PhD position: Controlling plasmons with photonic crystals 2009/2010

PhD position: Controlling plasmons with photonic crystals
Amsterdam, 1009 DB, (Noord-Holland), 40 hours per week Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter

Job description
There is currently a fast-growing interest in ‘plasmonic’ systems, where light is confined with metallic nanostructures. Due to the strong interaction of the nanostructures and the light field, novel properties arise, called surface plasmons. These are vigorously pursued with the goal to realize ultimate-small optical integrated circuits, or highly sensitive sensors for medicine and biology.

While plasmons have many exciting optical properties, they have a propagation length (or lifetime) that is limited, notably by radiative losses. Therefore, we wish to control plasmonic properties by modifying the environment of the whole plasmonic system. To this end, we will place the plasmonic system inside a photonic crystal. Photonic crystals have a demonstrated ability to control radiative lifetimes of matter such as quantum dots and dye molecules, as pioneered by our group (Nature 430 (2004) 654; Phys. Rev. B 75 (2007) 115302). So, will you be the matchmaker between plasmonics and photonic crystals?
The PhD student will devise and perform optical experiments, and interpret results using modern theory. We also expect a PhD student to supervise undergraduate students in our group. Your research initiatives will be strongly appreciated. This research project is part of the FOM programme Plasmonics, in collaboration with several Dutch University teams.
The research is conducted in a group of enthusiastic young people and inspiring colleagues. We use state-of-the-art optical facilities including tuneable ultrafast lasers and advanced photonic materials.

Requirements
University Graduate
The successful candidate is an experimental scientist who holds a masters degree in physics or physical chemistry, preferably with experience in photonic crystals, nanophotonics or advanced optics. The successful candidate interacts easily with scientists from various disciplines and institutes.

Organization
Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter
The Photonic Bandgap Group (PBG) strives to perform world-class research on light propagation and spontaneous emission in photonic crystals. We combine advanced optical experiments with the development of photonic nanostructures and with a deep theoretical understanding of the properties of light. In 2004 we have pioneered experiments wherein both the direction and time of light emission are controlled, and we have been the first to optically switch photonic band gaps at ultrafast times, in 2007. Our curiosity-driven research is of interest to several industrial partners, and to applications in biophysics. Our group’s research is performed in the Center for Nanophotonics at the FOM Institute AMOLF in Amsterdam. We closely collaborate with the group Complex Photonic Systems at the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente.

Conditions of employment
Estimated maximum salary per month: eur 2000 - 2500

Maximum salary amount in Euro’s a month 2457
Employment basis: Temporary for specified period
Duration of the contract: 4 year
Maximum hours per week: 40

Additional conditions of employment:
When fulfilling a PhD position at the FOM foundation, you will get the status of junior scientist.
You will have an employee status and can participate in all the employee benefits FOM offers. You will get a contract for 4 years. Your salary will be up to a maximum of 2457 euro gross per month.
You are supposed to have a thesis finished at the end of your four year term with FOM.
A training programme is part of the agreement. You and your supervisor will make up a plan for the additional education and supervising that you specifically need. This plan also defines which teaching activities you will be responsible (up to a maximum of 10% of your time). The conditions of employment of the FOM-foundation are laid down in the Collective Labour Agreement for Research Centres (CAO-Onderzoekinstellingen), more exclusive information is available at this website under Personeelsinformatie (in Dutch) or under Personnel (in English).

Additional Information
Additional information about the vacancy can be obtained from:

Prof.dr. Willem L. Vos
Telephone number: +31 (0)20 608 12 34
E-mail address: w.l.vos@amolf.nl

Or additional information can be obtained through one of the following links.

* About the organization: http://cops.tnw.utwente.nl/
* About the function: http://www.fom.nl/live/vacatures/vacature.pag?objectnumber=84448

Application
You can apply for this job before 30-04-2009 by sending your application to:

FOM-Institute AMOLF
Personnel dept.
Postbus 41883
1009 DB Amsterdam
The Netherlands
E-mail address: application@amolf.nl

Please quote vacancy # 0810.46
Please send your:
- Resume;
- Motivation on why you want to join the group (max. 1 page). Applications without this motivation will not be taken into account.

However, with this motivation your application will receive our full attention.

When applying for this job always mention the vacancy number AT-84448.

The short URL code for this job opening is: 00403-156.
You can use this as a direct link to the job by adding the code to the URL www.academictransfer.org/