PhD Student in Experimental Physics

The Department of Physics (https://www.umu.se/institutionen-for-fysik/) at Umeå universitet conducts strong research in, among other things, condensed matter physics, nanotechnology, photonics, ultrafast spectroscopy, theoretical physics, and computational physics. We are advertising a PhD position within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network SPARK for the doctoral project ”Spatiotemporal information processing”.

The last application date is October 31, 2026.

The earliest start date is February 2027, or by agreement.

Project Description

The project aims to develop concepts for ultrafast optical logic and optical memories using spatiotemporal metamaterials. The doctoral student will design metamaterial structures coupled to quantum emitters for ultrafast information processing and investigate how structured ultrashort light pulses can be used to control optical and magnetic properties on femtosecond timescales.

The research will focus on developing protocols with time resolution below 10 fs for all-optical logic operations, data processing, and spatiotemporal magnetic memories. The work combines nanophotonics, metamaterials, quantum emitters, ultrafast optics, and light–matter interactions, with the goal of creating new pathways for information processing beyond conventional electronic solutions.

The PhD position is funded through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Network SPARK. The network offers a structured international training environment with research-specific and general competence-developing courses, workshops, conferences, and network-wide activities. The project includes a three-month industrial placement at NKT Photonics in Denmark focusing on vectorial ultrashort pulses, as well as a six-month research stay at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom focusing on nanofabrication and characterization.

The doctoral project will be conducted at Umeå universitet under the supervision of Associate Professor Nicolò Maccaferri. The doctoral student will also receive support through co-supervision and mentorship from Professor Riccardo Sapienza at Imperial College London as well as from an industrial mentor at NKT Photonics. The position offers the opportunity to work in a stimulating, interdisciplinary, and international research environment within the framework of a prestigious European doctoral network.

Qualifications

Basic eligibility is held by those who have completed a degree at an advanced level, fulfilled course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 higher education credits are at an advanced level, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in or out of the country in some other way. To meet the requirement for special eligibility for admission to doctoral studies in experimental physics, the applicant must have passed courses within the subject area of physics of at least 120 higher education credits.

The applicant shall have a master's degree or equivalent in physics, applied physics, optics/photonics, materials science, nanoscience, electrical engineering, or a related field. A requirement is that the applicant must be able to both speak and write English fluently.

Documented background in photonics, nanophotonics, ultrafast optics, condensed matter physics, quantum optics, metamaterials, magnetism, or related experimental and theoretical methods is meritorious.

We are looking for you who want to work in an intercultural and international environment and who have a high ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

The applicant must meet the MSCA eligibility and mobility requirements, which means that the person must not hold a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment and must not have been resident or carried out their main activity (e.g., work or studies) in Sweden for more than 12 months during the last 36 months prior to recruitment.

Terms of Employment

The employment aims to lead to a doctoral degree, and the doctoral student's main task is to undergo doctoral education, which includes participation in the described research project as well as relevant doctoral education courses. Teaching and other departmental work of at most 20% may be included in the employment.

The salary follows the established salary scale applicable to doctoral students at Umeå universitet. The position is funded for 36 months through the MSCA doctoral network SPARK, where the salary corresponds to at least the MSCA level (approximately 33,100 SEK gross per month) with the possibility of MSCA supplements for mobility and accompanying family. For the remaining employment period, other funding is available. Terms of employment and other benefits follow current regulations.

The employment covers four years of full-time studies or up to five years if teaching or other departmental work is included. The employment begins in February 2027 or by agreement.

Application

The application should include the following:

A personal letter with a summary of research interests and motivation (max 1 page). CV Certified copies of degree certificates with English or Swedish translation A list of university courses with grades. Please note that for international applicants, the grading system should be briefly explained. Copy of thesis and publications (if applicable). Name and contact details of at least one reference person. You apply via our e-recruitment system Varbi.

The last application date is October 31, 2026. Log in and submit your application via the button at the bottom of the page. All documents must be uploaded in PDF format and written in English (primarily) or Swedish.

More Information

For further information, contact the Principal Supervisor for the project, Senior Lecturer Nicolò Maccaferri. nicolo.maccaferri@umu.se

We look forward to receiving your application!

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