Dr. Yonder Berencen Tel.: +49 351 260 3137

Job-Id: 2026/109 (2282)

At HZDR, we promote and value diversity among our employees. We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds regardless of gender, ethnic and social origin, belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation. Severely disabled persons are given preference in the event of equal suitability.

Helmholtz-Zentrum

PhD Student (f/m/d) Silicon Quantum Photonics

With cutting-edge research in the fields of ENERGY, HEALTH and MATTER, around 1,500 employees from more than 70 nations at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are committed to mastering the great challenges facing society today.

The Institute for Ion Beam Physics and Materials Research is dedicated to the study of materials and their nanostructures that can be considered for future applications in information technology and are based on electrical, magnetic or optical functionalities.

The Department of Semiconductor Materials is looking for a PhD Student (f/m/d) Silicon Quantum Photonics.

The doctoral candidate will join the Quantum Photonics & Optoelectronics Group at HZDR and contribute to the development of deterministic quantum emitters for silicon quantum photonics.

Your tasks

• Develop deterministic methods for the creation and isotopic engineering of silicon C-centers and evaluate their optical and spin properties using advanced optical spectroscopy techniques
• Isolate single C-centers created by combining molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) with ion implantation, and comprehensively characterize their optical, spin, and photophysical properties through confocal spectroscopy, optically detected spin measurements, photon-correlation measurements, and complementary single-emitter characterization techniques
• Integrate deterministic quantum emitters into silicon nanophotonic structures and investigate their optical properties and light-matter interactions
• Present research results at international conferences and publish in leading scientific journals
• Participate actively in network-wide training events, outreach activities, and interdisciplinary collaborations within QUEST

Your profile

• Completed university studies (Master or Diploma) in the field of Physics, Electrical Engineering, Quantum Engineering or related field
• Experience or a strong interest in one or more of the following areas is desirable:
• Quantum optics and photonics
• Semiconductor materials and device physics
• Semiconductor processing and ion implantation
• Nanofabrication and cleanroom technologies
• Optical spectroscopy
• Programming and scientific data analysis (e.g. Python, MATLAB)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• The ability to work both independently and as part of an international interdisciplinary team
• Enthusiasm for experimental research and scientific discovery
• Excellent communication and organizational skills
• Excellent written and spoken English

Our offer

• A vibrant research community in an open, diverse and international work environment
• Scientific excellence and extensive professional networking opportunities
• A structured PhD program with a comprehensive range of continuing education and networking opportunities - more information about the PhD program at the HZDR can be found here
• Salary in accordance with the EU MSCA regulations for Doctoral Researchers (page 118ff) - MSCA regulations
• We support a good work-life balance with the possibility of part-time employment, mobile working and flexible working hours
• Numerous company health management offerings
• Employee discounts with well-known providers via the platform Corporate Benefits

Additional information

The successful candidate will become part of an international research environment and will complete planned secondments at the Johannes Kepler University Linz (Austria) to gain expertise in the epitaxial growth of isotopically enriched silicon and deterministic engineering of C-centers with nanometer-scale position control and also at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to receive advanced training in nanophotonic cavity design, photonic device integration, and advanced optical characterization.

The candidate will be registered as a doctoral student at Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden). The EU Mobility Rule applies. That is, the candidate must not have resided or carried out her/his main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the host country (in this case Germany) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service, short stays such as holidays, and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not taken into account.

We look forward to receiving your application documents (including cover letter, CV, diplomas/transcripts, etc.), which you can submit via our online-application-system.