As Austria's largest research and technology organisation for applied research, we have set ourselves the goal of making substantial contributions to solving the major challenges of our time: climate change and digitalisation. In doing so, we rely on our specific research, development and technology expertise, which forms the basis for our commitment to excellence in all areas. With our open culture of innovation and our motivated, international teams, we are working to position AIT as Austria's leading research institution at the highest international level and to make a positive contribution to the economy and society. Our Center for Digital Safety & Security located in Vienna invites applications for a PhD Thesis. At the Center for Digital Safety & Security, we develop state-of-the-art information and communication technologies to make our systems highly secure and reliable in the context of comprehensive digitalisation and global networking - focusing on a variety of key technologies such as distributed IT systems, Internet of Things, IoT, cybersecurity, data science, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technologies, quantum and photonic technologies, wireless systems (6G) and digital solutions for crisis and disaster management.Our Research Field Quantum Technologies, within the Competence Unit "Optical Quantum Technologies", specialises in applied research of new methods to exploit the physical properties of optical and wireless communication media and use quantum effects to increase digital security.
Within your PhD-Thesis you will be part of our interdisciplinary, international team and develop new areas of application for photonic quantum technologies. You work on experimental prototypes for Quantum Technologies and quantum communication (e.g. generation of ultra-narrow bandwidth entangled photons, integrated/bulk optics, quantum frequency conversion, etc.). You implement quantum communication protocols in the laboratory and in deployed networks as well as in interfaces with other quantum technologies (e.g. trapped ions).You analyse data and contribute to project reports. You publish your findings in international journals and present them at international conferences. You actively support and supervise students and interns in project-based work. With your innovative work, you help to master the latest challenges in quantum communication.
Your qualifications as an Ingenious Partner:
Completed MSc studies in physics, electrical engineering or a similar technical degreePractical experience with optical set-ups, preferably in the field of quantum optics, is required. Programming and data analysis are highly beneficial. Experience with entangled photon sources, optics simulations, frequency locking and/or ion traps is an asset. Analytical thinking and structured work. High level of commitment and ability to work in a team. Good written and spoken English
What to expect:
Start date: ideally 01.01.2027 – However there is some flexibility concerning the start-date Duration of the PhD project: 3 years EUR 39.649,40 gross per year (14 times / year), for 30 h / week. In addition to AIT’s excellent research infrastructure, numerous trainings in scientific work for your personal and professional development, you will benefit from you own AIT-supervisor, mentorship opportunities, supportive colleagues and last but not least, you will be part of our AIT PhD community with around 150 international students.
At AIT, we create an inclusive and family-friendly working environment that promotes equal opportunities and actively strengthens diversity across our workforce and in leadership positions. Among other initiatives, we are committed to increasing the proportion of women in our company and therefore particularly welcome applications from female applicants.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The emergence of experimental doctoral research specializing in quantum communication represents a critical pivot in the quantum communications value chain from laboratory breakthroughs to practical field implementations. As the global deep-tech infrastructure matures, the structural necessity for advanced researchers who bridge abstract quantum information theory and applied physical network prototyping becomes paramount to resolving the translation gap between physical phenomena and commercial deployment. This specialized academic function acts as a high-leverage enablement point within the telecommunications and cybersecurity sectors, ensuring that emerging quantum key distribution architectures are operationally compatible with existing fiber and classical infrastructures. Market signals from regional technology consortia and sovereign defense initiatives highlight that experimental engineering capability at low Technology Readiness Levels is essential for mitigating the systemic risks of cryptographic obsolescence. By validating theoretical protocol performance under real-world physical constraints, this function accelerates the transition from scientific isolation to standardized, secure data networking.
The experimental quantum communications landscape is undergoing a decisive shift toward the integration of advanced hardware modalities with deployed telecommunication networks. While foundational physics remains critical, the primary bottleneck for industrial scale has shifted to the engineering layer, specifically regarding photon generation efficiency, coherence preservation, and interface interoperability. Current industry focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale, necessitating sophisticated management of the optical-hardware interface to ensure that emerging topologies can withstand environmental fluctuations in outdoor networks without systemic performance degradation.
Workforce scarcity is particularly acute at the intersection of practical optical setup management and quantum information systems engineering. As advanced communications research transitions toward multi-node testbeds, the ecosystem requires early-career innovators who can navigate the fragmentation of hardware stacks and the absence of standardized testing protocols. Current industry dynamics, influenced by intensive public-private funding cycles and national digital sovereignty mandates, place a premium on researchers capable of driving cross-platform compatibility. This structural layer of technical talent acts as the primary mechanism for maintaining technical momentum through varying developmental horizons.
Integration with existing high-performance routing networks and multi-platform quantum nodes remains a high-risk dependency for the sector. The evolution of the global secure communication market depends on the ability to translate abstract protocols into ruggedized, low-maintenance hardware deployments without disrupting classical information transport systems. Consequently, the availability of specialized doctoral researchers capable of managing these complex, cross-functional engineering dependencies dictates whether research organizations can effectively transition from localized prototyping to scalable infrastructure participation.
The capability architecture for this operational profile centers on the synchronization of advanced physical optics research with the rigorous protocols of systems engineering. Mastery of the hardware-agnostic physics layer is essential for ensuring that prototype sub-systems are optimized for the precise physical constraints of modern components, such as narrow-bandwidth emissions and transmission path attenuation. This demands a structured understanding of the integration points between physical photon generation modules and the classical control architectures that orchestrate hybrid network executions.
These technical capabilities are fundamental to the throughput of research organizations, as they enable the parallelization of experimental investigations alongside the development of secure data routing architectures. By establishing reproducible verification and validation frameworks within the laboratory, this function provides the data needed to evaluate true protocol efficiency before significant capital allocation. Furthermore, the ability to operate across interdisciplinary academic boundaries ensures that empirical outputs match the practical needs of public sectors and commercial technology markets. Such localized expertise reduces the iteration friction between abstract proof-of-concepts and deployable networking modules, which is critical for long-term interoperability within the emerging quantum-secure communication market. - Accelerates the deterministic transition from theoretical quantum optics to industrial-grade secure communications infrastructure
- Mitigates systemic execution risks by validating abstract protocol metrics under practical laboratory and field network conditions
- Facilitates the integration of experimental photonic modules into existing telecommunications and data security networks
- Strengthens the reliability of institutional technology roadmaps through empirical benchmarking of hardware sub-systems
- Reduces iteration friction between fundamental quantum mechanics discoveries and the deployment of scalable physical networks
- Optimizes the utilization of highly specialized laboratory infrastructure through rigorous experimental project management
- Enhances the stability of the deep-tech talent pipeline by training high-tier researchers in cross-functional system domains
- Supports the scaling of physical security networks by characterizing the performance limits of hybrid optical assemblies
- Improves the transparency of Technology Readiness Level progression for regulatory bodies and public funding programs
- Enables the structural reproducibility of quantum state manipulation experiments through standardized system validation protocols
- Protects long-term research investments by ensuring direct alignment between scientific discovery and industrial scalability
- Orchestrates the convergence of academic research pathways with the practical operational demands of modern communication systemsIndustry Tags: Quantum Communication, Photonic Systems, Quantum Key Distribution, Applied Optics, Fiber Optic Networks, Technology Readiness Level, Deep Tech Infrastructure, Experimental Physics, Cryptographic Security
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