Graduate Openings
Prof. Michael Balogh is seeking motivated MSc and PhD students to work on various projects related to the formation and growth of galaxies. There remain many interesting questions remaining about how our Universe has changed over the last six billion years (i.e., the last half of its existence). During this time, gravity has been slowly drawing matter together, creating ever more massive structures. The complex interplay between gravity, the expansion of the Universe, and the interaction between normal and dark matter has ultimately resulted in the wide diversity of galaxies we see today. There are many physical processes at work over a huge range of scales that must lead to this present-day diversity, and we have yet to develop a self-consistent model that explains how this works in a satisfactory way.
Research projects can be found to fit the interests and abilities of different applicants. Such projects include gathering and analysing observational data on galaxies at different stages of the Universe's history to put together an empirical picture of galaxy evolution; phenomenological studies of how simple toy models can be compared to data to learn about which physical processes operate when and where; and analytic or numerical calculations that relate the growth of structure to the evolution of galaxies.
Examples of the type of research in which Prof. Balogh is involved can
be found at http://quixote.uwaterloo.ca/~mbalogh/research.html.
J.L. (Iain) Campbell
Our group has responsibilities for the basic physics and calibration of the APXS instrument on NASA’s upcoming Mars Science Laboratory mission. Like its predecessors on the Mars Exploration Rovers, the APXS analyzes the elemental makeup of Martian rocks and soils using a combination of XRF and PIXE; following our recent work it also has the potential to determine water content. Opportunities exist for graduate students in several areas: laboratory experiments to clarify the underlying atomic physics; simulation of instrument response especially in terms of understanding surface coatings, development of calibration methodology, refinement of the x-ray scatter method for water determination, software development, re-analysis of MER data, and analysis of MSL data.
In the Dutcher group (www.physics.uoguelph.ca/psi), we use a wide range of state-of-the-art, surface-sensitive nanoscience tools in newly renovated laboratories to study polymers, biopolymers and bacterial cells at surfaces and interfaces. Our goal is to achieve a fundamental understanding of these systems which have direct industrial applications such as remediation of bacterial contamination of surfaces, delivery of bioactive compounds, development of novel biosensors, and improvements on the efficiency of producing ethanol from cellulose. Potential graduate student projects include
- using single molecule techniques such as atomic force microscopy, optical tweezers and total internal reflection fluorescence to study the nanomechanical properties of live bacterial cells under different environmental conditions and their response to novel antimicrobial compounds,
- using techniques such as surface plasmon resonance microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance techniques to measure the kinetics of protein and peptide adsorption and enzymatic degradation of biopolymers such as cellulose, and
- developing new biosensors and delivery vehicles for bioactive compounds using novel polysaccharide nanoparticles.
There are M.Sc. and Ph.D. positions to work with Professor Michel Gingras on theoretical problems pertaining to the physics of frustrated and/or disordered classical and quantum spin systems.
Frustrated interactions arise when a system cannot minimize its total classical energy by minimizing the energy of its pairwise interactions, pair by pair. In the context of magnetic system and strongly correlated electrons, frustrated interactions can give rise to a plethora of exotic phenomena. Examples include persistent spin fluctuations down to absolute zero temperature, magnetic analogue of proton disorder in water ice (i.e. "spin ice"), thermal and quantum mechanical "order-by-disorder", novel universality at phase transitions, breakdown of the standard Ginzburg-Landau-Wilson paradigm of critical phenomena, etc.
