Associate Professor

The University of Twente is looking for ambitious physicists as candidates for a position as

Associate Professor (UHD) in Advanced Cryogenic Technologies

We offer an exciting Associate Professor position to lead the Advanced Cryogenic Technologies research of the Energy Materials and Systems (EMS) cluster within the faculty of Science & Technology at the University of Twente in the Netherlands.

Energy, Materials and Systems (EMS)

The EMS cluster investigates materials and conductors, key technologies, cryogenic and superconducting systems for applications in Big Science and High-Tech industry. Within the cluster, Advanced Cryogenic Technologies (ACT) focusses on developing innovative cooling technologies, specifically sorption-based coolers and MEMS-based micro-coolers. Vibration-free coolers are under development for cooling optical detectors in space missions, but also in highly demanding terrestrial instruments such as the  Einstein Telescope (ET) project, for which a dedicated Cryogenic Test Facility is currently being built at the UT.

The cluster consists of three research groups: Next to ACT, Applied Thermal Sciences (ATS) explores the fundamentals and applications of thermal sciences in space- and time domain with focus on heat transfer phenomena at cryogenic temperatures. ACT and ATS are linked in their research; fundamental findings of ATS investigations can be applied in ACT. The third EMS research group is the High-Current Superconductivity group. HCS investigates high-current superconductivity ranging the whole spectrum from materials, via cables and coils to full system applications. These three groups operate in close synergy on the topic of thermal transport in superconducting systems (cryogenic cooling and thermal stabilization).

EMS is embedded in the MESA+ research institute with world-leading research on nanoscience and –technology with matching infrastructure. EMS has strong links to Big Science projects and institutes such as at ITER, CERN and other High Energy Physics Laboratories, and, more recently, the Einstein Telescope (ET). This link is supported by the endowed chair on High-Energy Physics (HEF) that is part of the cluster.

Technological support is provided by its strong and versatile engineering staff that is indispensable in the development of the experimental infrastructure and in the design and realization of demonstrator hardware increasing TRL levels in application-oriented projects.

The cluster is involved in the educational BSc programs Applied Physics and Advanced Technology and in the MSc programs Applied Physics, Nanotechnology and Sustainable Energy Technologies, contributing to general physics and engineering courses as well as to more specialized and advanced topics connected to the research in the group.

Advanced Cryogenic Technologies

The University of Twente has opened an exciting Associate Professor (UHD) position to lead the Advanced Cryogenic Technologies research within EMS. The key research challenge that you will contribute to is to realize cryogenic cooling of devices at minimum interference, meaning minimized mechanical vibrations, minimum electromagnetic interference and stable operating temperature. The absence of interference is specifically relevant in optical instruments and systems, not only for Big Science projects (such as the Einstein telescope) but also in space-based optical detectors and telescopes, cryo electron microscopy and quantum technology. A further challenge is to establish cryogenic cooling at minimum size, weight and power. ACT has a development line of micromachined cryogenic coolers specifically to face that challenge. 

Job Description

You will be group leader of Advanced Cryogenic Technologies within the Energy, Materials and Systems cluster, which in total has about 40 members of which 10 permanent staff (5 scientific, 4 engineers and 1 secretary). The cluster has 12 to 15 PhD students, and a varying number of about 15 additional members, post-doc researchers, project engineers, students and interns.

Your research will contribute to the development of ultra-low-vibration cryogenic cooling technologies for ET in the context of the ETpathfinder (ETPF), a scaled-down version of ET with arms of 20 m rather than 10 km aimed at technology development and testing. To this end, a dedicated Cryogenic Test Facility is currently being built at the UT, and will involve further development and expansion of the vibration-free sorption-based cooling technology that has been developed in earlier projects for the European Space Agency (ESA) to the challenging needs of ET. Expansion of these techniques to cryogenic systems for thermal management in other applications is also foreseen.

Furthermore, the existing synergy between ACT, ATS and HCS should be exploited and intensified. As part of your role within the cluster, you will get opportunities to explore and further develop ACT's connections to Big Science and industry. In addition, you will be giving guidance to scientific and technical staff, you will be participating in the educational efforts of the cluster, and you will assume responsibility in the organizational tasks of the cluster and the faculty.   

Depending on your experience and achievements there is the possibility for the current position eventually developing into a full professorship.

Your profile

• You hold a PhD in Applied Physics or a closely related technical discipline; You have a strong track record in research on cryogenic cooling for high-tech systems, evidenced by a strong publication record; You have an inspiring vision on future developments in the field of cryogenic technologies; You have a high standing in the field and a track record of leading scientific research as well as a strong and current academic and industrial network; You have a proven capacity in attracting research funding and international cooperation; You are motivated to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels; have good teaching skills, and the willingness to obtain the University Teaching Qualification; You have strong collaborative capabilities and communication skills. You are willing to learn and master the Dutch language; You can flourish in a multidisciplinary research field and you are willing to initiate, extend and maintain collaboration at departmental, national and international levels; You have demonstrated capacity to (co-)supervise PhD researchers and students and you are eager to develop into an inspiring and excellent leader who can guide a team to perform at the forefront of advanced cryogenic technologies research.

  Our offer We offer a challenging position in an excellent and inspiring scientific environment with attractive support infrastructures and campus facilities. The University provides a dynamic ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization is an important part of the strategic agenda.

We offer you a tenured position as Associate Professor with a competitive salary (maximum € 7.362,-euro gross per month depending on experience and qualifications; in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities). The position is full time, however, for excellent candidates a flexible appointment is negotiable.

In addition, the University of Twente and the region Twente offer additional attractive employment respectively living conditions

• Extras such as an 8,3% end-of-year bonus and 8% holiday allowance; Minimum of 29 days of leave in case of full-time employment; An attractive pension scheme; Possibilities to save up holiday hours for sabbatical leave; Professional and personal training and development, including Dutch language courses; Excellent research infrastructures and well-equipped labs with professional lab technicians. Possibilities to cooperate with nearby high-tech companies and institutions on both sides of national borders. An inspiring scientific environment with enthusiastic colleagues in which internationalization and boundaryless collaboration is an important part of the strategic agenda. Support for re-housing and immigration issues. A family-friendly institution that has childcare facilities on campus and offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid) and career support for partners. A green campus with all you need close-by including sport facilities and cultural activities. Enschede, a mid-sized ‘EUREGIO’ city with excellent public transport to the West of the country and abroad, immersed in the nature of the Twente region with a good quality of life. Germany and in particular the federal states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia on your doorstep.

How to apply Please send your application via the University website:

https://utwentecareers.nl/en/vacancies/882/associate-professor-in-advanced-cryogenic-technologies/

Use the 'Apply now' button, and include your Curriculum Vitae, a covering letter and a complete list of publications, your research and teaching statement, containing a short overview of your research plans and ambitions together with your vision on education, two academic references we may contact, including contact information.

You are welcome to contact prof.dr.ir. Marcel ter Brake (h.j.m.terbrake@utwente.nl) or prof.dr. Devaraj van der Meer (d.vandermeer@utwente.nl) for any questions you might have.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion at our University. We encourage applications from all sections of society and particularly support women to apply.