Doctoral and Postdoctoral Positions in Hybrid Magnonics-Photonics for Quantum Transduction, Aalto University (Espoo, Finland)

Job Description

These PhD and postdoc positions in quantum transduction at Aalto University are in the Nanomagnetism and Spintronics group of the Department of Applied Physics, on a project that couples superconducting qubits, magnons and photoluminescent spin ions on one chip, using magnons to link the microwave and optical domains (requisition R48145).

At a glance

• Positions: Doctoral Researchers (PhD students) and Postdoctoral Researchers; number not stated
• Where: Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University, Otaniemi, Espoo
• Pay: Doctoral researchers from €3,142.65 a month gross; postdocs €4,229.48 to €4,649.25 a month gross, depending on experience
• Duration: PhD: 2 years plus 2 after a midterm review; postdoc: 2 years, extendable
• Apply: 23 October 2026

What the quantum transduction PhD and postdoc positions cover

• Topic 1: high-Q superconducting microwave cavities (Nb and NbN) on garnet substrates, coupled to transmon qubits and magnons in 3D vector magnetic fields, working towards entanglement between a qubit and a single magnon
• Topic 2: substituted garnet films grown by pulsed laser deposition, atomic layer deposition and liquid-phase epitaxy, structured into integrated high-Q optical cavities where spin ions and magnons couple strongly, with a two-photon-lithography fibre-to-chip coupler for millikelvin operation, aiming at efficient microwave-to-optical conversion
• Topic 3: a cryogenic imaging platform based on multimode-fibre holography and wavefront shaping, extended to spatially resolved telecom-band photoluminescence with single-photon detection, for optical readout of single spin ions
• Postdocs are expected to lead a topic and support the doctoral researchers

Why this role matters

Superconducting quantum computers speak microwave and fibre networks speak optical, and converting single quanta between the two efficiently is one of the unsolved problems in building quantum networks. This project tries magnons as the bridge, with three topics that cover microwave circuits, integrated optics and cryogenic fibre imaging. An applicant from optics or photonics can join without a superconducting-circuits background.

What Aalto University is looking for

• An excellent record in one or more of magnonics, magnetism, quantum technology, superconducting circuits, optics and photonics, or materials science; no one is expected to cover every area
• For doctoral researchers: an MSc in physics or another suitable field
• For postdocs: a PhD in physics or a related discipline, or close to completing one
• Good spoken and written English and a demonstrated ability to disseminate results (mandatory); Finnish is not required

Pay and location

Aalto follows the Finnish university salary system. Doctoral researchers start at €3,142.65 a month gross, rising as they progress; postdoctoral researchers start at €4,229.48 to €4,649.25 a month gross, depending on experience. Contracts include occupational healthcare. The lab has pulsed laser and atomic layer deposition, VNA-FMR, time-resolved MOKE microscopy, tunable C-band lasers, an optical cryostat with a 3D vector magnet and a 30 mK adiabatic demagnetisation refrigerator, plus access to the OtaNano cleanroom. The post is in Espoo, Finland.

How to apply

Apply through the official Aalto University page. The closing date is 23 October 2026. Send one PDF, in English, through Aalto’s recruitment site: a motivation letter naming the position and the topic or topics you are applying for, a CV with publications, degree certificates and transcripts, and contact details for at least two referees. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews may start before the deadline. The contacts named on the ad are Dr. Lukáš Flajšman and Prof. Sebastiaan van Dijken.

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