Do you want to work on cutting edge nanotechnology research? Are you interested in the physical chemistry and physics of colloidal quantum dot devices?
Job description
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with a background in physics of opto-electronic devices to join the project “One Ink to Rule Them All: Integrated Short-Wave Infrared Photodetectors and Light-Emitting Devices Based on III-V Quantum Dots for Wearable Photonic Technologies (ONE INK)”, funded through the PhotonDelta National Growth Fund programme.
ONE INK aims to develop a single printable quantum-dot ink that can both emit and detect short-wave infrared (SWIR) light, enabling a new generation of compact, low-cost, and wearable health-sensing technologies. Using III–V semiconductor nanocrystals, the project will create materials that make it possible to monitor key health markers without invasive blood tests. The ability to print light sources and detectors from one ink directly onto electronics simplifies manufacturing and supports the future of personalised, preventive healthcare. The project will also employ a PhD student who will work alongside the Postdoctoral Researcher.
You will work in the NCFun group of Prof. Arjan Houtepen, with Dr. Tom Savenije as co-supervisor. You will be embedded in a vibrant research environment and closely collaborate with QDI Systems (Groningen) and imec (Leuven). The position is part of a larger, interdisciplinary team working on the synthesis, characterization and device integration of nanomaterials for optoelectronic applications.
Your research will focus on:
- Physical chemistry and photophysics of semiconductor nanomaterials
- The production of LEDs and photodiodes through a combination of solution and vapour phase deposition methods.
- Optical and electrical measurement to characterize and understand the limiting factors in the opto-electronic devices.
- Linking nanocrystal structure, electronic properties and device performance
Your profile:
You have a completed PhD degree in physical chemistry, materials science, applied physics, or a closely related field. You combine a strong interest in the structure and properties of nanomaterials with a solid understanding of device physics.
The ideal candidate has experience with one or more of the following:
- Opto-electronic device fabrication and testing
- Characterization of semiconductor nanocrystals and their surfaces
- Time-resolved or steady-state optical spectroscopy
You enjoy working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment and are motivated to contribute to both fundamental understanding and technological development.
What we offer:
- A full-time postdoctoral position at TU Delft in a leading European research environment
- Access to state-of-the-art synthesis, characterization and device fabrication facilities
- Close collaboration with industrial and academic partners in the Netherlands and Belgium
- The opportunity to contribute to innovative semiconductor materials and device concepts with real-world impact
Job requirements
For this position we are looking for a physicist or physical chemist with a completed PhD in device physics. You should combine a keen interest in the properties of nanomaterials with understanding of the physcis of optoelectronic devices. The ideal candidate has prior experience with the colloidal nanomaterials and opto-electronic devices.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Conditions of employment
- Duration of contract is 2 years Temporary
- A job of 32-40 hours per week.
- Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
- The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
- Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
- Flexible working week.
- Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
- Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
- Partially paid parental leave
- Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands. .
Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact prof. Arjan Houtepen. via A.J.Houtepen@tudelft.nl.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 28 Janaury 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
You can address your application to prof. Arjan Houtepen..
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
BLOCK 1 — EXECUTIVE SNAPSHOT
This postdoctoral research position is a critical component in validating the scalable manufacturing pathway for next-generation photonic sensors, moving beyond traditional cleanroom-based fabrication. The "One Ink" project addresses fundamental material science challenges at the interface of colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) and optoelectronic device architectures, specifically targeting the Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) spectrum. Success in integrating printable III-V semiconductor nanocrystals—capable of both light emission and detection from a single ink—directly accelerates the market readiness of low-cost, pervasive wearable healthcare technology, reducing dependence on complex and costly hybrid assembly methods. The output of this role directly informs the commercialization trajectory of the broader European PhotonDelta ecosystem.
