Every year, the Nano Area of Advance recruits new Excellence PhD students to Chalmers. This year, four candidates were selected and three of them have started: Viktor Lilja, Michaela Hošková, and Alexandre Barbosa. How was their way to Chalmers? Why did they choose to apply? And what type of research will they engage in?
After tough competition with over 400 applicants, all three secured the prestigious position. This position allows them to choose their research focus and group, which is one special thing about this PhD. Two reasons why they decided to apply were the freedom to select their own research topic and the inclusive atmosphere at Chalmers.
"My research is broad and connects to various fields, so this position is a perfect fit. My thesis project was in the same area, and I had many new ideas I wanted to explore," says Viktor, who works at the Department of Physics, in the Division of Condensed Matter and Materials Theory.
"This role suits me perfectly because it combines everything I like; research, advanced courses, and teaching. I also find Chalmers to be a very inclusive university," says Michaela, who works at the Department of Physics in the Division of Nano and Biophysics.
Different paths to Chalmers
Each of the three took different ways to get here. Viktor completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Chalmers and even did his thesis project in the same division where he now works, making it a natural choice to apply. For Michaela and Alexandre, the path to Chalmers was slightly different.
"I studied at Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal, where I did my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. I discovered my current supervisor, Nils Engelsen, through one of his publications while studying in Portugal. His research intrigued me, so I decided to apply," says Alexandre, who works in the Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience in the Quantum Technology division.
"I did my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Czech Republic, focusing on physical engineering and nanotechnology. During my exchange program at Chalmers, I joined Timur Shegai’s research group and started working on my Master’s project. I was fascinated by the research and saw great potential in continuing this work for my PhD and that is why I decided to apply" Michaela explains.
Viktor designs nanostructures
Together with his research group and supervisor Philippe Tassin, Viktor uses computer simulations to design nanostructures that manipulate and control light.
"We’re used to thinking of light as rays, but at the nanoscale, when you build structures the size of a light’s wavelengts, you encounter diffraction and resonance effects with many potential applications. I’m currently working on designing an optomechanical resonator. Simply put, it’s like two mirrors that we want to make highly reflective to trap individual photons between them. If we succeed, we can explore the interaction between photons and the mirror's vibrations," Viktor explains.
Viktor is also interested in studying quantum mechanical effects and the interaction between light and mechanical vibrations at the quantum level. Light can be harnessed in many ways, such as creating more compact and affordable sensors in the future.
Michaela studies self-assembly of optical cavities and quantum fluctuations
Michaela’s research is interdisciplinary, combining quantum physics, nanophotonics and colloidal chemistry. She studies the self-assembly of gold particles suspended in liquids, forming optical microcavities with a tunable response in the visible spectral range. Together with her research group, led by Timur Shegai, she investigates how room temperature affects these tiny structures and how this phenomenon can provide insights into deeper physical principles. By measuring thermal fluctuations, they explore Casimir self-assembly as a platform for studying fundamental effects such as the Casimir force, a quantum field force.
"One of my focuses will be expanding this platform and experimenting with different materials. This research is significant because it not only enhances our understanding of the physics behind self-assembled structures but also has practical applications in sensing, nanomachinery, and microfluidics. I aim to expand this platform to create more complex structures for light-matter interactions and explore both fundamental and applied possibilities," Michaela says.
Alexandre studies hybrid quantum systems with nanomechanical resonators
Alexandre works in a newly opened lab with his research group, led by supervisor Nils Engelsen. The primary goal is to develop hybrid quantum systems that connect the motion of nanomechanical resonators to the state of individual atoms. This involves fabricating extremely thin and long nano-strings that can vibrate for extended periods in a vacuum.
"We can control the quantum state of single atoms held with light and use it to steer the motion of the mechanical resonator. In this way, we can create non-classical states of motion in these strings, which allows us to explore the foundations of quantum mechanics and the interplay between quantum physics and gravity," Alexandre explains.
The PhD position opens many doors
All three agree that this position offers excellent opportunities for the future and serves as a great starting point for a career in both academia and industry.
"I see this as the beginning of something new and a valuable opportunity for my future career. It’s a good start to continue in academia and contribute to important knowledge," Michaela says.
"I decided to pursue what I enjoy, and this position offers a breadth of experiences I wouldn’t find elsewhere. My dream is to work on something I love while also contributing to society," Viktor says.
"This position gives me the chance to take control of my research direction. I can focus both on theory and experiments, which will make me a better theoretical and experimental researcher. It’s my dream job—I have a lot of freedom and I’m really enjoying it," Alexandre concludes.
About the Excellence PhD recruitment
Each year, the Nano Area of Advance funds the recruitment of three to four PhD students at departments involved in nanoscience research. The ad is published at the end of November with deadline March 16. The director and co-director together with the steering group of Nano Area of Advance, decide and select the three candidates.
- Doctoral Student, Quantum Technology, Microtechnology and Nanoscience
- Doctoral Student, Nano and Biophysics DP
- Doctoral Student, Condensed Matter and Materials Theory, Physics