Quantum-controlled electron wavepackets in the scanning electron microscope
AMOLF
Company Overview
AMOLF, part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
1949
Approximately 200 employees (source: wikipedia.org). The annual budget is around 17 million euros, funded by NWO, EU grants, and industry contracts (source: amolf.nl).
What They Do
AMOLF is a fundamental research institute focused on complex matter, with applications in sustainable energy materials such as advanced solar cells. The institute is one of three interdisciplinary themes focused on Sustainable Energy Materials, studying nanophotonics and nanomaterials for the conversion of sunlight into electricity and chemicals to support the energy transition (source: amolf.nl). AMOLF develops self-optimizing tandem solar cells and programmable light-driven chemical reactors, manipulating light, charge, and ions on a nanoscale for higher efficiency solar cells and sustainable chemistry (source: amolf.nl). The institute does not produce commercial products but generates insights and demonstrators through its Corporate Partnership and Technology Transfer Program, collaborating with industry on projects funded by NWO and the EU (source: amolf.nl). The target markets are academic and industrial partners in renewable energy, green ICT, and healthcare, without direct customer segments, as it is research-driven (source: amolf.nl). AMOLF plays a unique role as an incubator for Dutch science, with infrastructure such as the NanoLab Amsterdam cleanroom and a precision manufacturing group that produces custom micron-accurate equipment (source: amolf.nl).
Projects & Track Record
AMOLF has completed several notable projects, including the SOLARDAM initiative, established in 2013 for multidisciplinary research on solar energy. Another project is a BSc project from 2018 by students from the University of Amsterdam, which investigated the correlation between temperature and properties of solar panels using data from AMOLF's solar field (source: amolf.nl). The AMOLF Solar Field, established in 2016, monitors six commercial PV panels and collects data every five minutes on power, voltage, current, temperature, and irradiance (source: amolf.nl). Ongoing major projects focus on Sustainable Energy Materials, including colored solar cells that use nanocylinders 600 times thinner than a human hair (source: stensborg.com). Key partnerships include collaborations with universities and industry, with AMOLF playing a crucial role in technology transfer (source: amolf.nl). Geographically, the presence is limited to Amsterdam, but the research impacts global applications in renewable energy (source: wikipedia.org).
Recent Developments
In 2022, AMOLF reorganized its research program into three themes and received NWO's Diversity Award for its international, interdisciplinary team efforts (source: amolf.nl). In 2023, the same department won NWO's Team Science Award for collaborative work (source: amolf.nl). AMOLF celebrated its 75th anniversary on November 12, 2024, with a networking event in Amsterdam, reflecting on its evolution since its founding in 1949 (source: amolf.nl). No major contracts, acquisitions, or mergers have been reported in the past two years, but the institute continues to conduct EU/NWO-funded projects and technology transfer (source: amolf.nl). Key milestones include the growth of the institutional repository for publications in nanophotonics and biophysics, with sponsorship of the Metamaterials'2026 conference emphasizing work in renewable energy (source: amolf.nl).
Working at AMOLF
AMOLF primarily offers positions for PhD students, postdocs, technicians, support staff, and scientific interns within 19 research groups, focusing on themes such as Sustainable Energy Materials (nanophotonics, solar energy) and technical departments (Precision Manufacturing, infrastructure support) (source: amolf.nl). The recruitment process takes place at the sole location in Amsterdam Science Park, with open positions for diverse, international candidates bringing unique perspectives (source: amolf.nl). The company culture emphasizes close, multidisciplinary collaboration and diversity, recognized with NWO awards in 2022 and 2023 (source: wikipedia.org). Key researchers include director Huib Bakker and Bruno Ehrler (Sustainable Energy Materials) (source: wikipedia.org). Specific benefits are not publicly documented, but the institute provides access to unique facilities such as the NanoLab cleanroom and TEM, plus training and cross-institute visits for staff (source: amolf.nl).
Last updated on May 22, 2026 | Report an issue
Work Activities
In this project, you will explore the interaction between high-energy electrons and intense nanostructured light fields in a scanning electron microscope. During this interaction, electrons can absorb or emit one or more photon energy quanta, placing them into a quantum mechanical superposition state. As a result, the electron-initially a point charge- transforms into a complex wavepacket in space and time. The goal of this project is to investigate the use of optical metasurfaces to control nanoscale light fields, with the aim of shaping the electron energy spectrum and wavepacket profile at will. These shaped wavepackets could enable novel forms of ultrafast quantum-coherent materials spectroscopy. The project involves nanofabrication of metasurfaces, setting up a system to modulate light fields, and measuring the electron energy and light emission spectra and their correlations.
Qualifications
You are currently enrolled in a Master's program in physics, nanophotonics, photonics, materials science, or a related field. You have a nationality of an EU-member state and/or you are a student at a Netherlands University. The internship has to be a mandatory part of your curriculum. We expect you to be available for at least 6 months, although longer is preferable.
Work environment
AMOLF is a part of NWO-I and initiate and performs leading fundamental research on the physics of complex forms of matter, and to create new functional materials, in partnership with academia and industry. The institute is located at Amsterdam Science Park and currently employs about 140 researchers and 80 support employees.
The Photonic Materis group focuses on three main research themes:
- Quantum cathodoluminescence microscopy
- Light management in photovoltaics
- Optical metamaterials
Working conditions
At the start of the traineeship your trainee plan will be set out, in consultation with your AMOLF supervisor.
More information?
For further information about the position, please contact Tom Veeken: [email protected] or Albert Polman: [email protected].
Diversity code
AMOLF is highly committed to an inclusive and diverse work environment: we want to develop talent and creativity by bringing together people from different backgrounds and cultures. We recruit and select on the basis of competencies and talents. We strongly encourage anyone with the right qualifications to apply for the vacancy, regardless of age, gender, origin, sexual orientation or physical ability.
AMOLF has won the NNV Diversity Award 2022, which is awarded every two years by the Netherlands Physical Society for demonstrating the most successful implementation of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI).
Apply now
Job expired?Please let AMOLF know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
Apply now
Job expired?Please let AMOLF know you found this job on Rejobs. This will help us grow and get more people to work on renewable energy!
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About the role
May 26, 2026
Internship
Company
- Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Master's student
UTC+01:00