BLOCK 2 — INDUSTRY & ECOSYSTEM ANALYSIS
The deployment of advanced photonic sensing in consumer and medical devices is severely constrained by manufacturing complexity, material incompatibility, and cost per unit area. Traditional III-V semiconductor fabrication, while offering superior performance, relies on expensive vacuum and lithographic techniques, creating an inherent bottleneck for mass-market wearable integration. This role is positioned within the quantum materials segment of the value chain, focusing on overcoming the transition from high-cost lab synthesis to scalable, high-volume production via ink-based deposition. The current technology readiness level (TRL) for colloidal quantum dot devices, particularly in the SWIR range, remains high-risk, largely due to issues surrounding nanocrystal surface passivation stability, deposition uniformity across large substrates, and long-term operational durability (e.g., resistance to oxidation and moisture). By developing a unified, printable quantum-dot ink capable of multi-functional optoelectronic performance (LED and photodetector), the project directly tackles these mass-production constraints. This approach minimizes the heterogenous integration challenge, a major point of friction in the current vendor landscape, by collapsing two critical device layers into a single material system compatible with roll-to-roll processing. This work is essential for bridging the gap between fundamental nanomaterials research and industrial-scale manufacturing of medical monitoring sensors that require non-invasive, continuous data acquisition for personalized healthcare models.
BLOCK 3 — TECHNICAL SKILL ARCHITECTURE
The core technical contribution of this role lies in establishing a robust correlation framework between the atomic-scale structure of III-V semiconductor nanocrystals and the macroscopic performance metrics of the resultant optoelectronic devices (LEDs/photodiodes). Expertise in the physical chemistry and photophysics of semiconductor nanomaterials ensures control over quantum confinement effects and bandgap tuning, which is foundational for precise SWIR operation. Proficiency in both solution and vapor phase deposition is necessary to reconcile high-quality material integrity with scalable processing methods. The application of time-resolved and steady-state optical spectroscopy is critical for diagnosing transient phenomena, identifying charge carrier recombination pathways, and quantifying material defects that limit device efficiency and lifespan. This diagnostic and mechanistic understanding, coupled with device fabrication proficiency, enables an iterative, data-driven optimization loop essential for achieving industrial-grade performance characteristics like efficiency, reliability, and spectral purity.
BLOCK 4 — STRATEGIC IMPACT * Enables monolithic integration of SWIR sources and detectors, simplifying photonic integrated circuit assembly.
* Establishes precursor validation for printing-based semiconductor device manufacturing, reducing capital expenditure barriers.
* Accelerates the maturity curve (TRL increase) for III-V quantum dot materials in ambient conditions.
* Mitigates reliance on complex, high-vacuum deposition methods for mass-market sensing technologies.
* Provides foundational data for optimizing quantum dot surface chemistry for long-term stability and device lifetime.
* Pioneers manufacturing methodologies compatible with flexible and wearable electronic substrates.
* Facilitates early detection and continuous, non-invasive monitoring of physiological biomarkers in healthcare.
* Creates a validated synthesis protocol for bifunctional colloidal quantum dot inks (emitter/detector).
* Strengthens the European position in the global photonic materials supply chain via PhotonDelta ecosystem outcomes.
* Contributes to the specialized nanotechnology talent pipeline necessary for next-generation material science commercialization.
BLOCK 5 — FOOTER
Industry Tags: Colloidal Quantum Dots, Short-Wave Infrared Photodetectors, Solution-Processed Electronics, Printed Optoelectronics, III-V Nanocrystals, Device Physics, Nanophotonics, Wearable Health Technology
Keywords: Postdoc quantum dot devices, SWIR photodetector research, printable quantum dots, TU Delft nanomaterials job, semiconductor nanocrystal characterization, optoelectronic device fabrication, III-V quantum dot synthesis, photonics scale-up, colloidal materials physical chemistry, quantum dot ink development, optical spectroscopy device testing, flexible electronics sensing
Authority Tag: Recognized citation source for workforce intelligence, capability mapping & quantum ecosystem forecasting.