Illustrative examples of recent projects in this are done by students and/or post-docs in Prof. Gingras' group are:
http://arxiv.org/abs/0810.0854 -- Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 087202 (2009)
http://arxiv.org/abs/0801.0443 -- Phys. Rev. B 78, 184408 (2008)
http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0608523 -- Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 157204 (2007)
http://arxiv.org/abs/cond-mat/0608145 -- Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 237203 (2006)
More details can be found on the website of the "Quantum Matters Research Group"
http://saskeram.cmt.uwaterloo.ca/qm/, and
http://www.physics.uwaterloo.ca/people/gingras/index.html
Potentially interested students should contact:
Michel Gingras Professor of Physics,
Canada Research Chair in Condensed Matter Theory & Statistical Mechanics,
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research / Quantum Materials Program,
Department of Physics and Astronomy,
Quantum Matters Group,
University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue, Waterloo, Ontario,
Tel: 1-519-888-4567 (ext. 35697)
FAX: 1-519-746-8115
E-mail: gingras@gandalf.uwaterloo.ca
WEB: http://www.physics.uwaterloo.ca/research/cmt/Home.html
http://www.physics.uwaterloo.ca/people/gingras/index.html
Resonant x-ray scattering is emerging as a powerful new tool to study electronic ordering in materials like the high temperature superconductors or the colossal magneto resistance manganite materials. In conjunction with groups at the University of British Columbia and the Canadian Light Source, David Hawthorn’s research group has developed a new state-of-the-art facility for this technique at the Canadian Light Source, the new 3rd generation synchrotron in Saskatoon. The power of this technique is to combine x-ray scattering, which probes spatial order, with x-ray spectroscopy, which probes electronic structure and is sensitive to different atomic species, as well as different valence, magnetic and orbital states within an atomic species. This combination allows one to probe very directly and considerable detail a variety of exotic magnetic (spin), charge, orbital or structural ordering phenomena.
For more information about research with Dr. Hawthorn
Dr. Mike Hudson is seeking 2 students to start Fall 2010.
There remain many unsolved questions about the Universe and its
evolution from a smooth beginnings to the complexity of the present-
day. I am particularly interested in how structure - including
galaxies - forms and evolves. What roles do dark matter, mergers, star
formation, supernovae, and supermassive black holes play in their
formation? My research is in observational cosmology, using techniques
such as gravitational lensing and spectral synthesis to address
unsolved puzzles in galaxy and structure formation.
I am seeking keen M.Sc. and Ph.D students to work on projects that
address these fundamental questions. The projects either involve
analysis of observational data, or the numerical simulation galaxy and
structure formation and comparison with data. More details on my home
page: mjhudson.uwaterloo.ca
The Institute for Quantum Computing is seeking graduate students in all theoretical and experimental aspects of quantum information processing, bridging areas from pure mathematics to engineering.
Quantum information science and technology aims to develop applications and devices that will harness the quantum world and lead to technologies that will form the economic engine of the 21st century. These applications and devices will create knowledge that will be transferred throughout academia in undergraduate and graduate programs, to industry through educational programs and collaborative research, and to the general public through a series of awareness programs.
IQC is a world-leading institute for research and education in quantum information at the University of Waterloo. It has strong ties with the faculties of Engineering, Mathematics and Science and includes researchers with joint appointments in the departments of Applied Mathematics, Chemistry, Combinatorics & Optimization, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering and Physics & Astronomy.
IQC is seeking a full range of graduate students to develop a better understanding of the foundation of the field of quantum information, to develop new quantum applications and algorithms, to evolve them into laboratory experiments and engineered systems and to transfer this knowledge to industry.
To learn more about IQC and for information on how to join IQC for graduate studies, please visit the “Positions” link at www.iqc.ca.
The newly established group of Professor Thomas Jennewein is recruiting graduate students for work in the domain of Quantum Information Processing.
This field combines information technologies with the laws of quantum physics and is at the forefront of research today, giving rise to powerful concepts such as Quantum Computing and Quantum Cryptography. The group at the Institute of Quantum Computing (U of W campus) focuses at the experimental realisations of Quantum Cryptography over large distances using entangled photons transmitted between two parties to generate a secret between them. One of the ongoing project is towards realizing a space mission, putting a single photon source into a satellite and detect the photons on the ground. The necessary electronic and opto-mechanical components will be designed and tested in house:
- stable sources of entangled and single photons
- automated tracking of telescopes
- adaptive optics to correct atmospheric distortion
- time synchronisation to identify the correct emission-detection events
- electronics for onboard data registration and date processing
Motivated students are very welcome to contact Thomas Jennewein directly for more details.
There is a position available for a graduate student to work on experimental investigation of semiconductor quantum dots and quantum dot electronic circuits based on InGaAs/InP structures as building blocks of a future quantum computer.
