PhD Position in Theoretical Physics (Quantum Sensors)

Location: Delft, Netherlands; relocation to the Netherlands may be required.

Salary: €3,204–€4,051 gross per month, increasing from the first to the fourth year.

Company

hirify.global is an international university focused on engineering, science, technology, and research with societal impact.

What you will do

• Develop analytical and numerical models of mechanical quantum systems and their interactions with complex environments.
• Investigate quantum control and noise-mitigation techniques for preparing, manipulating, and protecting fragile quantum states.
• Improve mechanical quantum systems for sensing, metrology, and tests of fundamental physics.
• Connect experimentally grounded models with theoretical frameworks from quantum information and the foundations of quantum physics.
• Study the quantum-to-classical transition, decoherence, and the interface between gravity and quantum mechanics.
• Publish research, present at international conferences, and contribute to supervising Bachelor's and Master's students.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Physics or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in quantum mechanics and mathematics.
• Experience with scientific programming tools.
• Good command of English, written and spoken, is required.
• Ability to combine analytical and numerical approaches and work across experimentally grounded and abstract theoretical models.
• Relocation to the Netherlands may be required.

Nice to have

• Experience in quantum optics, quantum sensing, or metrology.
• Experience with optomechanics and mechanical quantum systems.
• Experience in quantum information theory or the foundations of quantum mechanics.
• Experience studying the interface between gravity and quantum mechanics.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative theory group with regular scientific discussions and direct supervision.
• Collaboration with experimental and theoretical researchers at hirify.global and international partners.
• Four-year employment period structured as an initial 1.5-year contract followed by a 2.5-year contract subject to progress and performance.
• 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Enrollment in the hirify.global Graduate School with mentoring and a doctoral education programme.
• Customisable compensation package, health-insurance discounts, work-cost contribution, and flexible work schedules.

Hiring process

• Submit a cover letter, detailed CV with Bachelor's and Master's transcripts, and a representative piece of scientific writing by 15 September 2026.
• Shortlisted candidates may be invited to an interview and asked to give a short presentation on previous research.
• Interviews may take place in person or online.