PhD: Hyperspectral DUV imaging for chiral light-matter interactions

You will develop the most sophisticated hyperspectral DUV-imaging platform worldwide and explore chiral light-matter interactions, together with partners from ETH Zurich. Focus is on light-source and applications.

PhD: Hyperspectral DUV imaging for chiral light-matter interactions

Your function

We are looking for a highly motivated student to develop a hyperspectral DUV imaging system for applications in microscopy in the context of chiral light-matter interactions at the nanoscale as part of our team at the VU Amsterdam (matzlab.com). Your project combines concepts from nonlinear optics, holographic imaging, femtosecond spectroscopy with DUV spectroscopy and microscopy at the absolute limits of spatial resolution and sensitivity.

We have a clear yet ambitious goal: to develop the most sophisticated and versatile DUV imaging system worldwide and then use it to uncover fundamental principles governing chiral light-matter interactions, from tailored nanomaterials to biological systems.

Achieving this goal will be challenging yet highly rewarding. To make it happen, we will be working in close collaboration with the Nanophotonics Systems Lab (Prof. Romain Quidant, ETH Zürich). In-person meetings and knowledge exchange between all partners will be a crucial factor for success.

Your tasks in the project will revolve around designing and building a “nonlinear-optics based” tunable DUV light source and then devising strategies to record spectrally resolved DUV images. Once operational, you will focus on spectral observations of chiral light-matter interactions.

Your duties

• Develop and optimise a tunable DUV light source based on an Yb-source
• Devise strategies to perform spectrally resolved DUV imaging in a quantitative manner
• Jointly implement a hyperspectral DUV microscope with other team members
• Operate high-power tunable femtosecond light sources
• Attend regular in-person meetings at VU as well as ETH Zurich
• Be available for medium-duration (weeks) secondments at ETH Zurich to ensure knowledge transfer
• Write and defend your PhD thesis

Your profile

You should be excited about experimental science and hold a master’s degree in chemistry, physics or engineering with an outstanding track record. Proficiency in English (written and oral) is required. Previous experience in (non)linear optics, spectroscopy, microscopy, nanophotonics or digital imaging is desired but not a must. The ability to independently and creatively work in a diverse interdisciplinary environment is essential.

You will be a crucial partner in the DUV-team. As such, clear communication skills and a team-player attitude are crucial requirements. Due to the strong integration of all partners, you need to be able to attend regular in-person meetings at ETH Zurich (Switzerland) or other locations within Europe. Secondments are part of the project where you will spend one or multiple weeks working jointly with partners at ETH Zurich or at the VU.

Our team

We develop next generation optical imaging and sensing platforms in the context of future biomedical, pharmaceutical and clinical applications. We are particularly interested in label-free or digital approaches: low-cost key-enablers for democratizing state-of-the-art healthcare globally. We realise this vision by combining fundamental research with systematic platform and assay development. Sometimes, we meet our target by simplifying and adopting existing technologies. On many occasions, however, we start from a curiosity-driven hypothesis where applicability is a long term high-gain objective. To realise our vision, we combine an interdisciplinary toolbox ranging from molecular biology over ultrafast optics to digital holography with the key-ingredient being creativity and room for personal development.

Faculty of Science

Researchers and students at VU Amsterdam’s Faculty of Science tackle fundamental and complex scientific problems to help pave the way for a sustainable and healthy future. Our teaching and research have a strong experimentally technical, computational and interdisciplinary nature.

Are you interested in joining the Faculty of Science? You will join undergraduate students, PhD candidates and researchers at the biggest sciences faculty in the Netherlands. We are proud of our collegial working climate, characterised by committed staff, a pragmatic attitude and engagement in the larger whole.