Postdoctoral Researcher - Superconducting Quantum Sensors for Neutrino Physics, Dark Matter, and Rare Isotopes

Engineering a world of possibilities

Postdoctoral Researcher – Colorado School of Mines Superconducting Quantum Sensors for Neutrino Physics, Dark Matter, and Rare Isotopes

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Quantum Technologies at the Sensitivity Frontier (QTSF) group at the Colorado School of Mines, led by Prof. Wouter Van De Pontseele, is hiring a post-doctoral researcher to develop superconducting sensors and scalable cryogenic readout for neutrino and dark matter experiments. The postdoc will lead one or two research thrusts. Sensor fabrication is handled by NIST and other partner institutions, so the work centers on characterization, readout, and integration into experiments.

The position has guaranteed funding for two years, starting in January 2027. Extension beyond that is possible, subject to funding and performance.

ABOUT THE GROUP

QTSF (qtsf.mines.edu) develops quantum sensors to search for physics Beyond the Standard Model. The group has five PhD students and works closely with several faculty in Mines’ Quantum Engineering program. Current involvement:

• BeEST: precision studies of radioactive isotopes with eV-scale superconducting sensors.
• RICOCHET: coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEvNS) at the ILL reactor in Grenoble, France.
• Project 8: a direct neutrino mass measurement using Cyclotron Radiation Emission Spectroscopy.
• Dark matter: demonstrator experiments for dark matter searches.
• CURIE: the Colorado Underground Research Institute, Mines’ underground laboratory.
  

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Characterize superconducting tunnel junctions (STJs) and transition-edge sensors (TESs), including sub-eV sensors, and integrate them into cryogenic experiments.
• Develop microwave SQUID multiplexing and RFSoC-based readout with bandwidths above 100 kHz for scalable cryogenic experiments.
• Operate the group’s dilution refrigerator.
• Collaborate actively with NIST Boulder’s Quantum Sensors and Advanced Microwave Photonics groups, meeting at least monthly.
• Collaborate with PNNL, LLNL, Yale, MIT, Northwestern, and UC Berkeley, with occasional travel within the US and to France.
• Mentor PhD students and Quantum Engineering master’s students.
• Publish results and present them at conferences and seminars.
  

The position prepares candidates for careers in academia, national laboratories, or industry. It includes teaching opportunities in Mines’ Quantum Engineering program and access to partners through the Elevate Quantum regional ecosystem.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A PhD in Physics, Quantum Engineering, or Electrical Engineering.
  

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with superconducting sensors (e.g., STJs, TESs, MMCs, KIDs) or other cryogenic detectors.
• Experience with SQUID or microwave SQUID multiplexed readout.
• Experience with dilution refrigerators, vector network analyzers, or RFSoC platforms (e.g., QICK).
• Knowledge of low-background techniques or low-threshold detector development.
• Bonus: sensor packaging and wirebonding, or microwave and electromagnetic simulation (e.g., HFSS, SONNET, COMSOL).
  
  

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status):

• A CV with a publication list.
• A cover letter of up to two pages describing your experience and which parts of the program interest you most.
• Contact details for three professional references.
  

Informal inquiries: [email protected]

TOTAL REWARDS

$60,000 - $70,000 annual salary rate
 

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution (12% from Mines in a MDCP averaging $8,640 a year)
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• RTD Ecopass for free regional light rail and bus transportation

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

HOW TO APPLY

Review of applications will be ongoing and continue until filled. Applicants must complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status) and upload the following:

• CV including publication list
• List of three professional references

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position. Contact Kathleen Feighny in HR with any questions at [email protected].

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 40 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2026).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size – roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at [email protected] or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation may be required for this position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting