PhD on Ultracold electron source development for time-resolved protein crystallography

Development of a pulsed electron source with extreme transverse bunch brightness, based on photo-ionization of laser-cooled atoms, for time-resolved protein crystallography.

• Context: ERC-funded project “Cool T-ReX”
• Goal: Develop a unique and innovative instrument to enable time-resolved protein crystallography with electrons (and be the first in the world in doing so).
• Scientific relevance: Understanding how proteins function is crucial to improving medicine and unraveling processes that are fundamental to life. Time-resolved protein crystallography uniquely allows following the conformational change of a protein with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution, yielding a “molecular movie” of how the protein performs its function. This is currently only possible on large-scale X-ray facilities. In this project we will build the very first instrument that can make such movies through time-resolved protein crystallography with electrons rather than X-rays, on a laboratory-scale setup. Next, through collaboration with leading research groups in time-resolved protein crystallography, we will demonstrate the instrument’s capabilities in time-resolved crystallography experiments on photo-active proteins with medical relevance (and used in the field of optogenetics, awarded this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine!).

Your role: Drive the development of this unique instrument. You will build on our research group’s two decades of experience in building electron sources based on the photo-ionization of laser-cooled atoms. This technique has demonstrated electron pulses with record-low transverse temperatures, corresponding to a high transverse coherence, as needed for protein crystallography. In this project we will push this transverse coherence even further, making use of some of the unique capabilities of this source technology. The result will be an electron beam with a “transverse bunch brightness” that is three orders of magnitude beyond the current state of the art. To reach this ambitious goal, you will work with a team of experienced technicians, a second PhD student, a PostDoc, and the PI (Julius Huijts). We are part of the larger Coherence and Quantum Technology group in the Department of Applied Physics.

Requirements

• A MSc degree in Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Mechatronics with a strong physics component, or similar.
• You can work in a team, are open to new ideas, can communicate with people outside your own field.
• You take initiative, are able to organize your own work load.
• You have an affinity with the goal of this project.
• You have a background or a proven affinity with at least two of the following (please highlight this in your application):
  • Mechanical and optical design
  • Complex optical setups
  • Charged particle optics
  • Cold atoms
  • High vacuum
  • High voltage
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).
• A research-oriented attitude

Conditions of employment

Fixed-term contract: 4 years.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station.

In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks, with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Starting date is somewhat flexible, but ideally Feb 1 2027.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 gross base salary per month (full-time)).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

Employer

TU/e

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community. Discover what Light Up means to TU/e in our short company video.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of ‘engineers of the future’ with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.

Additional information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the hiring manager Julius Huijts, Assistant Professor, j.v.huijts@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.apse@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

#EUfunded This is an EU funded project, named Cool T-ReX, with project number 101304364, within program HE / ERC.

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