Positions in the Quantum Cloud Lab
Qualified and motivated applicants for graduate or postdoc positions are always welcome to contact Daniel Oblak for information on current opportunities and potental projects in the lab. For guidelines on graduate student applications please refer to The Department of Physics web-page on graduate studies. For specific internship, postdoc and staff opportunities please see below (some panels expand when clicked)
International undergraduate students can apply for a MITACS Research Award.
The University of Calgary has partnered with Mitacs to provide funding through the Globalink program for international senior undergraduate, graduate (Masters or PhD) and postdoctoral fellows from Mitacs partner and eligible countries to be placed at the University of Calgary to take part in international research opportunities. The award is worth $6,000 CAD per student and is generously co-funded by Mitacs and UCalgary Teaching and Learning. This program is currently limited to students from: Brazil, China, France, Germany, Israel, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan USA, UK, Tunisia and the Wallonie-Bruxelles region of Belgium. *countries subject to change
Placements must be between 12-24 weeks in duration.
Students cannot be in their final term, i.e. they must have at least be six months away from completing their degree.
See more on the University of Calgary website on the MITACS research award
More exchange opportunities from MITACS available. Visit the MITACS website for an overview.
ELAP scholarships provide students from post-secondary institutions located in Latin America and the Caribbean with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at undergraduate and graduate levels. Past Canada-CARICOM Leadership Scholarships Program and Canada-Chile Leadership Exchange Scholarship program have now been merged into this program.
Students completing research placements must arrive in Canada for uptake of award between June 1 2021 and no later than February 1, 2022.
Open to undergraduate and graduate students, but for undergraduate students, existing exchange agreement must be in place. No such requirement for graduate students. $7,200 for undergraduates or graduates completing minimum of 4 months or one term of research; $9,700 for graduate students completing 5-6 months of study or research.
Eligible countries/territories: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Uruguay, and Venezuela
See more on Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program – ELAP
The Study in Canada Scholarships program provides students from post-secondary institutions located in the new eligible countries/territories with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the undergraduate and graduate levels. This student exchange program replaces the full-degree-based Study in Canada Scholarships program piloted in 2020. At least 50 scholarships will be awarded in the next competition, with the number increasing each year.
Open to undergraduate and graduate students, but for undergraduate students, existing exchange agreement must be in place. No such requirement for graduate students. $10,200 for undergraduates or graduates completing minimum of 4 months or one term of research; $12,700 for graduate students completing 5-6 months of study or research.
Students completing research placements must arrive in Canada for uptake of award between June 1, 2021 and no later than February 1, 2022.
Eligible countries/territories: Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Taiwan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, and Ukraine.
See more on Study in Canada Scholarships
Information about awards for graduate students can be found on the Faculty of Graduate Studies website and for postdoctoral scholars on the Postdoc Office website.
Postdoctoral Scholar
The postdoctoral researcher is responsible for performing experimental research on detecting ultra-weak photon emission from biological samples. The candidate will plan, perform, and analyze experiments on biological samples using single-photon detection and imaging systems. The position has a 2-year term; the candidate will initially work at UCalgary, and then will transition to the National Research Council of Canada in Ottawa. These two sites are home to teams of experts in biophoton detection/theory and neuroscience applications. The candidate is expected to support the development of funding and attracting graduate students to ensure continued growth in the area of quantum biology. The incumbent will be expected to also present research accomplishments and findings in internal and external meetings, conferences, reports, and publications.
Position Description
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Technical
- The candidate will primarily be responsible for operation of an experimental setup designed to detect single photons (biophotons) from biological samples. Biological samples to be investigated will include living tadpoles and various neuron culture assemblies. Biophoton emission will be investigated using pharmacological and possibly electrophysiological approaches. The incumbent will also be responsible for the analysis and interpretation of the data, working with the teams at UCalgary and National Research Council. The incumbent will design, implement, and consult with the Principal Investigator on projects and programs. The candidate will be expected to identify and pursue new research opportunities aligned with the overall vision of the project.
Mentorship/Coaching
- The candidate will provide training of undergraduate and graduate students in experimental and theoretical research techniques, as well as presentation skills (written and oral).
Publishing/Presenting Research
- Publish/present research accomplishments at both the national and international level, including in high impact/selective academic journals.
- Prepare manuscripts describing findings for submission for publication, and lead process of responding to referees/editors during the peer review process.
Qualifications / Requirements:
- A PhD in physics or related field
- Extensive experience in detailed design, documentation, and implementation of complex technical systems
- Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
- Possessing expert technical knowledge, providing advanced solutions in scientific fields to assist expansion and development of research projects in biophoton research
- A high level of effective time and project management, personal initiative, communications skills, and teamwork
- Ability to think critically and creatively under pressure while exercising good judgement and discretion required
- Position requires flexibility to travel nationally
- Expertise in detection systems operating at the single photon-level is an asset
- Experience with experimental studies of light emission from biological systems is an asset
- Experience handling biological samples for in-vivo or in-vitro studies is an asset
- Knowledge of university policies and procedures is an asset
Occupational Health & Safety
- Understands and complies with the requirements of the University’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy
- Has knowledge of and understands the expectations of the University’s Occupational Health and Safety Management System (OHSMS) and applicable Faculty/Departmental/Unit specific health and safety policies and procedures
- Ensures that all work conducted is in accordance with the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation and Code and other health and safety legislation as applicable
Application Deadline: December 8, 2022
For more information and to apply please visit the University of Calgary career website:
Research Associate
The Research Associate is responsible for the quantum information research conducted with free-space optical link for satellites and for the planning and design of a future upgraded ground-station for optical links to a satellite. The incumbent will also be encouraged to contribute to other research projects in the lab. They will be participating in the planning of experiments with the ground station and other project they are involved in and support the development of funding to ensure continued growth in the area of quantum and quantum communication. The incumbent will be expected to support the PI in publishing and also support in presenting pertinent research accomplishments or findings in internal and external journals and publications which are reviewed locally, nationally and/or globally.
