Markus Aspelmeyer

The University of Vienna invites applications for a PhD position in the Aspelmeyer group, Faculty of Physics, focusing on the interface between quantum physics and gravity. This four-year, well-funded position offers the opportunity to explore fundamental and applied aspects of macroscopic quantum coherence in levitated solid-state platforms. The research addresses foundational questions such as how quantum objects gravitate, the limits of pushing massive objects into the quantum regime, and precision measurement of gravity in microscopic systems. As a member of the Aspelmeyer group, you will join the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics, and Quantum Information team, which is part of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ) and the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA). The group’s main activities include quantum optical control of levitated solid-state objects, investigation of their quantum properties for both fundamental research and novel technology platforms, and precision measurements of ultra-weak gravitational forces. The research aims to maximize mass, delocalization, and coherence time in quantum experiments, and to isolate gravity from other interactions at microscopic scales. The position involves active participation in research, teaching, and administration. You will work on a specific project focused on quantum entanglement in levitated solid-state platforms, present your research plan to the faculty, and complete a dissertation agreement within 12–18 months. You are expected to work independently and collaboratively, contribute to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes), and assist with administrative tasks. Outreach through publications, conference presentations, and public engagement is encouraged. Eligibility requires a completed Master’s degree or Diploma in physics, with an excellent academic record. Experience in academic writing is essential. Preferred candidates will have a background in experimental quantum optics, opto-mechanics, and optical levitation, as well as familiarity with advanced experimental tools such as homodyne and heterodyne detection and programming. Proficiency in written and spoken English is required. The University of Vienna offers an inspiring international academic environment, excellent public transport connections, and opportunities for professional development through the Vienna Doctoral School and over 600 free training courses. The basic salary is EUR 3,714.80 per month (full-time, 14x p.a.), with increases for credited professional experience. The contract is for four years, initially limited to 1.5 years, with automatic extension unless a non-extension declaration is submitted within the first 12 months. The university is committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and the advancement of women, especially in leadership roles. Qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply, and preference will be given to female candidates with equal qualifications. Application deadline is November 28, 2025. For content-related questions, contact Professor Markus Aspelmeyer at [email protected]. Apply online via the University of Vienna job portal.

The University of Vienna invites applications for a PhD position as University Assistant (pre-doctoral) in the Faculty of Physics, starting May 1, 2026. This four-year, well-funded position is part of the Aspelmeyer group, renowned for pioneering research at the interface of quantum physics and gravity. The group is embedded within the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics, and Quantum Information group, and is a member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ) and the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), offering access to one of Europe’s largest quantum research hubs. Research in the Aspelmeyer group focuses on quantum optical control of levitated solid-state objects, exploring their quantum properties for both fundamental questions and novel quantum technology platforms. The group conducts precision measurements of ultra-weak gravitational forces, investigates motional quantum states of solids, and studies gravitational phenomena of miniature source masses. The overarching goal is to advance understanding of the gravity-quantum interface through innovative table-top experiments. As a PhD candidate, you will contribute to a well-funded research project centered on quantum entanglement in levitated solid-state platforms. You will develop and present a research plan to the faculty, complete a dissertation agreement within 12–18 months, and work towards timely completion of your dissertation. The role requires independence, teamwork, and social awareness, as well as contributions to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes) and administrative tasks. Outreach activities, including publications, conference presentations, and public engagement, are also expected. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or Diploma in physics, with a thesis in experimental quantum optics, quantum entanglement, or quantum control. Experience in academic writing is highly desirable. A strong background in experimental quantum optics, opto-mechanics, and optical levitation is required, along with familiarity with advanced experimental tools (homodyne and heterodyne detection, programming). Excellent written and spoken English is essential. The position offers a basic salary of EUR 3,776.10 (40h/week, 14x per annum), with increases for credited professional experience. Employment is initially limited to 1.5 years, automatically extended to 4 years unless terminated within the first 12 months. The University of Vienna provides a supportive, international academic environment, excellent public transport connections, and extensive opportunities for professional development through the Vienna Doctoral School and Department of Human Resources. To apply, submit your scientific CV, summary of academic and research achievements, statement of research interests, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates, and abstract of your Master’s thesis via the application link. For content questions, contact Professor Markus Aspelmeyer at [email protected]. The University of Vienna is committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and the advancement of women, and encourages qualified female candidates to apply. Application deadline: May 4, 2026.

