PhD scholarship in Experimental Quantum-Optical Characterization of Quantum Light Sources - DTU Electro

Are you eager to contribute to the development of tomorrow’s quantum technologies? 

We are searching for a talented and motivated PhD candidate to develop and characterize novel sources of quantum light for optical quantum computers.

The project takes place in the Quantum Light Sources group at DTU Electro, where we design, model, fabricate and test sources of single photons or entangled photon pairs. These are essential components for optical quantum computers and quantum networks, where one bit of information is encoded in the quantum state of a single photon. You will be part of a team of 10-12 people between senior staff, PostDocs and PhD/Master students that are trying to establish the indispensable building blocks for the quantum technology of tomorrow.

Responsibilities and qualifications
You overall focus will be to fabricate single-photon emitters and characterize them in our quantum-optical laboratory. You will work with quantum emitters in layered transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), such as WSe2 and MoTe2, and on semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) of the III-V group, such as GaAs and InGaAs.

The primary tasks will be to:

• Build optical setups for device characterization at cryogenic temperatures.
• Perform spectroscopy and optical imaging of quantum emitters.
• Perform advanced coherent excitation of individual emitters with picosecond laser pulses.
• Perform quantum-optical characterization of your devices, for example by testing the single-photon purity in a Hanbury-Brown and Twiss experiment, or the single-photon  indistinguishability in a Hong-Ou-Mandel experiment.
• Present you results to the group and engage in discussions with the theoretical team.
• Co-supervise BSc and MSc student projects.

Our quantum optics laboratory has state-of-the-art equipment for quantum-optical characterization, including closed-cycle cryostats with nanopositioners, tunable femtosecond laser system, spectrometer, and superconducting single-photon detectors. You will have access to DTU’s cleanroom facilities as well as to a home-built transfer stage equipped with imaging tools.

You will work in close collaboration with our theoretical team. Your experiments will test and challenge the predictions of our theoretical models.

As part of the Danish PhD program, you will also take PhD courses, participate in teaching, conduct an external research stay, and disseminate your research through publications.

Qualifications
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

Approval and Enrolment 
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education. 

Assessment
The assessment of the candidates will be made by Assoc. Prof. Luca Vannucci and Assoc. Prof. Battulga Munkhbat.

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. 

The period of employment is 3 years. Starting date is 1 September 2026 (or according to mutual agreement). The position is a full-time position.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Assoc. Prof. Luca Vannucci, lucav@dtu.dk.

You can read more about DTU Electro at www.electro.dtu.dk.

For specific information on the Quantum Light Sources group, see also https://electro.dtu.dk/research/research-areas/nanophotonics/quantum-light-sources.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 April 2026 (23:59 Danish time). Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply now", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A list of publications (if relevant)
• One reference letter, from e.g. your MSc supervisor.

You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering (DTU Electro) has nearly 300 employees of which around 200 research different aspects of photonics. Research is performed within nanophotonics, photonic nanotechnology, lasers, quantum photonics, optical sensors, LEDs, photovoltaics, ultra-high speed optical transmission systems, and bio-photonics.  

DTU – For the benefit of society since 1829
DTU is one of Europe's leading elite technical universities. Through research and education at an international top level, we create solutions to the major societal challenges of our time and help secure Europe's global leadership in sustainable technological development. Since Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU almost 200 years ago, our mission has remained the same: We develop and create value through the natural and technical sciences for the benefit of society. DTU has 13,800 students, 1,600 PhD students, and 6,500 employees. We work in an international environment and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal work culture. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.