PhD fellowship in Superconducting Quantum Engineering

PhD fellowship in Superconducting Quantum Engineering

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Quantum Computing Program (NQCP), funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, is building a talented and diverse international team to create a cutting‑edge program in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark. At the Niels Bohr Institute (NBI), University of Copenhagen, where the formulation of Quantum Mechanics was born 100 years ago, the ambition is to build a mission‑driven full‑stack approach that will involve exciting innovations at every level, from the quantum processor to the quantum‑classical interface all the way quantum algorithms and applications.

The vision of the programme is to enable the development of fault‑tolerant quantum computing hardware and quantum algorithms that solve important problems in the life‑sciences.

The earliest start date is (expected to be) 1st June 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter.

• Scalable Superconducting Qubit Systems:
  Development of scalable architectures for operating high‑performance superconducting qubits to enable fault‑tolerant quantum computing. This includes advanced circuit designs and fabrications, and system‑level integration.
• Hybrid Quantum Systems:
  Development of novel hybrid quantum systems that integrate superconducting quantum circuits with mechanical membranes and magnetic crystals to enable long‑lived quantum memories and nonreciprocal quantum devices, respectively.
• Broadband Quantum‑Limited Amplifiers:
  Development of novel broadband, high‑dynamic‑range Josephson parametric amplifiers, leveraging microwave and Josephson nonlinear engineering to enable quantum‑limited microwave detection, serving as a backbone for superconducting quantum computing.

More specifically, the successful PhD candidate will explore novel packaging solutions for superconducting quantum circuits, individually tailored to unlock and maximize the performance of the aforementioned quantum devices. This work will encompass scalable 3D‑integrated I/O interfaces, co‑integration of magnetic crystals with superconducting circuits, and fast, reliable flip‑chip architectures for electromechanical quantum devices. The PhD project will be supervised and managed on a day‑to‑day basis by Assistant Professor Shingo Kono (shingo.kono.dk),

with additional advisory support from Associate Professor Morten Kjaergaard.

We are looking for motivated young physicists eager to tackle the formidable challenges of realizing fault‑tolerant quantum computing from fresh and innovative perspectives. We warmly welcome applications from individuals with broad interests in quantum science, particularly those with backgrounds in superconducting quantum circuits. The principal investigator is committed to supporting the development of researchers who aim to bridge deep theoretical insight with advanced experimental expertise.

The Superconducting Quantum Optics (SQUOP) Lab, led by Assistant Professor Shingo Kono, is a newly established experimental research group in quantum physics and serves as the Intra‑ and Inter‑connect Team within NQCP  mission is to explore novel quantum protocols and enabling technologies based on superconducting quantum circuits and hybrid quantum systems, with the goal of deepening our understanding of quantum mechanics and advancing the realization of fault‑tolerant quantum computing.

During the program, you will have unique opportunities to engage with state‑of‑the‑art technologies in superconducting quantum circuits and hybrid quantum systems from a broad range of perspectives, including theory, design, nanofabrication, measurement, cryogenic wiring, and control electronics.

Research projects will be carried out within the supportive and strategic framework of NQCP, where you will collaborate closely with the simulation & theory, fabrication and characterization teams of NQCP in a data‑and mission‑driven manner. Currently, there are 33 PhD students at NQCP and a range of social activities are continuously going on. In addition to a world‑class research environment, you will therefore also become part of a thriving social environment.