Call for postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship in the field of Nanoscience/Chemistry

Are you a postdoctoral researcher thinking about your next career move? The Marie Sklodowska-Curie (MSCA) Individual Fellowships are a great option if you are an experienced researcher looking to give your career a boost by working abroad.

Group and project information

Project; Preparation and implementation of designed coordination complexes as spin-based molecular quantum gates

The realization of quantum computing will spur strongly the upcoming quantum revolution. It thus constitutes one of the most important contemporary scientific challenges. Some technologies are already being implemented through quantum computers of a few dozen quantum bits (qubits). However, scalability requirements, in addition to the quest for much higher degrees of complexity necessitate the development of other platforms, with an aim to implement sophisticated algorithms. One of the promising candidates to encode qubits as part of integrated architectures is the electronic spin contained within molecules. The spin states can be coherently manipulated by external magnetic field pulses while they are insensitive to electric noise (unlike any form of electric circuit). The versatility inherent to synthetic chemistry is a great advantage for the design and tuning of spin-based qubits, ideally combined within molecular architectures and capable of performing multiqubit algorithms and protocols. Our group has pioneered the enterprise of using coordination chemistry for the preparation of qubits and qugates for quantum computing (Chem. Soc. Rev. 2012, 41, 537–546). We have put forward the first prototypes of 2-qubit gates made of metallic complexes (Phys. Rev. Lett., 2011, 107, 117203; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2014, 136, 14215−14222). Our group is now involved in two multidisciplinary European consortia (QUANTERA and FET-OPEN) and several projects to bring forward this ambitious enterprise and contribute to the merging of the molecular resources with solid state technologies that will allow to integrate the spin-based qubits and gates within sets of superconducting circuits. The latter would facilitate the coherent coupling of the molecular spins with individual photons, allowing to wire up in logic ways various molecules, as well as providing the read out and write up mechanisms. The present MSCA fellowship is intended to make an important contribution towards this goal through the design, preparation and study of new coordination complexes of 3d metals (specially Cu, Ti or V), known to exhibit high quantum coherence, as novel multiqubit qugates. The newly designed complexes not only will be capable of performed complicated qugates and quantum protocols but would have the specific properties to integrate into superconducting circuits, to be part of integrated hybrid quantum devices. The tasks would involve organic and inorganic synthetic chemistry, structure elucidation and physical characterization of the newly prepared molecules. In addition, the behavior of these on various substrates will be carefully investigated, as well as their spectroscopic properties.

This MSCA project will be supported by the following resources:

-European Commission, FET-OPEN; FAult Tolerant MOLecular Spin processor, FATMOLS (2019-2022)

-Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities: PGC2018-098630-B-I00 (2018-2022)

-EU H2020 ERA-NET Consortium, QuantERA (2019-2021)

-ICREA ACADEMIA (2018-2022)

Skills/Qualifications:

Experience in organic synthesis and coordination chemistry synthesis.

Single crystal X-ray diffraction data collection and structural resolution

Experience with NMR and Mass Spectrometry

Experience with nanostructuration (nanoparticles)

Experience with characterization of surfaces.

International research experience

Experience in supervising undergraduate and PhD students

International exposure (eg invited to pronounce oral communications)

High publication record

Specific Requirements

Capable of designing and preparing organic ligands

Capable of running single crystal X-ray diffractometer and solve structures

Capable of writing papers

Have experience on student supervision

Required Languages: English Good to excellent

Eligibility Criteria: Described in the Guide for Applicants

Support for applicants

The International Research Projects Office at the University of Barcelona offers support to applicants (eligibility check, info sessions, feedback on the draft proposal) and runs a Mentoring programme specifically designed for MSCA applicants (subject to availability)

Required Documents/Selection process:

• Curriculum Vitae ( mail subject: MSCA postdoctoral candidature; email address to be sent: aromi@ub.edu)
• Two recommendation letters
• Possibility of an interview

Expressions of interest with required documents must be submitted no later than May 31 2020