PhD Positions in Diffractive Electron Imaging of Surfaces at TU Delft, Netherlands

About the Position

TU Delft is looking for two PhD candidates to join the Curious Beams Lab and develop a new approach to imaging material surfaces with electrons. The positions are part of BEAMSurf: Diffractive Atomic-Scale Surface Imaging with Backscattered Electrons, an ERC Starting Grant project led by Dr. Georgios Varnavides.

Surfaces control many properties and processes that determine material functionality, from chemical reactions in catalysis to interfaces in nanoelectronic devices. BEAMSurf will develop a new scanning electron microscope that uses coherent backscattered electrons for diffractive imaging of surfaces, with the potential to overcome conventional resolution limits for low-energy SEM.

The Two PhD Roles

• PhD 1 - Electron Optics and Experimental Imaging: design, characterise and integrate miniature electron-optical components into a high-vacuum SEM, separating the backscattered-electron signal from the primary beam.
• PhD 2 - Computational Imaging and Surface Science: develop forward models and inverse-scattering approaches for reflection-mode electron imaging, moving beyond static images towards surfaces as they evolve.

Research Environment

The Curious Beams Lab is part of the Microscopy and Instrumentation Techniques (MInT) cluster of the Department of Imaging Physics at TU Delft, Faculty of Applied Sciences. The cluster works across electron microscopy, from semiconductor inspection to cryogenic electron microscopy, with access to state-of-the-art field-emission SEMs and FIB-SEMs, including a new microscope acquired for this project.

Funding and Employment

Employment and financial support

Component	Details
Position	Paid doctoral employee (full-time, 38 hours/week)
Salary	EUR 3,204 to EUR 4,051 gross per month, increasing from the first to the fourth year, based on the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO).
Additional pay	8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
Duration	Four years in principle, split into two contracts: an initial 18-month contract with a go/no-go assessment, followed by 30 months after a satisfactory assessment.
Project funding	ERC Starting Grant (BEAMSurf); the team also includes a postdoctoral researcher leading instrumentation development.

Eligibility and Requirements

Academic and research preparation

Criterion	Requirement
Academic preparation	MSc or equivalent in physics, applied physics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, computer science, or a closely related field.
Interest	Strong interest in experimental physics, electron microscopy, imaging science or a related area.
Electron-optics track	Experience or interest in electron optics, electromagnetic simulation, nanofabrication, MEMS, vacuum systems or experimental microscopy is particularly valuable.
Computational track	Experience or interest in scientific programming, numerical simulation, inverse problems, computational imaging, diffraction or materials characterisation is particularly valuable.
Availability	Candidates should be available to start in 2027, with some flexibility around the exact start date.

Application dates

Recruitment information

Component	Details
Status	Open when checked on 22 October 2026
Deadline	8 November 2026
Start date	2027 (flexible)
Location	Delft, Netherlands

How to Apply

Apply online through the official vacancy page using the application button. Applications sent by email or post are not processed. Prepare a CV and a motivation letter; check the advert for any additional documents such as transcripts or references.

About TU Delft

TU Delft is a technical university in Delft, the Netherlands. The Faculty of Applied Sciences provides an interdisciplinary environment spanning multiple imaging modalities, wavelengths and length scales, including extreme ultraviolet imaging, optical super-resolution, ultrasound and MRI, as well as AI-based medical imaging.

Official Link

• Official advert and application (verified link)
• All current vacancies at TU Delft (official careers portal)

English language requirements

No IELTS or TOEFL certificate is requested for this employed Dutch position; English is assessed through the application documents and an interview in English.

Contact

Questions about this position, eligibility or the application process should be raised through the contact channel given on the official announcement page (see the Official Link section above). Always quote the position reference in your message so the admissions or HR team can route your enquiry quickly.

Important Notes

• Application deadline: 8 November 2026 - late or incomplete applications are normally not considered.
• Listing details were recorded from the official source at the time of publication; always confirm the latest requirements on the official page before applying.
• Prepare the documents listed in the eligibility and application sections before starting the online form - transcripts, CV and references take the longest to collect.

Application guides

• PhD Employment in the Netherlands: Salary, Contract and Funding Routes
• How to Email a PhD Supervisor: 7 Templates and Practical Tips
• How to Read a PhD Job Advert: Funding, Eligibility and Application Steps