Onderzoekstechnicus/Research Technician

Work Activities
Als onderzoekstechnicus werk je ter ondersteuning van natuurkundig en biologisch onderzoek, met een focus op optica en (fluorescentie) microscopie. Je bent verantwoordelijk voor het onderhoud en de troubleshooting van zowel zelfgebouwde als commerciële microscopen, en je draagt bij aan het ontwerp en de bouw van nieuwe optische opstellingen, waarbij soms lasersystemen worden gebruikt. Je houdt actief de mogelijkheden voor upgrades of de aanschaf van nieuwe apparatuur in de gaten, afgestemd op de veranderende behoeften van lopend en toekomstig onderzoek. Je zorgt ervoor dat de microscopen optimaal en veilig functioneren. Als schakel tussen de wetenschappers en ondersteunende afdelingen bied je praktische ondersteuning aan PhD studenten en postdocs om hoogwaardige data te verzamelen en hun microscopievaardigheden te ontwikkelen. Tegelijkertijd werk je nauw samen met andere technici en speel je een sleutelrol in het soepel laten verlopen van de processen binnen de microscopiefaciliteiten. Je hebt in deze functie veel zelfstandigheid om zelf je werkzaamheden te prioriteren binnen een gevarieerd takenpakket.

As a research technician, you will work in support of physical and biological research, with a focus on optics and (fluorescence) microscopy. Your responsibilities include maintaining and troubleshooting both home-built and commercial microscopes, as well as designing and constructing new optical setups, which may involve laser systems. You will stay alert to opportunities to upgrade or acquire new equipment, aligning with the evolving needs of research projects. You will ensure that imaging equipment is working optimally and in a safe manner. As the main contact between scientists and support departments, you provide hands-on support to PhD students and postdocs to help them collect high-quality data and develop their microscopy skills, while at the same time, working closely with other technicians on maintaining a seamless workflow within the microscopy facilities. In this function, you have significant independence to prioritize and independently manage a variety of tasks.

Qualifications
Je beschikt over een HBO-opleiding in een relevant vakgebied (natuurkunde, biologie of een vergelijkbare bèta-technische richting). Het is een pre als je ervaring hebt met een of meer van de genoemde werkzaamheden en affiniteit hebt met werken met microscopie, elektronica of software ontwikkeling. Je bent flexibel, kunt goed prioriteiten stellen, kunt overzicht over meerdere opdrachten tegelijk houden en kunt goed communiceren met andere collega’s.

You have a bachelor’s degree (University of Applied Science degree) in a relevant field (physics, biology or similar beta-technical field). It is an advantage if you have experience with one or more of the activities mentioned above and have an affinity for working with microscopes, electronics or software. You are flexible, can prioritize effectively, can work on multiple tasks simultaneously, and communicate well with other colleagues.

Work environment
Binnen het NWO Instituut AMOLF in Amsterdam werken experimentele onderzoeksgroepen nauw samen aan fundamenteel onderzoek naar biologische, natuurkundige, en chemische processen. Je wordt deel van een team van technici die het gehele instituut ondersteunen, waarbij je werkt voor meerdere onderzoeksgroepen.

Within the NWO Institute AMOLF in Amsterdam, multiple experimental research groups collaborate closely on fundamental research of biological, physical, and chemical processes. You will be part of a team of technicians who support the entire institute, working for multiple scientific groups.

AMOLF is a part of NWO-I and initiate and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, and to create new functional materials, in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees. www.amolf.nl

Working conditions
De sfeer op het Instituut wordt in hoge mate bepaald door jonge, enthousiaste medewerkers. De communicatie is informeel en verloopt rechtstreeks met de werknemers. De secundaire arbeidsvoorwaarden zijn uitstekend. Interne training en studiefaciliteiten zijn vanzelfsprekend. Inschaling vindt, afhankelijk van relevante kennis en ervaring, plaats in NWO-I CAO schaal 8 of 9; maximaal € 4993 bruto per maand exclusief vakantiegeld (8%) en eindejaarsuitkering (8,33%). De functie is voor 0.8-1 fte. We bieden een dienstverband van twee jaar, met de intentie van aansluitend een vast dienstverband.

The atmosphere at the Institute is largely shaped by young, enthusiastic employees. Communication is informal and direct with the staff. The secondary benefits are excellent. Internal training and study facilities are standard. The salary scale is determined based on relevant knowledge and experience, ranging from NWO-I CAO scale 8 or 9; up to € 4993 gross per month, excluding vacation pay (8%) and year-end bonus (8.33%). The position is for 0.8-1 FTE. We offer a two-year contract, with the intention of transitioning to a permanent contract afterward.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Sander Tans: s.tans@amolf.nl

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below.

