Currently, there are PhD positions open at our research center starting in September 2023. If interested, please get in contact before 28/02/2023 (extended to 28/03/2023 for marked topics, but the sooner the better) with a potential PhD advisor (attach your cv, motivation letter and provide contact to someone who may potentially write a recommendation letter for you) and follow his/her instructions. We are sharing your applications, so might be you will be redirected to someone else. Also if you are uncertain about the advisor, or topic, just choose randomly and your application will be processed in the best possible way.

Below are our suggestions for PhD topics, but we are flexible to add new ones ...

• Djeylan Aktas
  • Engineering photon pair sources for quantum photonics applications* ΞΞΞ Goals: The main objective of this PhD project is to design and build experimental setups in order to demonstrate quantum advantage in various area like, enhanced security of communication, greater accuracy of measurement or simply studying the fundamental nature of entanglement.
    
    Annotation: A background in photonics sciences like nonlinear optics, lasers, light propagation in complex medium and/or in material sciences like the physics of semiconductors, nanostructure, photodiodes is strongly recommended. The candidate will need to also be familiar with basic computer sciences in order to perform simulation of physical systems, control of instrumentation and custom design software for post-processing of experimental data. A candidate which is strongly motivated, independent, rigorous and organised with only some of these skills will find the perfect environment to gain the rest of them during his PhD.
  Send your application to djeylan.aktas@savba.sk
• Denis Kochan
  • Magneto-transport properties of noncentrosymmetric superconductors* ΞΞΞ The goal: Formulation of an effective theory of superconductivity for non-centrosymmetricsuperconductors (Lifshitz invariants) and its solution in concrete situations.
    
    Anotation: The aim of the dissertation is to propose, and investigate effective theoretical models suitable for the phenomenological description of transport and relaxation phenomena in one- and two-dimensional superconductors. Plus, to demonstrate their applicability in specific situations defined by experiments ongoing at the University of Regensburg: a) magneto-transport measurements for anti-dot arrays (Prof. Dr. Dieter Weiss' group), b) superconducting magneto-chiral and magneto-rectification effects in non-centrosymmetric superconductors (Prof. Dr. Christoph Strunk's group). The specific objectives of the project are to investigate the dynamics and formation of bound and resonant states at material interfaces depending on the type and topology of the pair interaction, temperature, influence of (in)ordering, etc. Along with that, also to analyze the behavior of the superconducting ordering parameter by solving the Ginzburg Landau equations with the so-called Lifshitz invariants, namely for bulge quasi-2D systems and Josephson junctions.
  Send your application to denis.kochan@savba.sk
• Andrej Gendiar
  • Quantum mechanics in the language of tensor networks ΞΞΞ Tenzorové súčinové stavy sa využívajú v modernej fyzike na výpočet energií a vlastných stavov kvantových modelov. Typickým systémom sú napr. spinové modely, ktorých hamiltoniány opisujú magnetizmus pri nulovej teplote. Pomocou tenzorových súčinových stavov sa aproximuje kvantová vlnová funkcia, ktorá v sebe nesie fyzikálne stupne voľnosti, ktoré popisujú Hilbertov priestor, ale zároveň aj pomocné (tzv. nefyzikálne) stupne voľnosti, ktorých veľkosť kontroluje dosah korelácií, t.j. presnosť. Budeme nimi charakterizovať mnohočasticové interagujúce spinové systémy vo fázovom prechode pomocou kvantového previazania (entanglement). Keďže ide o netriviálnu úlohu, ktorá nie je analyticky riešiteľný, využijeme numerické prístupy, pri ktorých môže byť použitý ľubovoľný programovací jazyk, napr. Python, MatLab, C++, a pod. Pokúsime sa navrhnúť nové alternatívne metódy tenzorových sietí, ktoré budú mať pôvod v renormalizačných technikách.
  Send your application to gendiar@savba.sk
• Mário Ziman
  • Higher-order quantum computation ΞΞΞ Annotation: The problems addressed by quantum technologies motivated development of new mathematical tools and structures collected under the umrella of igher-order structures. They enables us to shift from studies of quantum systems to analysis of quantum dynamics, measurements and also more mythical structures as indefinite causality and memory channels. The community working in this foundational area is quickly growing and covering many interesting subjects - machine learning, resource theories, foundations of thermodynamics, etc.
    Goals: PhD student will develop the mathematical framework of higher-order quantum structures by investigating optimal quantum information processing tasks for higher-order quantum structures. (jointly with Michal Sedlak)
  • Quantum information structures in space-time ΞΞΞ Annotation: The intersection of quantum information and gravity is a rapidly developing research field, in which we use the tools of quantum information to investigate new phenomena that may be experimentally realized in the interplay of quantum physics and gravity. Nowadays, there are fast advancements of experimental techniques, including those in the fields of cold atoms and quantum optics, also performed in spatial missions, and they have opened new opportunities to explore areas that are not tested yet. On one hand, we base our research on the current technology to theoretically identify new effects that can be measured in the interplay of quantum physics and gravity. On another hand, it is connected with philosophy, as proposing a consistent experiment requires addressing fundamental questions such as “what is time?” or “what is a measurement?”. A background in quantum information, quantum field theory or general relativity is desirable.
    
    Goals: This PhD position aims to develop projects in topics such as indefinite causal order due to the superposition of spacetimes, the quantum behaviour of time dilation, and thermodynamics of relativistic quantum clocks. (jointly with Natalia Moller)
  • Quantum networks* ΞΞΞ Annotation: Quantum networs are currently leading the development of large-scale research infrastructures. There are several related theoretical and practical research problems: dsign of verification methods, certification of desired properties, management of the transfered quantum packets, etc. Within the scope of the PhD thesis the EU should be covered by working quantum network and it is the task of PhD students to design protocols and experiments that are going to be run on such infrastructure.
    
    Goals: The student will be working in the area of open system quantum dynamics, many-body systems, quantum software development and data analysis. The goal is to run the network and join international community working in the same direction.
  Send your application to ziman@savba.sk

* deadline for submission extended to 28/03/2023

About PhD study with us: The length of the PhD study is 4 years during which PhD student receives stipend starting with net(=tax-free) stipend 950 eur/month and increasing above 1100 eur/month after midterm dissertation exam closing the education half of the PhD program. For PhD students within skQCI project (experimental quantum photonics and networks) we are offering 1600 eur/month. In particular, the mid-term exam consists of the oral examination from the the studied subjects and the defense of the written PhD research project defining research goals and methods of the PhD student. The research half of the PhD program is ending with the defense of the PhD dissertation. In order to be accepted for the defense the student is expected to publish at least two research papers.

The selection process is relatively complex and happens in three steps:
1. Selection by the advisors of Research Center for Quantum Information.
2. Selection process by Institute of Physics committee among candidates applying for common institutional funding.
3. Admission process at the university by the dedicated PhD program committee.

Depending on the research performance and availability of resources we are offering additional funding in form of renumeration. Phd students are provided with reasonable budget for research visits and to attend schools, or conferences. Office and computer facilities are provided. The institutional accommodation is offered for approx 120 eur/month in students dormitory and let us note that living expenses in Bratislava are lower than in "West" European cities (google it, or do not hesitate to ask our current PhD students).