PhD on meta-optics mediated light-matter interaction

Job description

Are you curious about the fundamental limits that govern light’s interaction with matter at the nanoscale? Do you want to devise the next generation flat optics to address a challenge in imaging, holography, communications or sensing? Would you like to develop a balanced theoretical and lab experience while doing so?

Job description

Harnessing the interaction between light and matter shapes our understanding of the universe. Imaging through disorder with high spatial and temporal resolution, for instance, can teach us something new about cells and other galaxies alike. Likewise, light manipulation, storage, and detection is the foundation of photonic-based technologies including quantum computing, communications, and sensing. At the heart of these developments lies an optical component that tailors the spatial and temporal properties of incoming light in a non-trivial manner either on chip or in free space. In this pursuit, digital holography, metamaterials, metasurfaces, 2D materials, and nano wires have been widely investigated over the past years. Yet much effort is still underway to be able to manipulate light with high resolution, speed and efficiency to serve those applications.

In this PhD project you will a) explore the fundamental constraints and tradeoffs in some of these wavefront shaping platforms, and b) introduce novel concepts and approaches that help alleviate those limits, and c) work towards integrating the devised component in a larger system for solving a pressing challenge in classical or quantum information processing, optical communications, imaging and sensing, or holography and AR/VR. The breadth and interdisciplinary nature of this project means that you have the freedom to define the domain of interest that best suits your career goals while receiving all the guidance from the PI. Available research directions include (but are not limited) to the following:

1. Combining meta-optics and 2D materials for building efficient quantum devices.
2. Light transport through scattering and disordered media with active meta-optics.
3. Tailoring the spatial and temporal coherence of an optical beam and exploring its use in remote sensing.
4. Ultrafast pulse shaping and spin-orbit interaction of light with time-varying metasurfaces.
5. Metasurface integration on-chip for neuromorphic computing and AR/VR applications.

You will also become a member of the Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics (PSN) group which consists of ~30 researchers (PhD students, postdocs and staff). The group covers a wide range of topics including the investigation of optical processes in resonant nanostructures, the exploration of novel nanophotonic structures for applications in sensing, optical communications and holography, and the atomic scale imaging of semiconductor nanostructures. The group also plays a key role in the Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute and the Institute for Complex Molecular Systems at TU/e, and within the PhotonDelta growth fund program. Besides research you will also contribute to education within our group and the Department of Applied Physics and mentor BSc and MSc students in their research projects.

Job requirements

• Enthusiastic, self-driven PhD student with a solid background in electromagnetics, optics and photonics.
• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (applied) physics, electrical engineering, material science or related subjects.
• Knowledge of programming languages such as Python, C++, MATLAB or electromagnetics modeling packages such as COMSOL, Lumerical, and Tidy3D.
• Basic understanding of nanofabrication protocols such nanolithography, atom layer deposition, and etching.
• Prior experience with setting and aligning optical components and lasers is an asset.
• A background in quantum optics is a plus.
• Ability to work independently and in a larger team.
• Fluent spoken and written English as demonstrated by TOEFL/IELTS.

Conditions of employment

A rewarding role in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus at the heart of one of Europe’s largest tech hubs. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will 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, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• 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 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

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow. 

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the PI dr. Ahmed H. Dorrah a.h.dorrah@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment.
You can also contactt HRServices.flux@tue.nl.

Please visit www.tue.nl/jobs to find out more about working at TU/e!

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the 'apply now'-button on this page.
The application should include a:

• Cover letter where you describe your motivation, research goals, and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.
• A copy of your most significant publication and/or a 1-Page description of your MSc thesis.

We look forward to your application and will screen it as soon as we have received it. Screening will continue until the position has been filled.