Photoacoustic gas spectroscopy; Lab system development

Imec; Vlaams-Brabant; On-site; EUR 13,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Allowance for non-Belgian students

Job summary

Imec in Belgium is offering a Master internship in photoacoustic gas spectroscopy and lab system development. Build, integrate, and characterize an experimental gas-sensing platform based on optical absorption, photoacoustic generation, and MOMPS detection.

The project focuses on establishing a robust lab platform and understanding how optical alignment, modulation, gas handling, acoustic coupling, detector operation, electronics, and signal processing jointly determine measurement quality.

Qualifications

• Required: Master-level internship in engineering or physics.
• Experience with laboratory measurement and data analysis is a plus.
• Knowledge of gas sensing or spectroscopy is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Build, integrate, and characterise an experimental gas-sensing platform based on optical absorption in a gas cell, photoacoustic generation, and MOMPS detection.
• Establish a robust laboratory platform and study how optical alignment, modulation, gas handling, acoustic coupling, detector operation, electronics, and signal processing determine measurement quality.
• Collaborate with the KU Leuven promoter and supervising scientists to advance project goals.

Skills

Lab data acquisition

Photoacoustic spectroscopy

Optical alignment

Signal processing

Electronics basics

Education

Master's degree in Electrical Engineering

Physics

Tools

MOMPS sensors

Optical components

Job description

/ Photoacoustic gas spectroscopy; Lab system development

Photoacoustic gas spectroscopy; Lab system development

Build, integrate, and characterize an experimental gas-sensing platform based on optical absorption in a gas cell, photoacoustic generation, and MOMPS detection

In photoacoustic gas spectroscopy,molecules absorb light at characteristic wavelengths. If the optical excitationis modulated, the absorbed energy generates periodic pressure waves inside thegas cell. These waves are detected using highly sensitive Micro-Opto-MechanicalPressure, Sound, and Ultrasound Sensors (MOMPS), enabling selective gasmeasurements without relying only on direct measurement of transmitted opticalpower.

This project focuses on establishing arobust laboratory platform and understanding how optical alignment, modulation,gas handling, acoustic coupling, detector operation, electronics, and signalprocessing jointly determine measurement quality.

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 6-8 months

Required educational background: Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Physics

University promotor: Xavier Rottenberg (KU Leuven)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-342. Mention this reference code in your application.

Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.

In photoacoustic gas spectroscopy,molecules absorb light at characteristic wavelengths. If the optical excitationis modulated, the absorbed energy generates periodic pressure waves inside thegas cell. These waves are detected using highly sensitive Micro-Opto-MechanicalPressure, Sound, and Ultrasound Sensors (MOMPS), enabling selective gasmeasurements without relying only on direct measurement of transmitted opticalpower.

This project focuses on establishing arobust laboratory platform and understanding how optical alignment, modulation,gas handling, acoustic coupling, detector operation, electronics, and signalprocessing jointly determine measurement quality.

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 6-8 months

Required educational background: Electrotechnics/Electrical Engineering, Physics

University promotor: Xavier Rottenberg (KU Leuven)

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Amir Asadollahi ( [e-mail] ) and Gunay Yurtsever ( [e-mail] ) and Victor Garcia Munoz ( [e-mail] )

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-342. Mention this reference code in your application.

Imec allowance will be provided for students studying at a non-Belgian university.