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

PhD position: Applying high efficiency Si PV principles to halide perovskites

Work Activities
As the perovskite layer quality increases, the surfaces and interfaces begin to dominate the remaining efficiency loss. The Si PV industry has developed standardized tools and protocols for rapidly screening new passivation and contact materials and quantifying their quality. There is so far no comparable standardization in halide perovskite PV which hampers further efficiency improvements. Furthermore, doping and impurity gettering in Si are highly controlled using drive-in from external surface layers (e.g. borosilicate or phosphosilicate glass) followed by RTA or furnace annealing, while there is no comparable procedure for controlling doping density or gettering defects in halide perovskite PV. Even measuring doping density (or free carrier concentration) is difficult in halide perovskites, while this is a standard rapid measurement in crystalline Si PV and a critical parameter to optimize for peak performance.

The goal of this project is translate concepts developed in high-efficiency Si PV R&D to halide perovskites. There are both fundamental and more applied aspects to the project. The fundamental Research questions are:

Can we develop a comparable suite of standard characterization techniques for halide perovskites as exist in high-efficiency Si PV? These include for example measuring surface/interface recombination velocity, bulk vs. surface lifetime, J0, implied Voc, doping density/carrier concentration.

Can we develop strategies to reliably dope halide perovskites, especially selectively at the contacts? These could include more traditional doping but also remote doping (e.g. in analogy to doped poly-Si tunnel contacts or doped a-Si heterojunction contacts).

Research goals:

1. Develop fast screening method for passivating contacts analogous to the Sinton tester used in Si PV research and development. Use this to find improved carrier selective contacts and passivation layers.
2. Develop surface/interfacial layers to controllably dope/passivate halide perovskites selectively at the contact or apply remote doping analogous to poly-Si passivated contacts.
3. Implement optical annealing with pulsed lasers to provide highly controllable interfacial processing (annealing, doping, passivation, recrystallization) with simultaneous tracking and feedback via PL and absorption signal, taking advantage of developments in machine learning.

Embedding

The project is part of a large national initiative, SolarLab, aimed at coordinating all academic solar research in the Netherlands and supporting the Dutch solar photovoltaic industry. For more information, visit solarlab-nl.org.

You will join 40 other PhD students from across the Netherlands to tackle fundamental research challenges that underpin industrial activities in solar. This team of PhD students will participate in workshops together and closely collaborate with industrial and applied research partners to ensure that research outcomes are swiftly implemented in the solar PV industry.

Qualifications
We invite applications from highly motivated candidates with a strong background in physics, chemistry, materials science, or engineering, and a keen interest in solar cells. We especially encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. Prospective PhD candidates must hold an MSc degree in a natural science or engineering discipline or equivalent qualification.

Work environment
The Nanoscale Solar Cells Group synthesizes advanced metal and semiconducting nanostructures, characterizes their material properties and integrates them into novel device structures with the aim of improving our fundamental understanding of light absorption, charge separation, recombination and transport at the nanometer scale.

We have 2 main focus areas: improving halide perovskite solar cells and using light to drive and monitor chemical reactions. We value diversity in every sense: research background, ethnicity, gender, nationality, orientation, age and beliefs and see developing talent from underrepresented groups as an essential part of or mission.

We offer a highly collaborative and supportive environment, fostering strong connections both within the group and with our national and international partners. PhD students benefit from a variety of courses designed to enhance their research skills.

AMOLF is a part of NWO-I and initiates and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, and to create new functional materials, in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees. www.amolf.nl

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is intended as full-time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) for the duration of four years
• The starting salary is 2.781 Euro’s gross per month and a range of employment benefits.
• After successful completion of the PhD research a PhD degree will be granted at the University of Amsterdam.
• Several courses are offered, specially developed for PhD-students.
• AMOLF assists any new foreign PhD-student with housing and visa applications and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Erik Garnett: e.garnett@amolf.nl

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below.

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

PhD position: Applying high efficiency Si PV principles to halide perovskites

Work Activities
As the perovskite layer quality increases, the surfaces and interfaces begin to dominate the remaining efficiency loss. The Si PV industry has developed standardized tools and protocols for rapidly screening new passivation and contact materials and quantifying their quality. There is so far no comparable standardization in halide perovskite PV which hampers further efficiency improvements. Furthermore, doping and impurity gettering in Si are highly controlled using drive-in from external surface layers (e.g. borosilicate or phosphosilicate glass) followed by RTA or furnace annealing, while there is no comparable procedure for controlling doping density or gettering defects in halide perovskite PV. Even measuring doping density (or free carrier concentration) is difficult in halide perovskites, while this is a standard rapid measurement in crystalline Si PV and a critical parameter to optimize for peak performance.

The goal of this project is translate concepts developed in high-efficiency Si PV R&D to halide perovskites. There are both fundamental and more applied aspects to the project. The fundamental Research questions are:

Can we develop a comparable suite of standard characterization techniques for halide perovskites as exist in high-efficiency Si PV? These include for example measuring surface/interface recombination velocity, bulk vs. surface lifetime, J0, implied Voc, doping density/carrier concentration.

Can we develop strategies to reliably dope halide perovskites, especially selectively at the contacts? These could include more traditional doping but also remote doping (e.g. in analogy to doped poly-Si tunnel contacts or doped a-Si heterojunction contacts).

Research goals:

1. Develop fast screening method for passivating contacts analogous to the Sinton tester used in Si PV research and development. Use this to find improved carrier selective contacts and passivation layers.
2. Develop surface/interfacial layers to controllably dope/passivate halide perovskites selectively at the contact or apply remote doping analogous to poly-Si passivated contacts.
3. Implement optical annealing with pulsed lasers to provide highly controllable interfacial processing (annealing, doping, passivation, recrystallization) with simultaneous tracking and feedback via PL and absorption signal, taking advantage of developments in machine learning.

Embedding

The project is part of a large national initiative, SolarLab, aimed at coordinating all academic solar research in the Netherlands and supporting the Dutch solar photovoltaic industry. For more information, visit solarlab-nl.org.

You will join 40 other PhD students from across the Netherlands to tackle fundamental research challenges that underpin industrial activities in solar. This team of PhD students will participate in workshops together and closely collaborate with industrial and applied research partners to ensure that research outcomes are swiftly implemented in the solar PV industry.

Qualifications
We invite applications from highly motivated candidates with a strong background in physics, chemistry, materials science, or engineering, and a keen interest in solar cells. We especially encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to apply. Prospective PhD candidates must hold an MSc degree in a natural science or engineering discipline or equivalent qualification.

Work environment
The Nanoscale Solar Cells Group synthesizes advanced metal and semiconducting nanostructures, characterizes their material properties and integrates them into novel device structures with the aim of improving our fundamental understanding of light absorption, charge separation, recombination and transport at the nanometer scale.

We have 2 main focus areas: improving halide perovskite solar cells and using light to drive and monitor chemical reactions. We value diversity in every sense: research background, ethnicity, gender, nationality, orientation, age and beliefs and see developing talent from underrepresented groups as an essential part of or mission.

We offer a highly collaborative and supportive environment, fostering strong connections both within the group and with our national and international partners. PhD students benefit from a variety of courses designed to enhance their research skills.

AMOLF is a part of NWO-I and initiates and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, and to create new functional materials, in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees. www.amolf.nl

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is intended as full-time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) for the duration of four years
• The starting salary is 2.781 Euro’s gross per month and a range of employment benefits.
• After successful completion of the PhD research a PhD degree will be granted at the University of Amsterdam.
• Several courses are offered, specially developed for PhD-students.
• AMOLF assists any new foreign PhD-student with housing and visa applications and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Erik Garnett: e.garnett@amolf.nl

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below.

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

Research Technician Nanotechnology

Work Activities
The AMOLF NanoLab Amsterdam is an open-access research facility for nanofabrication and nanocharacterization. It is used for various research and technology development in areas such as nanophotonics, photovoltaics, mechanical metamaterials, and more. As an expert Research Technician, you will be responsible for independently developing and refining fabrication techniques and giving instruction to lab users and junior staff members. You will fabricate nanostructures, assist and instruct users in the fabrication and characterization processes, and contribute to the acquisition, maintenance, and repair of the equipment in the cleanroom. You will work closely with the users and the other cleanroom staff.

You will work with advanced techniques, such as UV-, electron beam, and 3D lithography, deposition techniques (PVD, PECVD, ALD), plasma etching (RIE), and Focused Ion Beam (FIB) and electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). You will serve as an expert on one or more of the above topics, coordinating the use and technical improvement of equipment in collaboration with other technical staff, and advising the NanoLab management.

Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this position:

• Has an HBO or academic degree in Applied Physics or equivalent;
• Is experienced in cleanroom technology; for example, in the fields of lithography, deposition techniques, or plasma etching;
• Enjoys exploring the boundaries of the field;
• Works well independently and with others, shows initiative and has team spirit;
• Has good interpersonal skills;
• Is fluent in either English or Dutch. Proficiency in both is considered favorably.

Work environment
AMOLF is an institute of the NWO-I Foundation and initiates and conducts leading fundamental research on new, strategically important complex molecule and material systems, in collaboration with Dutch universities and industry. AMOLF is located at the Amsterdam Science Park and employs approximately 140 scientists and 70 support staff. For more information, see www.amolf.nl.

The AMOLF NanoLab Amsterdam is a facility for fabrication and research into structures down to the nanoscale. The cleanroom facility is located in AMOLF's modern laboratory and features a large number of state-of-the-art devices. See also www.amolf.nl/nanolab.

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is for 40 hours per week and an employment contract for two years, with the intention of subsequently offering permanent employment.
• The position is classified in the scale 8 or 9, with a maximum of € 4.993,00 gross per month (depending on your education and experience), plus a holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus.
• The secondary benefits are excellent.
• Training on the job and following external courses are an integral part of the position.

More information?
For further information about the position, please contact :

Isabelle Palstra

AMOLF NanoLab Amsterdam

E-mail: i.palstra@amolf.nl

Tel.: 020-754 7100

Application
Are you interested in this position? Then apply before 01/03/2025 via the button below.

Online screening may be part of the selection procedure.

Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.

PhD-position: Quantum acoustics for enabling silicon quantum technology

Work Activities
The Photonic Forces group at AMOLF is looking for a PhD student to join our team working on nanomechanical systems in the quantum regime. Our group is fascinated by the ability of light to measure and control mechanical motion in new and powerful ways. In a new project, in collaboration with multiple European partners, we seek to investigate how phonons in mechanical resonators and waveguides can be used to mediate the coupling between silicon spin qubits. Such qubits are known to have exceptional coherence times. This, together with the advanced capabilities of silicon technology, make them an appealing platform for quantum computing and sensing. In this project, you will develop novel nanomechanical systems which could couple such qubits to each other, thereby addressing one of the main physical bottlenecks towards advancing this platform.

The project is at the interface of multiple fields: quantum physics, nano-engineering, and optomechanics. It has a highly experimental character, but features strong ties to the rich theoretical background.

Our group offers an open and collaborative environment in which we focus on hands-on learning and personal growth of all group members. We are looking for excited and talented students, who are eager to develop new skills and engage new experimental and theoretical challenges.

The fact that mechanical motion can couple to various types of forces makes it interesting to use acoustic waves at the nanoscale to mediate quantum information between different quantum systems. We aim to use state-of-art design and fabrication techniques to confine phonons to the smallest possible scales, and optimize their coupling to spin qubits in silicon. We involve optomechanical coupling and high-precision optical measurements to characterize our systems.

During your PhD, you will thus learn and employ all aspects of quantum acoustics research: from conceptual design and modelling to nanofabrication in the cleanroom, and from high-precision optical interferometry at cryogenic temperatures to writing papers and presenting your results at international conferences. You will collaborate closely with our project partners in Finland, on design and experiments.

Qualifications
We seek an excellent candidate with a background in physics or nano-engineering, with relevant experience (preferably in quantum optics, photonics, (nano)mechanics or general AMO physics). You will need to meet the requirements for an MSc-degree, to ensure eligibility for a Dutch PhD examination. We strongly believe in the benefits of an inclusive and diverse workplace, and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Work environment
The Photonic Forces team led by prof. Ewold Verhagen studies light-matter interactions at the nanoscale. We investigate the fundamental physics associated with such interactions, which are enhanced through optical field confinement in tailored nanophotonic systems, as well as the applications they allow. In particular, we study new ways to control both light and motion down to the quantum level in optomechanical systems. All projects in the group involve the use and development of advanced optical measurement techniques and nanofabrication, with extensive support from the group leader and AMOLF technical staff. Within the group as well as among the different groups at AMOLF, we have a strong focus on stimulating development of students in all professional aspects, as well as collaborations with other researchers at AMOLF and beyond. We strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment where passion and enjoyment of science can shine. For more information, see www.optomechanics.nl and www.amolf.nl.

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is intended as full-time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) for the duration of four years
• The starting salary is 2.781 Euro’s gross per month and a range of employment benefits.
• After successful completion of the PhD research a PhD degree will be granted at Eindhoven University of Technology.
• Several courses are offered, specially developed for PhD-students.
• AMOLF assists any new foreign PhD-student with housing and visa applications and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

More information?
Prof.dr. Ewold Verhagen
Group leader Photonic Forces
E-mail: verhagen@amolf.nl
Phone: +31 (0)20-754 7100

Application
You can respond to this vacancy online via the button below.
Please annex your:

• Resume;
• Motivation on why you want to join the group (max. 1 page).

It is important to us to know why you want to join our team. This means that we will only consider your application if it entails your motivation letter.

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis and as soon as an excellent match is made, the position will be filled.

Online screening may be part of the selection.

Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

Commercial activities in response to this ad are not appreciated.