Are you fascinated by application-oriented research in mathematics and would you like to be our next PhD candidate in the field of imaging optics? We are excited to announce an opening for a motivated PhD candidate to join our research team. You will focus on multi-objective optimization in imaging optics, contributing to new computational approaches for optical system design.

Imaging optics involves the design and optimization of imaging systems (cameras, telescopes, …) to most accurately capture and reproduce an image. This is especially relevant for high-interest research topics like optical metrology in chip production. The design process in imaging optics is inherently multi-objective, involving different competing performance measures. This could be on a more systematic level the interplay of quality, cost and manufacturability but also image quality itself can be described by competing performance measures.

A typical goal in imaging optics is to minimize different types of aberrations. An optical designer will look at the significance of these types to form a weighted sum of aberrations to be minimized using typical optical-design software. However, this requires expert knowledge and will only provide a single design solution. Moreover, not all trade-off solutions can be necessarily found by minimizing a convex combination of objective functions.

The aim of this PhD project is to develop problem-specific strategies that focus on the multi-objective aspect of the problem. Especially, we would like to understand the underlying systems by finding several compromise solutions, allowing to make a posteriori choices for the final design.

Imaging optics will bring some new and interesting challenges to the development of multi-objective optimization methods: First, we need to formulate the multi-objective optimization problems in suitable design spaces. Also, we encounter various local minima, that are sub-optimal. As a result, classical numerical optimization strategies are not applicable in a straightforward manner. However, global strategies in the context of multi-objective optimization may not be feasible due to high computational costs. New multi-objective hybrid strategies shall overcome this dilemma.  

Your tasks will involve:

• Conducting research on multi-objective optimization algorithms and their application to imaging optics.
• Developing and implementing optimization strategies tailored to imaging systems.
• Analyzing and interpreting research data, publishing and presenting your research.
• Participating in academic activities, including seminars, workshops and teaching.

You will be part of our Computational Illumination Optics group at TU/e, an applied mathematics group dedicated to problems in the field of optics with a lot of interesting industry-related applications from, amongst others, Signify and ASML. We will work together and support your research. The group belongs to CASA (Centre for Applied Analysis, Scientific Computing and Applications), that offers a nice research atmosphere with a lot of possibilities for exchange and social activities.

A more detailed project description and planning can be found here.

• A master's degree (or an equivalent university degree) in (applied) mathematics, (applied) physics or related fields.
• Familiarity with optimization techniques, computational modeling and simulation.
• Programming skills.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interest in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Motivation to develop your teaching skills and coach students.
• Fluency in spoken and written English (C1 level).

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 five years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 25% 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.