The University of Vienna invites applications for a PhD Candidate (University Assistant, Praedoc) position in the Faculty of Physics, starting May 1, 2026. This four-year, well-funded position is part of the Aspelmeyer group, renowned for pioneering research at the interface of quantum physics and gravity. The group is embedded within the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics, and Quantum Information cluster, and is a member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ) and the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), offering a vibrant research environment with access to over 100 quantum scientists on site and 300 quantum researchers in Vienna. Research in the Aspelmeyer group focuses on fundamental questions such as: "How does a quantum object gravitate?", "How far can we push massive objects into the quantum regime?", and "How well can we measure gravity of microscopic systems?" The group explores macroscopic quantum coherence in levitated solid-state platforms, quantum optical control, and precision measurements of ultra-weak gravitational forces. The successful candidate will contribute to developing new ideas, technologies, and experiments to advance understanding of the gravity-quantum interface, with a particular emphasis on quantum entanglement in levitated solid-state systems. As a university assistant (praedoc), you will actively participate in research, teaching, and administration. Responsibilities include presenting a research plan to the faculty, completing a dissertation agreement within 12–18 months (reviewed annually), working independently and collaboratively towards dissertation completion, contributing to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes), and supporting group administration. Outreach activities such as publications, conference presentations, and public engagement are also expected. Applicants must hold a Master's degree or Diploma in physics, with a thesis in experimental quantum optics, quantum entanglement, or quantum control. Experience in academic writing is highly desirable. Candidates should have a solid background in experimental quantum optics, opto-mechanics, and optical levitation, and be familiar with advanced experimental tools (homodyne and heterodyne detection, programming). Excellent written and spoken English is required. The University of Vienna offers an inspiring international academic environment, excellent public transport connections, and opportunities for professional development through the Vienna Doctoral School and Department of Human Resources (over 600 free courses). The basic salary is EUR 3,776.10 (40h/week, 14x per annum), with increases for credited professional experience. The contract is initially limited to 1.5 years, with automatic extension to 4 years unless terminated within the first 12 months. The university is committed to equal opportunities, diversity, and the advancement of women, with preference given to equally qualified female candidates. To apply, submit your scientific CV, summary of academic and research achievements, statement of research interests, Bachelor's and Master's degree certificates, and abstract of your Master's thesis via the University of Vienna job portal. For content questions, contact Professor Markus Aspelmeyer at [email protected]. The application deadline is April 5, 2026. Join a leading European quantum research hub and contribute to cutting-edge experiments at the intersection of quantum physics and gravity!

