Field, expectations, comments

The competition is open to persons who meet the conditions set out in Article 113 of the Act of 20 July 2018 - Law on higher education and science (Journal of Laws of 2018, item 1668) and the following qualification criteria: 1. Required: Ph.D. in physics or a closely related field 2. Required: publication record in atomic/molecular physics, spectroscopic techniques or similar, 3. Required: experience in experimental techniques (at least two of the listed) related to: laser stabilization, ultra-high vacuum, electronics, optical systems, fiber-optic systems, laser cooling of atoms or ions, optical traps, laser spectroscopy 4. Required: good command of English (spoken and written). 5. Preferred: experience in atomic/molecular quantum theory and calculations 6. Preferred: programming skills and experience in numerical methods. 7. Ability to work in a team and strong motivation for scientific work.

We offer employment at the position of assistant professor (postdoc position) in a research group in a project funded by the National Science Center, Poland within Sonata Bis 13. The candidate must meet requirements of the National Science Center, in particular have a doctoral degree obtained not earlier than 7 years before the year of employment in the project (this period may be extended in the event of breaks in the scientific career as defined by the Center). A person employed at the postdoc position cannot be employed under another employment contract at the same time.

Project description

The main goal of the project “Superradiant Optical Atomic Clock” is to create a new experimental platform for an active superradiant optical atomic clock with cold strontium atoms to study cavity quantum electrodynam-ics (cavity QED) and fundamental physics. The long-term goal is to construct the world’s first continuous-operation active optical atomic clock based on superradiance. This is a new approach to the optical atomic clock, not yet realized experimentally, which involves the direct use of light emitted from atoms on the clock transition. To increase the speed of photon emission from an extremely long-lived atomic level, the phenome-non of superradiance will be utilized. To create the conditions for superradiance, atoms will be cooled to tem-peratures of a few microkelvins and placed in an optical lattice inside a high-finesse optical cavity. The con-struction of such a superradiant atomic clock would overcome the current limitations of “classical” optical clocks and increase clock sensitivity by orders of magnitude. This would have direct applications in fundamen-tal physics research and quantum metrology.

Key responsibilities include: 1) construction of an experimental setup for studying superradiance in an optical cavity with ultra-cold strontium atoms (UHV vacuum systems, optical cavities, manipulation of cold atoms, laser systems, etc.) 2) scientific research using active and passive optical atomic clocks 3) writing scientific publications 4) supporting students and PhD candidates involved in the project

Skills/Qualifications: • a PhD degree in physical sciences or a closely related discipline, or a statement of planned PhD completion (a PhD degree is required before starting the job). • a publication record in the field of atomic/molecular physics, spectroscopic techniques, or similar. • experience in experimental techniques (at least two of the following) related to: laser stabilization, ultra-high vacuum, electronics, optical systems, fiber-optic systems, laser cooling of atoms or ions, optical traps, laser spectroscopy. • good command of English, both spoken and written. • ability to work in a team. • problem-solving skills, as well as written and oral communication and presentation skills.

Preferred: • experience in atomic/molecular quantum theory and calculations. • programming skills and experience in numerical methods.

We offer: • position in professional, dynamically developing team, recognizable in its field of research, • possibility of conferences attending and short visits, • collaboration with the best optical atomic clock teams, • no teaching duties

Remuneration amount: 140 000 PLN/year gross (full remuneration cost, including full social security and health insurance), approximate amount of net salary 7 300,00 PLN/month.

Full-time employment. Period of contract: 12 months with an option to extend up (even up to 4 years) Position starts in: May-June 2025

Job status: Full-time Hours per week: 40 hour / week Project leader: PhD Marcin Bober Project title: „Superradiant optical lattice clock”

Required documents:

• Personal questionnaire for the person applying for employment (download here)
• Professional curriculum vitae
• Copy of higher education diploma
• Declaration of consent to the processing of personal data contained in the job offer for the needs of the recruitment process, in accordance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of The Council od 27 April 2016 (L119/1) (download here)
• Declaration under art. 113 ust. 1 ustawy Prawo o szkolnictwie wyższym (o niekaralności) (Art. Paragraph 113 (1) of the Higher Education Act (of no criminal record)) (download here)
• Declaration that Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń will be my primary employer once I have won the contest (download here)
• At least one (max three) reference letter(s)
• A cover letter including a description of scientific motivation, a description of research interests, and a publication list (addressed to Professor Andrzej Tretyn, Rector of the Nicolaus Copernicus University)
• Copy of higher education diploma
• Copy of doctorate certificate or statement about planned finalization of PhD (it’s required to receive a PhD degree before starting the work),

Additional information: Please submit the documents to: karolina.kitkowska@umk.pl (scanned or pdf versions will be accepted). Please provide the original documents to the project leaders in case of a successful application. Please submit the aforementioned documents to karolina.kitkowska@umk.pl with annotation “Postdoc Sonata Bis.13.02” (offer no. 4632) in the subject field before 25.03.2025. We reserve the right not to select any candidates. The project leader reserves the right to interview selected candidates. The applicants will be contacted for an interview to schedule a time. Application deadline: 25.03.2025 The contest will be adjudicated no later than 30.04.2025 The university does not provide accommodation. NCU declares the right not to choose any candidate.

Please be informed that the person selected through the competition will be obliged to submit a certificate from the National Criminal Register with regard to offences specified in Chapters 19 and 25 of the Penal Code (including offences against sexual freedom and morality), in Article 189a and Article 207 of the Penal Code and in the Act on Counteracting Drug Addiction of 29 July 2005 (Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1939 and of 2022, item 2600), or for the corresponding offences defined in foreign law. The obligation to verify applies to a person whose tasks will be related to the protected activity referred to in Article 21. of the Act of 13 May 2016 on counteracting the threat of sexual offences and the protection of minors (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 560).

Pursuant to art. 24 paragraph 6 of the Act of June 14, 2024 on the protection of whistleblowers (Journal of Laws of 2024, item 928), information on the internal reporting procedure at the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń is available at: https://www.umk.pl/en/contact/internal-reporting/