The Kouwenhoven Lab is looking for PhD researchers to contribute to the development of a new type of qubit based on Majorana bound states in Kitaev chains. This project aims to create Majorana qubits in extended Kitaev chains, achieving topological protections with chains of up to 5 sites in qubit geometry. You will investigate various noise sources that can cause qubit dephasing and devise strategies to mitigate these disturbances.

The Role

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include exploring novel gate operations such as fusion and braiding, which are unique to Majorana bound states. You will analyze how improved protection affects these operations as the chains are lengthened, and work on developing 2-qubit gate operations to create entanglement between different pairs of Majoranas.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in quantum science and solid-state physics.
• Independence and self-drive, with the ability to identify interesting questions and interpret measurement outcomes.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills.
• Optional but highly appreciated: background in experimental research in spin qubits, magnetic materials, or spintronics.

What We Offer

• A diverse and inclusive team environment at QuTech, located at TU Delft.
• Access to state-of-the-art research facilities for quantum and nanoscale research.
• A four-year employment period, starting with a 1.5-year contract followed by a 2.5-year extension based on performance.
• Salary ranging from €3059 to €3881 gross per month, with additional benefits including holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus.
• Enrollment in the TU Delft Graduate School, providing an inspiring research environment and a comprehensive Doctoral Education Programme.
• Support for relocation to the Netherlands, including assistance for accompanying partners.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply, as diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you are motivated and passionate about experimental physics, we look forward to your application.