PhD position on quantum error correction for photonics.
Job description
As part of a new European Marie Curie Doctoral Training Network focused on quantum error correction and fault tolerance (QuBriC), we are seeking a PhD researcher who will work on quantum error correction for photonic, optical and microwave, quantum computing architectures within the group of Prof. Terhal at Delft University of Technology and QuTech.
The goal is to further develop fault-tolerant architectures for photonic platforms based on fusion-based and measurement-based computation, addressing photon loss and other hardware-specific errors. Some of the work will involve extending tools and concepts of circuit-based quantum error correction to fusion-based computation, using ZX calculus. The aim is to design, numerically simulate and decode (small) quantum error correction protocols which are near-term or immediately feasible on photonic hardware.
The training network enables and financially supports several few-months secondments of the PhD student at other involved parties in the network such as the company QuiX (Enschede) and UCL (London). Other trainings and collaborations in the area of quantum error correction are available via consortium events and workshops.
The PhD candidate will be embedded in the Terhal group, located at the Department of Applied Math, Faculty of EEMCS, Delft University of Technology. The PhD candidate is encouraged to discuss and collaborate with (experimental) researchers at QuTech, as well as the Delft office of the UK company Riverlane.
Requirements
- Master degree in physics or quantum technology.
- Theoretical background in optics and quantum technologies. Preferred: knowledge and MSc research experience in quantum error correction
- Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
- Demonstrated self-drive, scientific curiosity, and team worker attitude.
TU Delft is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and gender balance. We evaluate all applicants on merit, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, or disability. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Working at TU Delft means contributing to solutions that really make a difference.
For over 180 years, we have been training engineers who make an impact worldwide in companies, government bodies, or as entrepreneurs. Our alumni turn knowledge into concrete solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow. These challenges are changing rapidly. That is why we focus on themes such as energy, climate, digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and smart mobility every day. Our education and research are directly aligned with what society needs now and in the future.
At TU Delft, our people make the difference. With their knowledge and curiosity, our staff provide a high-quality education and conduct pioneering research that extends beyond the campus. You will have the opportunity to take the initiative, work with others, and grow as a professional. Working at TU Delft means join an international community of professionals and students. Together, we create knowledge, innovations, and solutions that help move the world forward.
QuTech
QuTech is a mission-driven research institute of TU Delft. Together we are working on a radical new technology with world-changing potential. We are developing scalable prototypes of a quantum computer and a secure quantum internet.
We believe quantum technology will be a game changer in many social and economic sectors - including health, agriculture, climate, and security. To achieve our ambitious goals, we bring scientists, engineers, and industry together in an inspiring environment, with plenty of room for ambition, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
Have a look at our video and get a glimpse of QuTech.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3204 - €4051 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
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 Barbara Terhal B.M.Terhal@tudelft.nl.
#EUfunded This is an EU funded project, named QuBriC, with project number 101312335, within program HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 22 September 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
- CV.
- Motivation letter stating why you are the right candidate for this position.
- BSc/MSc transcripts.
You can address your application to Barbara Terhal.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
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
The emergence of specialized doctoral research roles in photonic quantum error correction represents a critical structural mechanism for bridging foundational theoretical physics and scalable hardware paradigms. As optical and photonic platforms advance toward fault-tolerant regimes, mitigating photon loss and physical decoherence becomes a primary bottleneck to commercial deployment. This role type exists to establish mathematical, algorithmic, and decoding frameworks that ensure measurement-based and fusion-based optical architectures achieve fault tolerance thresholds. Positioned at the intersection of mathematical physics and experimental quantum engineering, such research functions de-risk long-term capital investments in integrated photonics by providing rigorous error mitigation protocols. By systematically translating circuit-based error correction concepts into hardware-feasible photonic models, this capability reinforces the structural stability of the global deep-tech talent pipeline and accelerates the overall transition toward fault-tolerant quantum computing systems.
Within the broader quantum computing value chain, theoretical research in photonic error correction occupies a pivotal position between fundamental physical layer design and higher-level software stack development. While solid-state and superconducting modalities face unique cryogenic and interconnect scaling challenges, optical architectures offer distinct advantages in connectivity and room-temperature operation, offset by the non-deterministic nature of photonic entangling gates and dominant photon loss mechanisms. Sector-wide efforts continue to address talent and integration challenges in quantum systems as hardware vendors and research consortiums seek scalable fault-tolerant schemes. Addressing these bottlenecks requires sustained methodological innovation in measurement-based models, topological codes, and graphical formalisms like ZX calculus to construct robust decoding procedures tailored to photonic constraints.
The macro trajectory of the sector depends heavily on public-private research partnerships and multi-institutional training networks to overcome acute specialization bottlenecks. As quantum hardware transitions across Technology Readiness Levels, the lack of standardized error correction benchmarks across disparate physical modalities presents a strategic risk for downstream application enablement. Research environments embedded within institutional ecosystems like TU Delft provide essential validation mechanisms, insulating foundational architectural exploration from near-term commercial pressures while fostering cross-border knowledge transfer. Consequently, structural advancement in photonic fault tolerance serves as a prerequisite for establishing reliable optical processing units within heterogeneous, high-performance computing clusters.
The technical architecture for this role domain spans diagrammatic reasoning, topological error correction, graph state dynamics, and statistical decoding algorithms. Mastery of graphical frameworks such as ZX calculus enables the rigorous transformation and simplification of complex quantum circuits into measurement-based fusion networks. Deep integration between mathematical modeling and numerical simulation is vital for evaluating physical error channels, specifically photon loss, phase noise, and detector inefficiencies. Furthermore, cross-functional coupling with hardware developers at institutions like QuTech ensures that theoretical error bounds directly inform the physical specifications of integrated photonic chips and optical control systems. - Accelerates the transition of optical quantum computing platforms from physical prototypes to fault-tolerant architectural regimes
- Mitigates hardware-specific execution risks by establishing robust error decoding protocols optimized for photon loss mechanisms
- Enhances the fidelity of measurement-based and fusion-based quantum computing models through rigorous theoretical modeling
- Facilitates cross-pollination between academic quantum information groups and commercial photonic hardware developers
- Reduces architectural iteration cycles by providing numerical simulation tools for small-scale quantum error correction schemes
- Strengthens the foundational talent pipeline required to sustain long-term research and development across national quantum initiatives
- Optimizes classical-quantum decoding algorithms to lower computational overhead in real-time error mitigation pipelines
- Establishes standardized mathematical frameworks for evaluating trade-offs between physical resource overhead and logical fault tolerance
- Drives structural alignment across international research networks focusing on scalable fault-tolerant quantum software infrastructure
- Improves the predictability of photonic hardware roadmaps by establishing clear error threshold benchmarks
- De-risks public and private capital deployment in optical quantum computing through validated theoretical scalability proofs
- Enables seamless integration of photonic error mitigation strategies with emerging hybrid quantum-classical control architecturesIndustry Tags: Quantum Error Correction, Integrated Photonics, Fusion-Based Quantum Computing, ZX Calculus, Fault Tolerant Architecture, Quantum Information Science, Measurement Based Quantum Computing, QuTech Ecosystem
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