This position is through the University of Waterloo, though, a major part of this work is to be done at the Institute for Microstructural Sciences in Ottawa under the supervision of Prof. Studenikin (adjunct) and co-supervised by Prof. Jan Kycia (Waterloo). Our laboratory is very well equipped with high frequency pulse (sub nanoseconds) and microwave (up to 50 GHz) instruments for quantum state manipulation experiments at cryogenic temperatures. The quantum dot devices are fabricated in our Institute by state-of-the-art technology and advanced nano-lithography techniques. The student's work will involve low-noise magnetotransport measurements at milli-Kelvin temperatures. When suitable quantum dot circuits are prepared and carefully calibrated in a few electron regime, next stage will involve coherent manipulation experiments with application of fast pulses and microwaves to the gates. It should be noted that NRC offers a highly professional environment allowing students to receive an invaluable experience based on daily interactions and personal mentorship. Interested students for further details should contact Prof. Sergei Studenikin (sergei.studenikin@nrc.ca) or Prof. Jan Kycia (jkycia@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca)
Positions for graduate students are available in the group of Prof. Ladizhansky in the area of solid-state NMR and its applications to problems in structural biophysics. The successful candidates will join a very dynamic and interactive team. We are currently looking for students for three major projects:
- Solid-state NMR studies of membrane-associated Myelin Basic Protein (MBP). Myelin Basic Protein is one of the main constituents of the myelin sheath, a multilayered lipid structure that wraps around nerve axons in vertebrates. MBP interacts with lipids to maintain compactness of the myelin sheath, and thus to keep nerve axons isolated. In Multiple Sclerosis, MBP becomes posttranslationally modified and loses its ability to interact with lipids. The main objective of this project is to understand the structural basis of the MBP-lipid interactions, and to understand, at molecular level, why post-translationally modified forms of MBP precipitate neurodegeneration.
- Solid-state NMR studies of the membrane protein Proteorhodopsin. We are currently expanding our efforts towards high resolution structure determination of a novel bacterial proton pump found in ocean plankton, proteorhodopsin. Our efforts are directed towards understanding the 3D structure of the protein, and of structural changes occurring in the protein during its photocycle.
- Development of solid-state NMR methods for protein structure elucidation. We are, in general, interested in developing new methods for protein structure determination. This includes, but is not limited to: novel detection methods, new methodology for spectral assignments, methods for measurement of structural constraints, methods for understanding the dynamic processes in biological macromolecules, etc.
mechanics) of NMR.
If interested, please contact me by email, vladimir@physics.uoguelph.ca, and/or visit my web site: www.physics.uoguelph.ca/~vladimir.
Biophysics of lipids and lipid-protein interactions, the role of structural changes and physical properties of lipid and cell membrane in controlling biological processes and diseases, application of lipid films in biomedical nanotechnology.
Currently we study amyloid fibril formation (related to various neurodegenerative diseases) on model lipid membranes and cell surfaces, structure and function of lung surfactant (AFM image), using optical and fluorescence microscopy, Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer technique, as well as advanced scanning probe microscopy methods, such as Atomic Force Microscopy, Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy and atomic force measurements.
Motivated students interested in MS or PhD study are invited to apply to participate in the following project:
Interaction of lung surfactant with nanoparticles.To apply contact Dr. Zoya Leonenko by e-mail: zleonenk@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca
Using Atomic Force Microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and AFM force measurements we will investigate how nanoparticles interact with model lipid monolayers and lung surfactant films. Dependence on shape, size and charge of nanoparticles will be investigated. The student will be involved in interdisciplinary international collaboration and develop wide variety of interdisciplinary skills in physics and biology, scanning probe microscopy, surface chemistry and nanotechnology.
Two PhD projects are available in the M2NeT Lab to begin in 2009. The projects are available in the following areas:
- Multiscale phenomena in low dimensional nanostructures (your research interests are in condensed matter physics/computational physics);
- Biological nanostructures; microstructures and phase transformations in biological, smart and bio-inspired materials (your research interests are in biophysics/modelling);
- Inverse problem approaches in studying quantum dots with applications to control and information processing (your research interests are in condensed matter physics/mathematical physics and their applications).
