INTRODUCTION

The group of Prof. Enrique Solano (http://tp.lc.ehu.es/qist/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19), at Univ. of the Basque Country (Bilbao, Spain) seeks to appoint a PhD student in Physics financed by EU FP7-People Marie Curie Initial Training Network Circuit and Cavity Quantum Electrodynamics (CCQED): http://www.ccqed.eu. The PhD subject will be on theoretical studies in propagating quantum microwaves through transmission lines, containing superconducting qubits, in quantum optics and circuit quantum electrodynamics for quantum information technologies.

Furthermore, you will actively contribute to CCQED by bridging two renowned disciplines in physics, namely the quantum electrodynamics of atoms interacting with light in resonators, and the field of solid-state superconducting circuits. You will link fundamental to applied science, participate in conferences and establish bonds between theory and experiment. The position will be open until the candidate is found.
www.ccqed.eu

DESCRIPTION

Cavity QED and circuit QED, the first inside quantum optics and the second in condensed matter physics, are considered among the most advanced quantum platforms for the study of fundamentals in quantum physics and potential applications in quantum information technologies. The first proof-of-principle demonstrations in quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum computing, have been already achieved. However, while propagating quantum optical fields have been fully studied in quantum optics, the microwave domain has only emerged recently in the context of circuit QED with unprecedented possibilities, be for the quantum control of qubits/fields or for developing quantum information networks with microwave photons and superconducting circuits. The goal of this PhD thesis is to study this novel research line in the wide interdisciplinary scope of quantum optics, condensed matter, and quantum information technologies. The group of Prof. Enrique Solano (http://tp.lc.ehu.es/qist/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19) has a long-standing experience and a large number of important contributions in the related fields, and will support the PhD to achieve the proposed scientific goals in a friendly, multicultural, international, competitive, and scientific environment.
The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) is a teaching and research institution officially founded in 1985. The university employs over 7.000 people throughout 31 faculties and schools geographically distributed in three campuses with over 50,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The UPV/EHU is the Spanish University offering the highest number of degrees, one third of these degrees having a quality mention from the Spanish Ministry of Education. The UPV/EHU has been also recognised as an International Excellence Research Campus by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
Since the first Research Framework Programmes, the UPV/EHU has been very active and has participated in over 40 projects from the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6), leading 2 of them, mainly in the Activity Area 3 (NMP) and Activity area 2 (IST) and Activity area 1 (Health). With regards to the seventh Framework Programme (FP7) the UPV/EHU participates in 53 projects, coordinating 12 of them and is the beneficiary of two Starting Grant, and an Advanced Grant, accounting with more than 15 million Euro of FP7 financing. It also participates in 5 Initial Training Networks (coordinating one) 7 Individual Fellowships and 1 International Research Exchange Programme (IRSES).
Bilbao, where UPV/EHU is located, is a lively and enjoyable city with a well connected international airport, with an impressive dense cultural agenda throughout the year, with many indoor and outdoor sport facilities, and an uncountable number of astonishing surroundings inside the Basque Country and other Spanish regions.

RESEARCH FIELDS

Physics - Quantum mechanics
Physics - Optics
Physics - Solid state physics

PERSONAL BENEFITS

PhD degree in an international and competitive environment.
Network benefits:
You will be an integrant part of 10 research European centres and 3 companies representing the cutting edge of research in the quantum electrodynamics of fundamental systems. The network received outstanding ranking and is committed to provide you with the best development of your career in academia or in the private sector. www.ccqed.eu
Marie Curie FP7-People ITN benefits:
Marie Curie Fellows will enjoy benefits of full social security, health insurance, pension, parental leave, etc. Competitive monthly living and mobility allowance, yearly travel allowance, a career exploratory allowance, and coverage of the expenses related to your participation in research and training activities (contribution to research-related costs, meetings, conference attendance, training actions, etc.).
http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/careers_en.htm

ELIGIBILITY

PHD: The applicant will be required to satisfy the eligibility criteria for Marie Curie PhD students:
At the time of selection the candidate does not have a PhD title.
The researcher may not have resided or carried out his/her main activity in Spain for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her appointment. Short stays such as holidays are not taken into account.

APPLY:
The applicants should send to Prof. Enrique Solano, via e-mail to enrique_solano@ehu.es, a full CV including relevant diploma certificates, a one-page letter of motivation, and the name of 2-3 scientists for references. The applicants should make sure that at least two recommendation letters are also sent, as soon as possible, via e-mail to Prof. Solano. For informal inquiry write to the e-mail above and/or call to +34-946012530. Note that CCQED is committed to hire more than 40% of women with appropriate qualifications.