ERC-Funded Postdoctoral Position on Laser Physics at Bilkent University

The Ultrafast Lasers and Optics Laboratory (UFOLAB) at UNAM and Bilkent University (on the web: ufolab.bilkent.edu.tr) led by Prof. F. Ömer Ilday is looking for multiple postdoc fellows to be funded by the ERC PoC project Supersonic. The project aims to advance the recently invented ablation-cooled laser-material interactions (Nature, 2016) to a new physical regime by developing radically new ultrafast fiber lasers with an architecture that is quite unlike existing ones.

Salary and general conditions: The salary will depend on the individual’s qualifications and can typically be up to a gross value of approximately 3000 Euro per month. The position comes with comprehensive private health insurance for the candidate and their families, in addition to the national public health insurance. Bilkent University offers, conditional on availability, fully-furnished on-campus apartments, which are well-kept, very modern with free high-speed Internet. The housing area is within a short walking distance to the research buildings and a major shopping center with restaurants, cafes, and bars. The monthly rents are heavily subsidized (around 150-200 Euros). Basic living costs in Ankara are low, amounting to less than 500 Euro for a couple, including the cost of on-campus accommodation.

Living at Bilkent: Bilkent University is located in the suburbs, about 10 km from the city center of Ankara, which is the capital of Turkey and a major city. Besides the campus grocery store, there is a large shopping area with many restaurants, retail stores, and groceries immediately outside of campus and within a few minutes of walking distance from the housing area. Cultural activities on campus benefit from the world-renowned Bilkent Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, Bilkent’s large campus includes a small forest and a lake, creating several walking, cycling, and hiking possibilities without even leaving the campus. For candidates with children, Bilkent University has schools on campus covering all age groups, from kindergarten to high school, with instruction in English and following the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Starting date and duration of the position: The position is available immediately. Funding is in place for at least two years, depending on mutual consent. The exact conditions and the starting date will be discussed with the individual candidate.

Application details: Please contact Prof. F. Ömer Ilday via email (ilday@bilkent.edu.tr) with a detailed CV, names of three persons who can provide a reference letter, and 1-3 selected papers.