PhD position on high-frequency cryptographically secure circuits

About the employer

Ghent University is a world of its own. Employing more than 15.000 people, it is actively involved in education and research, management and administration, as well as technical and social service provision on a daily basis. It is one of the largest, most exciting employers in the area and offers great career opportunities.

With its 11 faculties and more than 85 departments offering state-of-the-art study programmes grounded in research in a wide range of academic fields, Ghent University is a logical choice for its staff and students.

The IDLab research group is also a core group of imec. Imec is the world-leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. Imec is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium and also has distributed R&D groups at a number of Flemish universities, in the Netherlands, Taiwan, USA, China, and offices in India and Japan.

All of these particular traits make IDLab a top-class research employer.

Description of post

We are looking for one bright and motivated PhD student for TripleQ project. The project is financed by the Independent Research Fund Denmark, and it is a collaboration between IDLab - Ghent University / imec (Belgium), Alea quantum technologies (Denmark), DTU (Denmark), and DFM (Denmark).

TripleQ is an ambitious research and innovation project aiming to develop, test and validate secure, low-cost, and ultra-fast 10 Gigabits/second Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) for next-generation cryptographic applications. In today's highly digitalized societies, information security is crucial as the current cybersecurity infrastructure is under constant pressure from financially and politically motivated hacking. Moreover, the rapid development of quantum computing poses a significant threat, potentially breaking many existing cryptographic protocols and rendering current techniques obsolete. Quantum cryptography offers a solution, which relies on high-quality, certified randomness. Both classical and quantum cryptographic protocols depend on random numbers that are unpredictable to adversaries. TripleQ aims to create QRNGs with a high-security level rooted in the laws of quantum physics, making the technology compact, affordable, and ready for a range of applications. Funded by Innovation Fund Denmark, the project unites leading expertise from four academic and industry partners, working at the forefront of quantum cryptography.

Our offer

The IDLab-Design team (Ghent University - imec) is internationally recognized as a leading research group specializing in advanced integrated circuits and sub-systems for next-generation communications, computing, and quantum systems. Ghent University stands as a globally renowned institution known for the excellence of its research, education, innovation, and scientific advice. Imec, headquartered in Belgium Flanders, is the world-leading R&D and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment, providing abundant opportunities for professional and personal growth.

The selected candidates will be employed with a fulltime contract. Starting date according to mutual agreement.

• We offer a full-time position as a doctoral fellow, consisting of an initial period of 12 months, which - after a positive evaluation, will be extended to a total maximum of 48 months.
• Place of work: Ghent Belgium
• Starting date according to mutual agreement.
• The fellowship amount is 100% of the net salary of an AAP member in equal family circumstances. The individual fellowship amount is determined by the Department of Personnel and Organization based on family status and seniority. A grant that meets the conditions and criteria of the regulations for doctoral fellowships is considered free of personal income tax. Click here for more information about our salary scales
• All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as a wide range of training and education opportunities, 36 days of holiday leave (on an annual basis for a full-time job) supplemented by annual fixed bridge days, bicycle allowance and eco vouchers. Click here for a complete overview of all the staff benefits (in Dutch).

Your profile

The project focuses on high-frequency integrated circuits for cryptographically secure applications. Building on the recent demonstration of the world's fastest Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) system by IDLab, Ghent University – imec and DTU, you will create ultra-fast integrated solutions to major research challenges in this pioneering field of quantum technologies.

• You need to hold (or will obtain in near future) a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Photonics, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Additional experience considered as a plus:
  • Work experience (academic or industrial) or publications
  • Integrated circuit design experience
• Your English is fluent, both speaking and writing
• Ability to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Ability to tackle complex problems

Interested?

Send your application or any questions concerning this vacancy to Prof. Xin (Scott) Yin xin.yin@ugent.be .

Applications should include a CV, a personal motivation letter, academic diplomas, and contact information of three reference persons. After screening, selected candidates will be invited for an online interview as a first contact in a multi-stage selection process. Applications remain welcome until the position is filled.