Position Description
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Technical
- Design, implement, monitor, and consult with the Principal Investigator on projects and programs
- Expected to stay abreast with research in the area connecting with the PI to discuss new and interesting research directions
- Amongst, but not limited to, the specific task and objectives of the lab that the incumbent will be responsible for are the operation of and modifications to an existing quantum satellite ground station, design and planning for an upgraded quantum satellite ground station, devising and implementing experiments, which employ the quantum satellite ground station in conjunction with optical fibres, quantum memory, entangled pair sources, etc.
Mentorship/Coaching
- Will provide training of undergraduate and graduate students in experimental and theoretical research techniques, as well as presentation skills (written and oral)
Publishing/Presenting Research
- Support the PI to publish/present research accomplishments at both the national and international level, including in high impact/selective academic journals
- Prepare manuscripts describing findings for submission for publication, and lead the process of responding to referees/editors during peer review
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Must hold a PhD, with expertise in quantum optics and quantum information at the single photon-level
- Experience with optical telescope systems, free-space optical links, and adaptive optics is an asset
- Minimum of 5 years of experience working at a doctoral level is required
- Must have a record of significant publications in the area of quantum information, and a history of providing in-scope supervising graduate students is required
- Extensive experience in detailed design, documentation, and implementation of complex technological systems is required
- Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization is required
- Possesses expert technical knowledge, providing advanced solutions in scientific fields to expand and develop research projects in the area of expertise is required
- Requires high level of effective time and project management, personal initiative, communications skills and teamwork is required
- Ability to think critically and creatively under pressure while exercising good judgement and discretion required
- Position requires flexibility to travel nationally and internationally for short periods of time if required
- Knowledge of university policies and procedures is an asset
Application Deadline: April 12, 2021
For more information and to apply please visit the University of Calgary career website:
Electronics and Photonics Technician
This position reports to the Principal Investigator of the Quantum Communication Lab. The electrical and photonics technician will be involved in the realization of a quantum communications system prototyping from design over implementation to testing. The incumbent must have a strong understanding of high-speed analog and digital electronics and/or photonics system and electro-optical components. The quantum communication system will contain digital processing and signal generation (FPGA-based), pulse-amplifiers, laser drivers and feedback for temperature stabilization, timing synchronization, photo-detectors, amongst other elements. The position is part of a research lab-team, which includes graduate students and postdoctoral scholars and involves interfacing with local and international collaborators.
Position Description
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
Technical
- The overarching task is to assist in the engineering of a practical and deployable photonic quantum communication system comprising electronic subcomponents
- Specifically, the position involves the design, development, and implementation of analog and digital electronics circuits, subsystems and assemblies for a quantum communications system prototype
- Procurement of necessary components and devices
- Assembly of electronic and mechanical components. This includes population of PCBs whenever pre-population is not available from vendor
- Programming of high-speed FPGA for digital signal inputs and outputs
- Liaising and tracking progress supply of subsystems and components from subcontractors/suppliers, which include commercial vendors, local post-secondary colleges and international academic collaborators
- Creating and updating technical documentation describing the developed systems
- As a secondary role, support of the lab-team’s other electronics needs such as inspecting and defective equipment, electrical wiring for experimental setups, and other smaller electronics projects
Qualifications / Requirements:
- Undergraduate or graduate degree in Engineering, Physics, or related discipline
- 2+ years hands-on academic or industrial experience working with photonic engineering, high-speed signal processing electronics and instrumentation or similar
- Example: telecommunications system design and implementation
- Example: High-energy or nuclear physics research systems
- Analog electronics: amplifiers, laser drivers, sensing circuits
- Familiarity with a variety of analog circuits and ability to implement and modify a design for specific purposes
- Example: diode-laser controller with current supply and temperature stabilization
- Digital electronics: microcontrollers, interface protocols (I2C, SPI, USB, etc.), digital circuits and components
- Professional experience in the design and interfacing of digital electronics
- Example: microcontroller boards to control several optoelectronic elements such as intensity modulators
- Mixed signal electronics: Analog processing of digital signals
- Example: integrate pulse amplifier into circuit containing digital pulse generator
- Experience with PCB design: designing and testing PCB boards, including considerations for high speed signals
- Experience with single-ended and differential signalling, impedance matching, microstrips and co-planar waveguides
- Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the organization is required
- Ability to specify design requirements of sub-systems or components for project collaborators to complete
- Require high level of effective time and project management, personal initiative, communications skills and teamwork is required
- Ability to think critically and creatively under pressure while exercising good judgement and discretion
- Experience from academic or industry research and development is a strong asset
- Experience in quantum communication is a strong asset
- Having worked with single photon detectors, fast pulsed laser drivers, FPGAs, time-tagging electronics, RF Signal generation, SPICE simulation, Thermo-electric coolers, Laser drivers, RTL design using VHDL or Verilog, or high-speed interfaces including PCIe and ethernet are strong assets
- Knowledge of university policies and procedures is an asset
Application Deadline: April 19, 2021
For more information and to apply please visit the University of Calgary career website: