Post-doc position: Emergent computing in nanomechanical oscillator networks

AMOLF; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing assistance

Visa support

Transport costs coverage

Furnishing expenses coverage

Job summary

AMOLF in Amsterdam seeks a postdoctoral researcher to explore how arrays of coupled micromechanical oscillators can perform computation. You will study bistable silicon drum resonators acting as physical bits, whose interactions enable memory and sequence processing.

The role blends experiments with modelling to map switching pathways and energy costs, leveraging the AMOLF cleanroom and optical facilities. The successful candidate will have a PhD in physics or engineering or be close to

Qualifications

• PhD in physics or engineering (or nearing completion).
• Experience with micromechanics or physical computation is preferred.
• Strong experimental and modelling skills suitable for interdisciplinary work.

Responsibilities

• Design and perform experiments on arrays of coupled silicon drum resonators.
• Model and analyze switching pathways in bistable nanomechanical networks.
• Connect observed phenomena to computational tasks like memory and sequence recognition.

Skills

Physics background

Engineering background

Education

Doctoral degree or near completion

Job description

Post-doc position: Emergent computing in nanomechanical oscillator networks

Work Activities

The Mechanical Metamaterials and Hypersmart Matter groups at AMOLF are recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to investigate how interactions between micromechanical oscillators can give rise to unconventional material computers.

You will investigate arrays of coupled silicon drum resonators, each of which can sustain two stable oscillation phases and thereby act as a physical bit. When these bistable elements interact, their collective response can depend on the history and sequence of applied inputs, opening possibilities for memory and computation. Building on ideas developed in macroscopic mechanical metamaterials, you will explore how networks of these microscopic elements can perform tasks such as counting and recognizing input sequences.

You will combine experiments with modelling to uncover the switching pathways of interacting resonators, connect these pathways to computational tasks, and investigate what sets their robustness and energy cost. Tunable interactions and access to multiple vibrational modes provide opportunities to explore how computational behaviour can be reprogrammed within the same physical device. The experiments will take advantage of the state-of-the-art cleanroom at AMOLF, as well as of our optical characterization facilities.

Qualifications

We seek an excellent candidate with a background in physics or engineering, ideally with relevant experience in micromechanics or physical computation. You need to have a doctoral degree, or have met all the requirements and will receive the doctoral degree shortly. We strongly believe in the benefits of an inclusive and diverse workplace, and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

Work environment

Our groups create (meta)materials and (meta)devices that process information in novel ways, using phenomena that are not traditionally used for computation. We investigate how computational capabilities emerge from the properties of its physical substrate, such as symmetry, topology and disorder. We aim to challenge the current approach to information processing, which assumes that every computational step is carried out perfectly. Instead, we want to build computers that embrace the complexity and imperfection of real-world physical systems.

AMOLF is a part of NWO-I and initiate and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, and to create new functional materials, in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees. www.amolf.nl

Working conditions

• The working atmosphere at the institute is largely determined by young, enthusiastic, mostly foreign employees. Communication is informal and runs through short lines of communication.
• The position is intended as full-time (40 hours / week, 12 months / year) appointment in the service of the Netherlands Foundation of Scientific Research Institutes (NWO-I) for the duration of 3 years
• AMOLF assists any new foreign Postdoc with housing and visa applications and compensates their transport costs and furnishing expenses.

Diversity code

AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.

AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).

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