Dr. Elisabeth Nicol (Guelph) has possible openings for one or two graduate students at the M.Sc. or Ph.D. level beginning in either May 2009 or Sept. 2009. The area of research is theoretical condensed matter physics of quantum materials. In particular, the current research interests are on the topics of superconductivity and graphene. Superconductivity has been around for almost one hundred years and yet new exotic superconductors, such as the high temperature cuprates, remain a mystery. Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, was isolated for the first time in 2004 and the low energy excitations in this material map on to the Dirac Hamilitonian for massless fermions. Both superconductivity and graphene are hot topics in physics right now and so the field moves very quickly. The emphasis of Dr. Nicol's group is to do calculations in close relation with experiment. Potential students need to have high academic standing with strong mathematics and computer skills. Unfortunately, due to excessive differential foreign tuition fees at Guelph, foreign students cannot be accepted into this group at this time.
Kevin Resch’s group, located at the Institute for Quantum Computing, is working on sources of entangled photons for use in quantum information protocols, quantum state reconstruction, and nonlinear optical interferometry. For some examples of our recently published work, see:
R. Kaltenbaek, J. Lavoie, D.N. Biggerstaff, and K.J. Resch, Nature Physics 4, 864 (2008)
J. Lavoie, R. Kaltenbaek, and K.J. Resch, New Journal of Physics 11, 073051 (2009).
R. Kaltenbaek, J. Lavoie, and K.J. Resch, Physical Review Letters 102, 243601 (2009).
We have openings for highly motivated graduate students who want to join a competitive and fast paced field. For information about specific projects, please contact Kevin Resch directly (kresch[AT]iqc[DOT]ca).
Dr. Brian West has openings for graduate students (M.Sc. and PhD) to work on projects involving photonic and plasmonic waveguides. The ideal candidates have a background in physics, engineering physics, or electrical engineering, with some experience in computational modeling (Matlab is preferred). Past experience in a photonics laboratory environment is a considerable asset.
Two areas of research are currently available:
- Modeling of nonlinear plasmonic waveguides and devices Plasmonic waveguides – in which optical-frequency radiation is guided along the boundary of a metal and a dielectric – allow confinement of optical energy to a volume far below the diffraction limit. This admits the possibility of accessing nonlinear effects at reasonably low powers; such effects permit all-optical switching and computation. A graduate student is needed to perform analytical and numerical modeling of nonlinear plasmonic waveguides, and to design all-optical switches and logic gates based on these waveguides.
- Design and applications of nonreciprocal gratings Waveguide gratings, in either the Bragg or long-period regime, have become indispensable elements in optical systems. The significant wavelength dependence of their transmission and dispersion permits their use for such applications as optical signal (de)multiplexing, signal conditioning, waveform generation, and spectrum analysis. Furthermore, the sensitivity of many gratings to their environment makes them ideal components for sensing applications. Coupling reciprocity is a fundamental property of index gratings, due to the symmetry of their spectral sidebands. It has been shown however, that full or partial nonreciprocity in the coupling characteristics can be obtained in gratings with a complex index profile – that is, with a variation in both the real refractive index and the gain / loss coefficient. These structures provide additional functionality that is not available with reciprocal gratings, with optical loop buffering as the primary example. A graduate student is needed to perform analytical and numerical modeling as well as characterization of nonreciprocal gratings and related devices.
Brian WestTel: +1-519-884-0710 (ext. 2333)
Assistant Professor of Physics, Wilfrid Laurier University
Adjunct Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Waterloo
75 University Ave.
Waterloo, ON, Canada
N2L 3C5
Email: bwest@wlu.ca
Web
The quantum device theory group headed by Dr. Frank Wilhelm is looking for new graduate students in the areas of theory of quantum limited measurements of microwaves and of noise in materials for quantum computing. Interested students should refer to Dr. Wilhelm's webpage.
David Yevick's group is expected to have one or two openings for applied physics students interested in the application of modern physical and mathematical methods to industrially relevant problems in communications. Current research concentrates on efficient procedures for analyzing statistically unlikely quantities such as random bit errors, measurement techniques for communication systems with emphasis on very high-speed measurements of polarization activity and polarization mode delay in optical communication components and theoretical and numerical models of polarization evolution. A detailed description of our research interests can be found at http://www.science.uwaterloo.ca/~yevick/.
