15 PhD positions in the MSCA Doctoral Network QUEST - Educating tomorrow’s European researchers in silicon quantum electrodynamics at the deep nanoscale Technical University of Denmark in Denmark

15 PhD positions are available in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network QUEST (Quantum Electrodynamics with Silicon Nanotechnology), a Horizon Europe MSCA-funded training network focused on next-generation quantum technologies at the deep nanoscale.

The project brings together leading European universities, research institutes, and innovative companies to train doctoral candidates in complementary areas including semiconductor materials, nanofabrication, quantum photonics, quantum electrodynamics, advanced characterization, cavity optomechanics, and theoretical modelling. The research aims to design and fabricate optical nanocavities with extreme light confinement, embed color centers, and explore electromechanical tuning and silicon-based quantum light-matter interactions.

The 15 doctoral projects are distributed across several institutions in Europe, including the Technical University of Denmark, Johannes Kepler University, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Lizard Photonics APS, Max Planck Society, Université Paris 13, University of Barcelona, European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy, and Humboldt University of Berlin. At DTU Electro, the positions are associated with research in quantum optical measurements, extreme light-matter interaction, silicon quantum electrodynamics, and silicon optomechanics.

Project themes include epitaxial silicon materials, isotopic engineering of color centres, tunable bowtie cavities, surface effects in optomechanics, electron-light interaction in photonic nanostructures, Casimir-Polder force measurements, cavity QED experiments with molecular gases, nonlinear optomechanics, single-emitter phononic engineering, numerical simulations of particles in electromagnetic fields, fluctuation-induced phenomena, and dissipative nanomechanical resonators.

Applicants should hold a Master Degree or equivalent in Engineering or a related area. The opportunity is intended for first-stage researchers (PhD candidates) and is part of a structured doctoral training environment across multiple countries and partner institutions.

The position is funded through the EU Research Framework Programme, Horizon Europe - MSCA. A total of 15 PhD positions are available, and the exact application deadline varies by individual job advertisement; applicants must consult the project website and the relevant DC-specific postings for the correct deadline and application instructions.

To apply, candidates should visit the QUEST project website, identify the specific doctoral candidate position(s) of interest, and follow the instructions in the relevant advert. The main project website is https://quest.dtu.dk/.