The advanced photonic solutions lab (APSL) at the Electro-Optics Communication (ECO) group at Eindhoven University of Technology is recruiting for a PhD position to research novel coatings for programmable photonics in collaboration with the chemical engineering department.

The electro-optical communications (ECO) group in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at TU/e is a globally recognised, leading scientific and applied research group focused on exploiting light for communication and quantum systems. We apply our knowledge in collaboration with other scientists at TU/e and more recently within the newly formed Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI) to develop the required solution for many of the relevant challenges in communication and sensing systems. The group expertise spans from the fundamentals and physics of photonics, optics, the design and fabrication of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) systems to exploiting optical linear/non-linear signal processing to unlock fiber capacity and relevant higher layer protocols required to operate modern optical communication networks.

Based in the purposely built FLUX building at the TU/e Campus, the ECO group has access to 300m2 of labs for conducting experimental research and is supported by a state-of-the-art 800m2 cleanroom. With 11 tenured scientists and as many as 70 PhDs, postDocs and senior researchers, the ECO group is a vibrant and exciting research group perfectly suited for talented and ambitious scientists. The group is active in spin outs and starts-ups (e.g. Micro-align, PhotonX Networks and LuXisens Technology) and carries out bilateral industrial research with major stakeholders in the communications industry.

Responsibilities and tasks

Programmable photonics is an emerging research area aiming to revolutionize the field of integrated photonics and their usage. One critical challenge for future development of programmable photonics is the development of new coating materials for photonic integrated circuits (PICs) that can easily be made to change their behavior in a reversible way and yet require no continuous stimuli between programming events (non-volatile and reversible).

In APSL we have been working together with the chemical engineering department on the development of several material systems that will allow the reversible re-configuration of PICs using simple stimuli and have zero-energy holding properties.

In order to continue these explorations and enhance the collaborations we are seeking to recruit promising PhD candidates to work on the border-line between photonic integrated circuits and polymer chemistry to demonstrate working reconfigurable PICs for different applications. In this research project, the PhD candidate will address challenges around the following areas:

1. The characterization of novel photonic materials and the PICs coating with those materials.
2. Investigations into the programming methods and performance of programmable PICs.
3. Modelling, simulation and design of PICs using programmable coatings.
4. New circuit architectures for programmable photonics based sub-systems.

Candidates must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics or Chemical Engineering. Previous cleanroom experience will be considered an advantage but is not required.

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:

• 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. €2,770 max. €3,539).
• 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.