"PhD position on physics of tunnelling devices for ultralow-power electronics"

Job description

The integrated devices & systems (IDS) and power electronics (PE) group at the University of Twente have a vacancy for a shared PhD student on the research topic “physics of tunnelling devices for ultralow-power electronics” within the project TunnelVision. This project aims to investigate the feasibility of novel ultralow-power electronics based on quantum-mechanical tunnelling processes in advanced CMOS, which has a strong potential for Internet-of-Things devices and edge-artificial intelligence applications. This project is in strong collaboration with and led by the integrated-circuit design (ICD) group.

You will study the quantum-mechanical tunnelling processes experimentally and address the physics, device modelling/simulation aspects of new tunnelling devices. By using dedicated electrical dc and RF measurement equipment within our measurement & test centre, you will develop and carefully analyse specially designed test structures and new tunnelling devices realised in advanced CMOS. Based on a thorough literature review and the outcome of this research, the main challenge will be to (co-)develop physics-based models for circuit simulations. The characterization and modelling work will be in strong collaboration with a second Ph.D. student within the same project, who develops ultralow-power circuit blocks based on tunnelling.

The project is financed by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) in the domain Applied and Engineering Sciences (TTW). You will carry out the research at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS), University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands, and several experienced supervisors (Dr. Ray Hueting, PE group and Prof. Jurriaan Schmitz, IDS group) will give you daily guidance with support from a senior engineer. Collaboration is an important aspect of the PhD position. You will extensively collaborate with a PhD student and experienced scientific staff members of the ICD group, also part of the Faculty of EEMCS. In addition, and you will work in close collaboration with a wide span of companies such as NXP Semiconductors.

Various teaching activities in your field of expertise will take 10%-20% of your time.

Requirements

You are highly motivated and an enthusiastic researcher (F/M).

You have an MSc degree in electrical engineering, applied physics, or a related topic, with excellent theoretical, programming and experimental skills.

You have shown affinity with modelling, semiconductor physics, and electronics.

You have good team spirit and like to work in an interdisciplinary and internationally oriented environment.

You are fluent in English.

Conditions of employment

As a PhD candidate at UT, you will be appointed to a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year, within a very stimulating and exciting scientific environment;

The University offers a dynamic campus ecosystem with enthusiastic colleagues;

Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU);

You will receive a gross monthly salary ranging from € 3.059,- (first year) to € 3.881,- (fourth year);

There are excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%, and a solid pension scheme;

The flexibility to work (partially) from home;

A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis;

Free access to sports facilities on campus;

A family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid);

You will have a training programme as part of the Twente Graduate School where you and your supervisors will determine a plan for a suitable education and supervision;

Department

The two research groups, Integrated Devices and Systems and Power Electronics, conduct research into semiconductor-based electronic components in close collaboration with multinational semiconductor companies and local industry. Both groups are teams of 25-35 people from many different nationalities; the scientific communication is in English. The two groups carry out joint projects on a regular basis. Find out more about the PE group and the IDS group via these links.

Additional information

Are you interested in this position? Please send your application via the 'Apply now' button below before January 5, 2026, and include:

A Curriculum Vitae, including a list of all courses attended and grades obtained, and, if applicable, a list of publications and references.

A cover letter (maximum 2 pages A4), emphasising your specific interest, qualifications, and motivations to apply for this position.

Screening is part of the selection process.