Join us as a PhD student!

PhD positions

@the Dipolar quantum gas group at the University of Innsbruck and Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI), www.erbium.at and www.iqoqi.at

Openings 2026 

We are happy to announce our 2026 opening for two PhD positions. We are looking for talented and highly-motivated candidates to join our dipolar quantum gases group (www.erbium.at) at the University of Innsbruck and the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information IQOQI-Innsbruck (www.iqoqi.at), Austria.

Current openings:

(Download last years’ PhD position descriptions as a PDF)

About Us

Our group, led by Prof. Francesca Ferlaino, is jointly located at the University of Innsbruck (UIBK) and at the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information (IQOQI) of the Austrian Academy of Science.

We work with the exotic and highly magnetic Erbium and Dysprosium atoms, either in the ground- or in highly excited Rydberg states. The group comprises four research teams, three experimental and one theoretical. Our three Labs works on Erbium and Dysprosium dipolar quantum gases, Er-Dy mixtures, and Er Rydberg Tweezers.

Learn more about our research take a look at our website www.erbium.at

Joining Us

It is now an exciting time to work with ultracold highly-magnetic quantum gases, driven by the rapid developments of quantum science based on lanthanide species.

Joining our team offers a unique opportunity to:

  • Conduct experiments/develop new theories at the cutting edge of quantum physics,
  • Engage in an exceptional international research environment,
  • Collaborate with a global network of leading researchers and,
  • Develop high-tech skills in electronics, photonics, programming, and data analysis.

If you’re passionate about discovering the unique opportunities ultracold lanthanide atoms hold for quantum physics, we encourage you to apply!

HOW TO APPLY?

We are looking forward to your application! If you are interested, send an email to Ferlaino-Opening@uibk.ac.at with subject line ‘2026 PhD Position application‘, including

  1. a C.V.,
  2. a letter of motivation,
  3. transcript of exams (Bachelor and Master), and
  4. names and contact information of at least one reference person.

The application will be considered upon reception until the available positions are filled.

Our group is strongly committed to ameliorate the gender balance in Physics at all level of the scientific career, we therefore particularly encourage applications from women. We offer a monthly salary of approximately €2,684.10 before taxes, based on the salary scheme of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

Requirements for the PhD positions: A master degree or equivalent, including a research project (master Thesis or Internship) in experimental/theoretical AMO group is required to start a PhD with us. In case you do have not yet finished your Master degree or you want to acquire experimental experience in ultracold atoms look at our Excellence Fellowship program for visiting master students.

 

Experimental PhD position in the Erbium LAB: Quantum simulation with dipolar quantum gases of Erbium atoms

In this project you will create dipolar Fermi and Bose gases of Erbium atoms and to use them to study strongly-correlated lattice spin systems and spinor system. Moreover, the newly discover ultra-narrow inner-shell optical transition in Erbium (similar to a clock transition in alkali-earth atoms) will be used to access new regimes of control and manipulation for quantum simulation and quantum optics physics.

You will work in a team of two PhD students, one post-Doc, co-PI Manfred Mark, and PI Francesca Ferlaino. Moreover, you will collaborate with the other ultracold-quantum-gas groups in Innsbruck and a network of external collaborators. The Lab, located at the University of Innsbruck, is fully operative.

The candidate must already have proven expertise in experimental techniques, especially electronics, programming and laser optics.

Experimental PhD position in the Er-Dy LAB: Er-Dy dipolar quantum mixtures

In this project you will work with dipolar mixtures of Erbium and Dysprosium. You will explore novel quantum many-body states of matter, genuinely emerging from the long-range interaction between atoms. The experimental setup is in the process of being upgraded with a quantum gas microscope, which we have been developing in the last years. This will allow you to perform quantum simulations of long-range interacting solid-state Hamiltonians.

You will work in a team of two PhD students and one post-doc, co-PI Manfred Mark, and PI Francesca Ferlaino. The Lab, located at the IQOQI Innsbruck, is fully operative. You will collaborate intensively with the other experimental groups in Innsbruck and a network of external collaborators.

The candidate must already have proven expertise in experimental techniques, especially electronics, programming and laser optics.