Postdoc in Open Quantum System Dynamics, Department of Quantum Nanosciene, TU Delft (ERC-Funded)

At the Department of Quantum Nanoscience at TU Delft, one postdoctoral position is available to investigate the spin dynamics of molecular and atomic spins on surfaces.

This project is one of the pillars of the ERC project SPINOCCHIO, “A new quantum chemical approach to spins on surfaces.”

Molecules and atoms with unpaired electrons exhibit a net magnetic moment and serve as the building blocks of molecular quantum devices for next-generation technologies. As the design principles for developing molecular magnetic behavior become clearer, the next challenge is assembling these units into spin lattices via surface deposition, controlling the phonon-mediated spin relaxation which hinders applications at room temperature, and addressing their magnetic behavior at the single-molecule level.

Spin-phonon interactions are key in molecular magnetism, as they limit spin relaxation times, contributing to memory loss and phase decoherence. Factors like surface type (metallic vs. insulating) and coverage (monolayer vs. isolated) affect spin relaxation by influencing magnetic anisotropy and spin-phonon interactions. Standard computational strategies quantify phonon effects by analyzing how phonons modulate spin-Hamiltonian or crystal-field parameters for molecules in the gas phase. However, calculated relaxation times can differ from experimental values by up to three orders of magnitude. Bridging this gap requires more accurate calculations and realistic models, and currently, there is no first-principles investigation of spin dynamics on surfaces.

This project aims to advance our understanding of the dynamic behavior of spins on surfaces and in surface spin arrays. We will develop a new first-principles approach to quantify spin-phonon couplings of spins on surfaces, enabling us to model their magnetic relaxation and obtain spin relaxation (T1) and coherence (T2) times. With this knowledge at hand, we will provide new design principles for extending the spin lifetimes of spins on surfaces. This approach combines electronic states obtained via a periodic quantum embedding (i.e., equation-of-motion coupled-cluster in periodic DFT, pbcEOM-CC) with a coarse-grained treatment of strong correlation, and uses a state-interaction treatment of spin-spin, spin-orbit, and Zeeman interactions. Neither this approach nor any other first-principles approach has yet been applied to investigate the spin dynamics of magnetic adsorbates. By using pbcEOM-CC states, this approach will surpass standard strategies that either neglect the environment or oversimplify it using point-charge models.

The postdoctoral position is for two years. The starting date is negotiable but should preferably be 01.11.2026.

Job requirements

• PhD in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, or a related discipline.
• Strong background in open quantum system dynamics, solid-state physics, quantum many-body physics, quantum information science.
• Experience with scientific programming is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as in multidisciplinary research teams.
• Interest in supervising Master's and PhD students, and in collaborating on grant writing and applications.

TU Delft

At TU Delft, you will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means joining an international community of professionals and students.

Faculty Applied Sciences

The Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem with strong activity in quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology, and materials for energy storage and conversion. Its scientists conduct fundamental and applied research in fields including Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, Engineering Physics, and Life and Health Science & Technology.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years. Temporary.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours), with the option to sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.
• If relocation to the Netherlands is needed, TU Delft offers support to help make the move as smooth as possible, including relocation information, settling-in events, and a Dual Career Programme for accompanying partners.