Junior and Senior Principal Investigator at QuSoft

Faculty of Science

QuSoft is the new Dutch research Center for Quantum Software that was recently launched jointly by the University of Amsterdam (UvA), the Centrum voor Wiskunde en Informatica (Center for Mathematics and Computer Science, CWI) and the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). Its mission is to develop new protocols, algo-rithms and applications that can be run on small and medium-sized prototypes of a quantum computer. The researchers at QuSoft develop software and applications that exploit the extraordinary power of quantum computers based on their quantum mechanical properties such as superposition, interference and entanglement. That requires fundamentally different techniques and approaches from those used to develop conventional software.

The center is organized into four research directions:

1. Few-qubit applications
2. Quantum testing and debugging
3. Cryptography in a quantum world
4. Quantum architectures

Job description

QuSoft wishes to recruit two principal investigators, one at junior faculty (tenure track) level and the other at the level of associate or full professor. The search focusses on all four QuSoft research groups, but welcomes applications from the whole area of quantum information. The new QuSoft faculty will be part of the ‘core’ of the QuSoft center and we expect that they take on an active role in shaping and developing the center. Both positions have important teaching components within the UvA – first and foremost in specialized courses in the QuSoft subject area, but also in the wider context of the educational programs in Computer Science, Physics and Mathematics at the UvA’s Science faculty.

The new QuSoft faculty members will be employed by the UvA, but will be expected to spend most of their time at the QuSoft Center, which is presently housed by the CWI. The senior position that is available is an associate or full professorship with the UvA.

Requirements

The successful candidates have a research interest and strong track record in the field of quantum information, preferably connecting to one of the research directions. Applicants should have obtained a PhD degree in Physics, Mathematics or Computer Science and must have a demonstrable commitment to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. They should be open to fostering collaborations not only within Amsterdam's academic institutes, but also nationally and internationally. Most import-antly, the successful candidates will display the ability and capacity to develop independent and vigorous programs of funded research. Candidates should be willing to acquire a basic qualifi-cation in teaching (BKO) as demanded by Dutch universities. Diversity is an explicit aim of both universities, with a priority for gender balance, and thus women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Further information

For further information you may contact:

• Prof. Harry Buhrman, director QuSoft or
• Prof. Kareljan Schoutens, co-director QuSoft

Appointment

For the tenure track position, the appointment will initially be on a temporary basis for a period of six years with up to three assess-ment interviews during this period. The position will become permanent after five years in a higher position if the candidate is successful. Criteria that have to be met include success in research, funds acquisition and education. Details of the criteria will be mutually agreed upon before the appointment.

For the senior position a probation period of no more than two years is applicable. Subject to satisfactory performance, this will be turned into a permanent contract.

The date on which the appointment is to begin will be determined by mutual agreement. Based on a full-time appointment (38 hours per week) and a hire at tenure track level, the gross monthly starting salary will range from €3,399 to €5,288 depending on expertise and previous experience (salary scale 11 - 12). For the hire at associate or full professor level, the gross monthly starting salary will range from €4,711 to €7,599 depending on expertise and previous experience (salary scale 13 - 16). The salary will be increased by 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. The Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities is applicable. A favorable tax agreement, the 30% ruling, may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

Job application

Applications should be emailed to our email address application-science@uva.nl stating the position you are applying for and vacancy number 16-338 in the subject line. All applications should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a research statement, a teaching statement, and three names of referees who may be contacted by the selection committee. Please make sure all your material is attached in a single pdf file.

Applications will be processed on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until a suitable candidates has been found. (Formal closing date: 1 October, to be extended if no suitable candidate has been found.)