One position: PhD – High speed electronic-photonic integration

Job description

Photonics is widely regarded as the key enabling technology of the 21st century and its application and use in many scientific and industrial fields is accelerated though Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs), which combine many optical components into a miniaturized chip format. Similar to electronic ICs, PICs are revolutionizing areas such as healthcare, communication and sensing and have the potential to be disruptive to the whole society. These technologies are receiving major investments through the PhotonDelta National Growth Fund program, with multiple new positions in integrated photonics. https://www.tue.nl/en/storage/electrical-engineering/faculteit/news-and-events/news-overview/22-04-2022-photonics-sector-eindhoven-gets-major-boost-with-11-billion-euro-investment/ This is a large program involving the leading industry, research institutes and universities in the Netherlands.

Environment

The positions are in the Photonic Integration Research Group, www.tue.nl/phi which is a part of the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI) www.tue.nl/ehci. Our strong supporting infrastructure of laboratories, clean room infrastructure www.tue.nl/nanolab and technology know-how allows you to focus on your research and generate new opportunities for collaboration and growth. We believe we can only be world class if our researchers are doing well and feeling good.

The Eindhoven Brainport region, where we are located, is recognized as one of the most important regions in Europe for high-tech developments by the EU. Regional focus on specific technologies creates specific ecosystems to cooperate and commercialize technologies such as integrated photonics, high-tech systems and quantum technology.

We believe that professional development comes hand-in-hand with personal development. Therefore, you will also have access to high-quality training programs on general skills and topics related to research and valorization.

One position: PhD – High speed electronic-photonic integration

The integration of photonic circuits into semicon systems is fraught with interfacing challenges. The bandwidths of computational and control systems are far lower than photonic devices, and the impedances for digital electronics are far higher. This stresses the design of the interfaces between electronic and photonic chips, leading to considerable package complexity and performance variation. Recently at TU/e we have been pioneering the co-design and co-integration of photonic integrated circuits with customized electronic circuits using BiCMOS technologies  https://research.tue.nl/en/publications/towards-the-integration-of-inp-photonics-with-silicon-electronics and also InP electronics with our partners in Europe https://ict-twilight.eu/.

Position 1 – In this project, we will develop ultrawide-band transistors for interfacing to optoelectronic devices, and develop co-design environments for the co-integration of bespoke electronic and photonic building blocks. Modelling methods will be developed to integrate photonic systems within electronic design flows to identify and engineer critical to quality parameters (doping profiles, band-edge profiles) affecting speed, efficiency and thermal design. Additional component types including transmission lines and matching elements will be mapped out for engineering input and output impedances.

The work will leverage both foundry sourced circuits and in-house fabrication. The candidate will be embedded within the Integrated Circuits research group alongside electronic IC designers, but will work closely with an established team of photonic designers and fabrication specialists from the Photonic Integration group.

Job requirements

PhD

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in electrical engineering, or (applied) physics,  with a genuine interest in pursuing a PhD.
• A team player able to work in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level). There is no Dutch language requirement.

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

PhD

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will typically spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information and application

Information

If you recognize yourself in this profile and would like to know more, please contact Marion Matters-Kammerer, m.matters[at]tue.nl at the Integrated Circuits group (www.tue.nl/ic), or Kevin Williams, k.a.williams[at]tue.nl at the Photonic Integration group (www.tue.nl/phi).

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Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button.
Your application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your research experience, motivation and qualifications for the position. Also indicate explicitly in the letter the position(s) that you are most interested in and/or fit best to your background.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references who we may contact.

We look forward to receiving your application!