from the quantum processor to the quantum-classical interface all the way quantum algorithms and applications. The vision of the programme is to enable the development of fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware and quantum algorithms that solve important problems in the life-sciences.

NQCP invites applicants for a PhD fellowship in decoherence mechanisms of superconducting quantum computing processors and circuits.

Start date is (expected to be) 15 December 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter.

The project
The superconducting qubit platform is one of the promising candidates for realizing scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing hardware. Superconducting qubit lifetimes are, however, despite tremendous improvement and perfection in the last decades, still limited by non-ideal material properties related to conventional fabrication methods, interface oxide formation, and material imperfections.

This PhD project addresses the decoherence sources limiting qubit lifetimes by investigating and developing relevant and novel superconducting circuits. This includes optimizing designs, materials choice, packaging, and characterization methods (high throughput) of the superconducting qubits/circuits. Special focus will be on understanding decoherence mechanisms in different superconducting materials and material combinations. Furthermore, the project will investigate the origin of two-level systems and their relation to defects via theoretical modeling.

This position will strengthen the link between NQCP and partners at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA, US. The PhD work is based at the Molecular Foundry (MF), The Advanced Quantum Testbed (AQT) and partners at Berkeley with visits to NQCP. The supervision will be coordinated across the involved institutions.

Who are we looking for?
We are looking for candidates within the field(s) of physics, engineering, and nanotechnology or similar, preferable with experience in superconducting circuits, e.g. design of superconducting devices and cryogenic measurements.

The Scientific environment
We offer creative and stimulating working conditions in dynamic and highly international research environment hosted by a collaboration between the NNF Quantum Computing Programme (NQCP) at the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), CA, US. The PhD work will be anchored at LBNL with the aim to strengthen the collaboration between these institutions.

Principal supervisor isAssociate Prof. Kasper Grove-Rasmussen, [xxxxx] Co-supervisor Prof. Peter Krogstrup, [xxxxx] Supervisor at LBNL, Molecular Foundry: Sinéad Griffin [xxxxx]

The PhD programme
Depending of your level of education, you can undertake the PhD programme as either:

• Option A: A three year full-time study within the framework of the regular PhD programme (5+3 scheme), if you already have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master’s degree.
• Option B: An up to five year full-time study programme within the framework of the integrated MSc and PhD programme (the 3+5 scheme), if you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree – but you have an education equivalent to a Danish bachelors´s degree.

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Option A: Getting into a position on the regular PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the regular programme
To be eligible for the regular PhD programme, you must have completed a degree programme, equivalent to a Danish master’s degree (180 ECTS/3 FTE BSc + 120 ECTS/2 FTE MSc) related to the subject area of the project, e.g. Physics, Quantum Information Science or NanoScience. For information of eligibility of completed programmes, see General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of employment in the regular programme
Employment as PhD fellow is full time and for maximum 3 years.

Employment is conditional upon your successful enrolment as a PhD student at the PhD School at the Faculty of SCIENCE, University of Copenhagen. This requires submission and acceptance of an application for the specific project formulated by the applicant.

Terms of appointment and payment accord to the agreement between the Danish Ministry of Taxation and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State. The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance.

Option B: Getting into a position on the integrated MSc and PhD programme

Qualifications needed for the integrated MSc and PhD programme
If you do not have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish master´s degree, you might be qualified for the integrated MSc and PhD programme, if you have an education equivalent to a relevant Danish bachelor´s degree. Here you can find out, if that is relevant for you: General assessments for specific countries and Assessment database.

Terms of the integrated programme
To be eligible for the integrated scholarship, you are (or are eligible to be) enrolled at one of the faculty’s master programmes in Physics.

Students on the integrated programme will enroll as PhD students simultaneously with completing their enrollment in this MSc degree programme.

The duration of the integrated programme is up to five years, and depends on the amount of credits that you have passed on your MSc programme. For further information about the study programme, please see: [xxxxx] “Study Structures”.

Until the MSc degree is obtained, (when exactly two years of the full 3+5 programme remains), the grant will be paid partly in the form of 48 state education grant portions (in Danish: “SU-klip”) plus salary for work (teaching, supervision etc.) totalling a workload of 150 working hours per year.
A PhD grant portion is currently (2024) DKK 6.820 before tax.

When you have obtained the MSc degree, you will transfer to the salary-earning part of the scholarship for a period of two years. At that point, the terms of employment and payment will be according to the agreement between the Ministry of Finance and The Danish Confederation of Professional Associations on Academics in the State (AC). The position is covered by the Protocol on Job Structure.

Appointment will be subject to receipt of a security clearance.

Responsibilities and tasks in both PhD programmes

• Complete and pass the MSc education in accordance with the curriculum of the MSc programme (ONLY when you are attending the integrated MSc and PhD programme)
• Carry through an independent research project under supervision
• Complete PhD courses corresponding to approx. 30 ECTS / ½ FTE
• Participate in active research environments, including a stay at another research institution, preferably abroad
• Teaching and knowledge dissemination activities
• Write scientific papers aimed at high-impact journals
• Write and defend a PhD thesis on the basis of your project

We are looking for the following qualifications:

• Professional qualifications relevant to the PhD project
• Relevant publications
• Relevant work experience
• Other relevant professional activities
• Programming skills
• Curious mind-set with a strong interest in superconducting circuits and contributing to the NQCP/LBNL mission
• Good language skills

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Application and Assessment Procedure
Your application including all attachments must be in English and submitted electronically by clicking APPLY NOW below.

Please include:

1. Motivated letter of application (max. one page)
2. Curriculum vitae including information about your education, experience, language skills and other skills relevant for the position
3. Original diplomas for Bachelor of Science or Master of Science and transcript of records in the original language, including an authorized English translation if issued in another language than English or Danish. If not completed, a certified/signed copy of a recent transcript of records or a written statement from the institution or supervisor is accepted.
4. Publication list (if possible)
5. Reference letters (if available)

Application deadline:
The deadline for application is 1 September 2024, 23:59 GMT +2.

We reserve the right not to consider material received after the deadline, and not to consider applications that do not live up to the abovementioned requirements.

The further process
After deadline, a number of applicants will be selected for academic assessment by an unbiased expert assessor. You are notified, whether you will be passed for assessment.

The assessor will assess the qualifications and experience of the shortlisted applicants with respect to the above mentioned research area, techniques, skills and other requirements. The assessor will conclude whether each applicant is qualified and, if so, for which of the two models. The assessed applicants will have the opportunity to comment on their assessment. You can read about the recruitment process at [xxxxx]

Questions
For specific information about the PhD fellowship, please contact the principal supervisor.

General information about PhD study at the Faculty of SCIENCE is available at the PhD School’s website: [xxxxx]

The University of Copenhagen wishes to reflect the surrounding community and invites all regardless of personal background to apply for the position.

Kilde: [xxxxx]