About this role
Applications are invited for a PhD fellowship/scholarship at Graduate School of Natural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark, within the Physics and Astronomy programme. The position is available from February 2027 or later. Research area and project description: We are seeking a candidate for a fully funded 3-year PhD project at the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Aarhus University, in the new group of Asst. Prof. Christian Frydendahl, as part of a DFF Sapere Aude research grant. Compact, integrable sources of circularly polarized light (CPL) are a key enabling technology for chip-scale quantum technologies, but electrically driven sources of pure CPL do not yet exist. Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) emit left- or right-handed CPL depending on which band structure valley, K or K', an electron-hole pair recombines in. Ordinarily, this occurs with an equal 50/50 split between the two valleys. This project aims to build a new light-emitting diode geometry in which the Valley Hall effect, another intrinsic property of these materials, filters the valley index of the charge carriers during transport, enabling a purely electrically pumped source of CPL. Inducing valley polarization electrically rather than optically is one of the key open challenges in the emerging field of device-based valleytronics. The project also includes a planned 6-month external research stay at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where you will develop and fabricate nanophotonic cavities for integration with the new diode design, enhancing its emission and CPL purity further via the Purcell effect. Your general working tasks would be: van der Waals stacking of hBN-encapsulated TMDC monolayers Nanofabrication in the AU/SUTD cleanroom facilities (EBL, RIE, metal deposition) Opto-electronic characterization: probe station, polarization- and time-resolved spectroscopy at room- and cryogenic temperatures Publishing results and presenting at international conferences Participating in general dissemination and teaching activities For technical reasons, you must upload a project description. When - as here - you apply for a specific project, please simply copy the project description above, and upload it as a PDF in the application. If you wish to, you can indicate an URL where further information can be found. Qualifications and specific competences: Candidates should hold a Master’s degree in physics, nanoscience, photonics or similar. Prior experience with cleanroom nanofabrication, 2D materials, optical spectroscopy or cryogenic measurements is an advantage, but not a requirement. We are looking for a hands-on experimentalist who works well independently and as a part of a team. Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English are a requirement. Place of employment and place of work: The place of employment is Aarhus University, and the place of work is Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ny Munkegade 120, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. Contacts: Applicants seeking further information for this project are invited to contact: Simon Wall, [email protected] , Christian Frydendahl, [email protected] , or Yong Chen, [email protected] How to apply: For information about application requirements and mandatory attachments, please see the Application guide . Please read the Application guide thoroughly before applying. When ready to apply, go to https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/ ( Note, the online application system opens 1 September 2026) Choose November 2026 Call with deadline 1 November 2026 at 23:59 CET. You will be directed to the call and must choose the programme “Physics and Astronomy”. In the boxed named “Study”: In the dropdown menu, please choose : “Quantum Control of Emission in Valleytronic Materials (QCEVaM)” Please note: The programme committee may request further information or invite the applicant to attend an interview. At the Faculty of Natural Science at Aarhus University, we strive to support our scientific staff in their career development. We focus on competency development and career clarification and want to make your opportunities transparent. On our website , you can find information on all types of scientific positions, as well as the entry criteria we use when assessing candidates. You can also read more about how we can assist you in your career planning and development. Aarhus University’s ambition is to be an attractive and inspiring workplace for all and to foster a culture in which each individual has opportunities to thrive, achieve and develop. We view equality and diversity as assets, and we welcome all applicants. All interested candidates are encouraged to apply, regardless of their personal background. Salary and terms of employment are in accordance with applicable collective agreement.