Postdoc on "Thermal management of plasmonic nanostructures"

Departments, Department of Applied Physics and Science Education

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of 'engineers of the future' with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.

Introduction

The Molecular Plasmonics group together with the Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems group at the Eindhoven University of Technology have a 2-year postdoc position in the field of thermal management of plasmonic nanostructures. This collaborative project aims to develop approaches to (a) measure and (b) reduce the local temperature around optically excited (and thereby photothermally heated) plasmonic structures. This will lead to a new generation of plasmonic devices that are not hampered by photothermal heating.

Job Description

Plasmonic structures are used in various applications due to their ability to concentrate light at the nanoscale. This ability inevitable comes with a drawback, namely optical absorption that results in photothermal heating. One application that is particularly sensitive to such photothermal heating is biosensing: the biomolecules conjugated to the particle surface are highly sensitive to the local temperature that can alter their interaction kinetics and may even result in denaturation. Photothermal heating should therefore be minimized to enable practical applications of plasmonic sensors. In addition, such photothermal heating is not only detrimental in the area of biosensing, but equally affects the performance of plasmonic structures in photovoltaics and imaging.

About this position

In this position you will leverage materials with high thermal conductivities (e.g. 2D materials) to achieve efficient cooling of the photo-excited nanoparticles. You will prepare the material samples, and quantify thermal conduction processes using optical techniques like nanothermometry and ultrafast spectroscopy. You will develop numerical models for nanoscale heat dissipation to interpret the experimental data.

The project will be supervised by Prof. Zijlstra (Molecular Plasmonics group) and co-supervised by Prof. Klaas-Jan Tielrooij (Ultrafast Dynamics group). You will closely collaborate with students and postdocs in both group.

About the groups

Both groups are part of the department of Applied Physics and Science Education. The molecular plasmonics group develops plasmonic and nanophotonic biosensors with single-molecule sensitivity. The team is multidisciplinary and hosts physicists, chemists, and biomedical engineers that collaborate in a close-knit team. The lab hosts a range of state-of-the-art optical microscopes (e.g. for single-molecule fluorescence, interferometry, etc) as well as wet-chemical labs for sample preparation. The group is  part of a bigger research cluster focusing on optical sensing.

The aim of the Ultrafast Dynamics in Nanoscale Systems group is to understand physical phenomena (e.g. heat conduction) in nanosystems and to explore their application in technologies some of which have yet to be imagined. For this the group uses optical and optoelectronic techniques with ultrashort temporal and ultrasmall spatial resolution.  

Job Requirements

• A PhD degree in the area of optics, photonics, or microscopy. Experience with plasmonic/photothermal processes and numerical modeling is an advantage.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Motivated to coach students.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for 2 years.
• Salary in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale 10 (min. € 4,241 max. € 5,538).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs. 
• A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
• A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Prof. Peter Zijlstra ).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact

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Application

We invite you to submit a complete application using the apply-button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.
• A copy or link to your PhD thesis.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post. 
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services. 

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