We currently offer the following research projects in our group
Please contact Pol Forn-Díaz if you are interested in any of the listed offers or to inquire about other opportunities.
Superconducting qubits are the leading candidate platform on which to build quantum processors owing to a continuous development of many fronts of the technology: from enhanced material quality, noise sources mitigation, advanced quantum circuit designs, novel cryogenic technology, etc. The current advanced state of superconducting qubits permits envisioning them towards applications beyond quantum computing. An important direction of application is quantum sensing, given the high sensitivity of qubit devices to environmental fluctuations. In particular, superconducting qubits are the best existing single microwave photon detectors. This permits using qubits to detect signals in the form of individual microwave photons appearing from interactions through fundamental physics effects, such as dark matter axions [1], but also graviational waves.
In this project, a first generation of dark matter axion detectors based on superconducting qubits will be built. The challenge in achieving a highly efficient detector is the combination of cavity QED physics with qubits to detect photons and the resilience of qubits under strong magnetic fields, which are necessary to achieve the axio-to-photon conversion. The project will focus on the characterization of the detector specifications, particularly the study of the baseline of dark count events and their relation with ionizing radiation impacts on the chip [2].
The PhD thesis will be framed in the context of the RADES collaboration, through the QRADES Quantera project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, and by the EU project SUPREME. The project is expected to begin in Q1 2026. Interested candidates may submit an application to pforndiaz@ifae.es with a CV including transcript of university records (both undergraduate and master degrees), a letter of motivation (1 page) and at least 2 letters of recommendation.
[1] A. Dixit et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 141302 (2021)
[2] E. Bertoldo et al., New J. Phys. 27, 023014 (2025)
We can offer experimental research projects related to quantum computing with superconducting circuits for your Treballs Finals de Grau (TFG) or Bachelor Thesis.
We are interested in working with motivated students with background in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science and/or Electrical Engineering to conduct challenging projects with us.
The Catalonia Quantum Academy offers up to 8 Student Research Fellowships to fund stays to conduct Master Theses in our group, with application deadline in late February.
In addition to the current open PhD position, here is a list of relevant scholarships to apply for if you are interested in pursuing a PhD in our group:
If you are interested in postdoctoral positions, please contact us and we will provide all our support for a successful application. Here is a list of relevant fellowships: