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Details of the postdoctoral positions
Application Round
March 2026
Project title
Engineering Quantum Reality from Twisted 2D Materials
City
Halle (Saale)
Specific field of research
Physics
Max Planck Institute
Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
Broad field of research
Chemistry, Physics and Technology Section
Short description of the group/project/topic of research

What if twisting and stacking two 2D materials could turn a heterostructure into a topological superconductor?
What if we could build quantum devices that operate at room temperature, using only atomically thin layers?

At the NISE department of the Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, we’re not just studying 2D materials — we’re rewriting the rules of quantum physics. We’re seeking a bold, hands-on experimentalist to join our team in pioneering quantum devices from van der Waals heterostructures, where twist angles become design tools and quantum phases emerge from the art of stacking.

This is not just materials science — it’s quantum engineering at the atomic frontier. You’ll lead the fabrication and characterization of ultra-complex 2D heterostructures, exploring how twist-angle engineering and interface design can unlock topological superconductivity, chiral quantum states, and unconventional pairing mechanisms — all in real devices.

Additional information

Your Mission:

  • Engineer twisted superlattices of 2D van der Waals superconductors to induce and control topological superconducting phases — where Majorana fermions may emerge, paving the way for fault-tolerant quantum computing.
  • Build nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions using 2D ferromagnets and antiferromagnets — probing spin-dependent quantum transport for next-generation spintronic memory and logic.
  • Master the art of deterministic dry transfer, cleanroom nanofabrication, and low-temperature quantum transport — turning fragile 2D layers into robust, functional devices.
  • Use advanced techniques to map quantum states in real space and real time, revealing hidden spin textures, flat-band physics, and coherent quantum phenomena.

You Are:

  • A PhD physicist or materials scientist with deep hands-on experience in 2D material exfoliation, dry-transfer techniques, and low-temperature quantum transport or microwave electronics.
  • Driven by the thrill of discovery — not just measuring, but creating new quantum states.
  • Comfortable in the cleanroom, the cryostat, and the lab notebook — and ready to build the quantum devices of tomorrow.
  • A collaborative thinker who thrives in an international, interdisciplinary team — and who publishes with impact.

Join us!
This isn’t just a postdoc. It’s your chance to twist reality, unlock hidden quantum phases, and help build the next generation of quantum technologies — one layer at a time.

Link to PI’s webpage
https://www.mpi-halle.mpg.de/phonebook/94544
Requirements
Requirements

Applicants have to upload their 

  • CV (including a publication list)
  • a summary of previous research
  • and a statement of interest
Additional requirements for the application
  • two recommendation letters
Principal Investigator
Michael Strauch - Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics
Email: michael.strauch@mpi-halle.mpg.de
Contact person
Michael Strauch
michael.strauch@mpi-halle.mpg.de
+49 345 5582 902