The University of Vienna invites applications for a PhD Candidate (University Assistant, predoctoral) in the Faculty of Physics, starting May 1, 2026. This four-year position is part of the Aspelmeyer group, renowned for pioneering research at the interface of quantum physics and gravity. The group is embedded within the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics, and Quantum Information cluster, and is a member of the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ) and the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA), offering a vibrant research environment with access to over 100 quantum scientists and 300 quantum researchers in Vienna. Research in the Aspelmeyer group focuses on fundamental questions such as: "How does a quantum object gravitate?", "How far can we push massive objects into the quantum regime?", and "How well can we measure gravity of microscopic systems?" The successful candidate will contribute to developing new ideas, technologies, and experiments to advance macroscopic quantum physics, gravity at small scales, and the phenomenology of the gravity-quantum interface in table-top experiments. The main research activities include quantum optical control of levitated solid-state objects, exploration of their quantum properties for fundamental questions and novel quantum technology platforms, and precision measurements of ultra-weak gravitational forces. As a university assistant (praedoc), you will actively participate in research, teaching, and administration. You will be involved in a well-funded research project focused on quantum entanglement in levitated solid-state platforms. Responsibilities include presenting your research plan to the faculty, completing a dissertation agreement within 12-18 months (reviewed annually), working independently and collaboratively towards dissertation completion, contributing to teaching (lab courses, exercise classes), and supporting group administration. Outreach activities such as publications, conference presentations, and public engagement are also expected. Applicants must have completed a Master's degree or Diploma in physics, with a thesis in experimental quantum optics, quantum entanglement, or quantum control. Experience in academic writing is highly desirable. A solid background in experimental quantum optics, opto-mechanics, and optical levitation is required, along with familiarity with advanced experimental tools (homodyne and heterodyne detection, programming). Excellent written and spoken English is essential. The position offers a basic salary of EUR 3,776.10 (40h/week, 14x per annum), with increases for credited professional experience. The employment duration is four years, initially limited to 1.5 years, with automatic extension unless terminated within the first 12 months. The University of Vienna provides an inspiring international academic environment, excellent public transport connections, opportunities for internal training and coaching (over 600 courses), and a strong commitment to equal opportunities, diversity, and the advancement of women. Preference will be given to female candidates with equal qualifications. To apply, submit your scientific CV, summary of academic and research achievements, statement of research interests, Bachelor's and Master's degree certificates, and abstract of your Master's thesis via the application portal. For content questions, contact Professor Markus Aspelmeyer at [email protected]. The application deadline is April 5, 2026. Join the University of Vienna and contribute to answering the big questions of the future in a dynamic and supportive research community.

The University of Vienna invites applications for a PhD position in the Faculty of Physics, specifically within the Aspelmeyer group, starting May 2026. This four-year, well-funded position focuses on the interface between quantum physics and gravity, exploring macroscopic quantum coherence in levitated solid-state platforms. The research aims to answer fundamental questions such as how quantum objects gravitate, the limits of pushing massive objects into the quantum regime, and measuring gravity in microscopic systems. As a member of the Aspelmeyer group, you will join the Quantum Optics, Quantum Nanophysics, and Quantum Information group, and benefit from the Vienna Center for Quantum Science and Technology (VCQ) and the Austrian Cluster of Excellence (quantA). The group’s main activities include quantum optical control of levitated solid-state objects, precision measurements of ultra-weak gravitational forces, and the development of novel quantum technology platforms. Research will involve exploring motional quantum states of solids, maximizing mass and coherence time, and isolating gravity from other interactions at microscopic scales. The position offers a collaborative and international academic environment, with access to the Vienna Doctoral School in Physics (VDSP) and a thriving quantum science community. You will participate in research, teaching, and administration, contribute to lab courses and exercise classes, and engage in outreach through publications and conferences. The role requires independence, teamwork, and continuous engagement with the latest developments in the field. Applicants must hold a Master’s degree or Diploma in physics, with a thesis in experimental quantum optics, quantum entanglement, or quantum control. Experience in academic writing, experimental quantum optics, opto-mechanics, optical levitation, and advanced experimental tools (homodyne and heterodyne detection, programming) is expected. Proficiency in English is essential. The position offers a basic salary of EUR 3,776.10 (40h/week, 14x per annum), with increases for credited professional experience. Employment is initially limited to 1.5 years, automatically extended to 4 years unless terminated within the first 12 months. The University of Vienna promotes equal opportunities, diversity, and the advancement of women, with preference given to female candidates of equal qualification. To apply, submit your scientific CV, summary of academic and research achievements, statement of research interests, Bachelor’s and Master’s degree certificates, and abstract of your Master’s thesis via the application link. For content questions, contact Professor Markus Aspelmeyer by email. The application deadline is May 4, 2026.