Welcome to QuRIOUS!

QuRIOUS – Quantum Research and Innovation in Optical clocks for Upcoming Scientists is Doctoral Network fundend by the European Commission. Over the next 4 years, QuRIOUS will train 15 PhD researchers in the rapidly advancing field of optical clocks and their applications in science and industry.

Optical clocks, the most precise timekeepers ever built, measure time with an accuracy of up to one part in a quintillion, enabling breakthroughs in navigation, geodesy, telecommunications, and fundamental physics. With the quantum technology market projected to reach €3 billion by 2030, QuRIOUS aims to equip a new generation of experts to lead Europe’s progress in this field.

The network, coordinated by the University of Amsterdam, unites 11 leading universities and industry partners—including institutions in Amsterdam, Birmingham, Copenhagen, Toruń, Vienna, Innsbruck, Paris, and Italy’s National Metrology Institute—along with 11 associated partners across Europe. Together, they will provide world-class training at the intersection of quantum science and technology.

“Optical clocks are becoming central to many areas of science and industry,” says coordinator Florian Schreck (University of Amsterdam). “QuRIOUS will prepare young scientists to drive the next wave of quantum innovation.”
​
QuRIOUS builds on previous EU-funded initiatives such as MoSaiQC, iqClock, and AQuRA, continuing Europe’s leadership in quantum timekeeping and precision measurement.

Recent News

16-04-2026: Application for position R7-CNRS-LTE is still possible!

 Last chance to apply for the QuRIOUS position hosted by CNRS-LTE! Find out more about the project here, and please visit the LTE website to apply!

1-4-2026: Welcoem Bhagyashri!

We’re very pleased to welcome Bhagyashri Bidwai to the QuRIOUS team, starting April 1, 2026!
 
Bhagyashri completed her master’s degree in Physics from Savitribai Phule Pune University and has gained research experience at the Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bangalore, where she worked in the QuMiX Lab on Raman-driven spin noise spectroscopy (RDSNS) and quantum sensing in ultracold potassium (³⁹K) and thermal rubidium (⁸⁷Rb) atomic systems. Her work involved precision measurements, laser cooling and trapping techniques, and experimental studies in ultracold atom physics.

Her PhD work focuses on the experimental study of a continuously operating superradiant laser based on ultracold ytterbium atoms coupled to an optical cavity. A key aspect of the project involves the atom transport system, where atoms are transferred from a magneto-optical trap (MOT) into the cavity region and prepared for interaction on the ¹S₀ → ³P₀ optical clock transition. The objective is to achieve efficient atom–cavity coupling enabling continuous coherent emission from the atomic ensemble and to investigate cavity-assisted collective emission as a route toward ultra-stable optical frequency references.
 
Bhagyashri will join the QuRIOUS network and is based at the FEMTO-ST Institute (CNRS) in Besançon, France as R5-CNRS-FEMTO. We are delighted to have Bhagyashri join the QuRIOUS network and look forward to this exciting journey!

26-2-2026: Application for position R10-UMK is still possible!

 Last chance to apply for the QuRIOUS position hosted by UMK! Find out more about the project here, and please visit the UMK website to apply!

18-12-2025: School on Space Quantum Technology

On December 15 - 17, QuRIOUS, together with the FAMO consortium and the MoSaiQC project, organized the "School on Space Quantum Technology: communication, computing and sensors". The school took place at QuRIOUS partner UMK.

1-11-2025: Welcome Benoit!

📣 We’re very pleased to welcome Benoit Brouillet to the QuRIOUS team, starting November 1, 2025!
Graduated from Télécom Physique Strasbourg (France) engineering school and from the QTEP (quantum Technologies European Program) Master degree of the University of Strasbourg, Benoit has joined Florian Schreck's group as a PhD student to work on the zero deadtime clock project.  He had the opportunity to do a 6 months internship in this group and on the same project for my studies, allowing him to already have a good understanding of the whole project.
Barna will join the QuRIOUS network and is based at the University of Amsterdam as R2-UvA.
👏 Welcome to the team, Benoit! We look forward to working with you.

1-11-2025: Welcome Barna!

📣 We’re very pleased to welcome Barna Mendei to the QuRIOUS team, starting November 1, 2025!
Barna recieved his Master in Physics at the Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. He joined the research group in Innsbruck, where he will investigate the Doppler-slowing and cooling of positronium using theoretical techniques. Barna will join the QuRIOUS network and is based at the University of Innsbruck as R12-UIBK.
👏 Welcome to the team, Barna! We look forward to working with you.

1-10-2025: Welcome Pranav!

📣 We’re very pleased to welcome Pranav Ticku to the QuRIOUS team, starting October 1, 2025!
Pranav holds a master’s degree from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. As a PhD candidate at UCPH, he will focus on rebuilding the strontium experiment with technical improvements and an additional “green MOT” cooling stage. 

The goal is to increase the lifetime of the superradiant kHz transition of 88Sr that will result in an active atomic clock with higher stability. The same system will also be used to explore novel emergent phenomenon such as bright and dark superposition states in Sr, and cavity mediated interactions between sub-ensembles of Sr.
Pranav will join the QuRIOUS network and is based at the University of Copenhagen as R8-UCPH.
👏 Welcome to the team, Pranav! We look forward to working with you.

5-11-2025: Apply now to the QuRIOUS position at UMK!

Applications are now welcomed for the QuRIOUS PhD position hosted by UMK (Torun)! To apply and find out more, please visit the UMK website.

5-11-2025: Apply now to the QuRIOUS position at CNRS-LTE!

Applications are now welcomed for the QuRIOUS PhD position hosted by CNRS-LTE! To apply and find out more, please visit the LTE website.

5-11-2025: Apply now to the QuRIOUS positions at UoB!

Applications are now welcomed for the QuRIOUS PhD positions hosted by the University of Birmingham! To apply and find out more, please visit the UoB website.

24-10-2025: KL FAMO, MoSaiQC and QuRIOUS School on Space Quantum Technology: communication, computing and sensors

Together with KL FAMO and the MoSaiQC project, QuRIOUS is organizing the  "KL FAMO, MoSaiQC and QuRIOUS School on Space Quantum Technology: communication, computing and sensors" that will take place from 15 December 2025 until 17 December 2025 in Torun.  For more information and registration, please see: invitation_klfamo_school25.pdf