Postdoc position in Integrated Lithium Niobate Photonics

EPFL; Lausanne; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cleanroom access

Conference costs covered

Dynamic scientific community

Job summary

EPFL's Hybrid Photonics Laboratory seeks postdoctoral scientists with strong fabrication skills to advance integrated lithium niobate photonics. The role focuses on developing hybrid platforms for metrology, spectroscopy, and quantum sensing, with opportunities to lead experiments and collaborations.

The candidate will contribute to automation, advanced characterization, and the bridging of microwave and photonic technologies with modern fabrication, while pursuing personal research directions.

Qualifications

• Strong interest in integrated photonics, high-frequency electronics, quantum metrology and/or electro-optic transduction is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to grant applications to grow your own research agenda and promote your scientific independence.
• Supervise younger scientists and their thesis work to enhance mentorship skills.
• Lead international collaborations and deliver progress reports for the project.
• Advance low-loss nanofabrication protocols of electro-optic platforms in the cleanroom.
• Develop novel optical setups with driving software/hardware and automate measurement procedures.
• Invent hybrid optical-terahertz electronics nanostructures and integrated photonic circuits using simulations.
• Write publications, file patents, and present at conferences.

Skills

Nanofabrication

Python

Matlab

LabVIEW

Inventor

Illustrator

Tidy 3D

CST Microwave Studio

COMSOL

Tools

TFLN

CST Microwave Studio

COMSOL

Job description

Mission

The Hybrid Photonics Laboratory at EPFL is seeking for talented and ambitious postdoctoral scientists with strong fabrication skills (or a big interest to acquire such skills) to work in the young and dynamic field of Integrated lithium niobate photonics, with applications in frequency conversion, metrology, spectroscopy, quantum and sensing. As a successful candidate, you will shape the future of integrated lithium niobate photonics in a young, ambitious lab. You will develop first-of-their kind hybrid platforms that enable ultra-sensitive, ultra-precise and ultra-compact chips that enable metrology functions, millimeterwave photonics or quantum spectroscopy. Depending on your personal strengths and interests, you will pursue also your own research interests and lead the experimental effort: technical (optical measurement setup design, high-frequency electronics and mechanical components), fabrication (develop scalable and reliable hybrid photonic devices on electro-optic platforms) and conceptual (develop novel measurement and generation schemes, explore measurement precision limits). In the lab, you will learn about optical technologies and engineering, ultrafast fiber lasers and electro-optical transducers. You will contribute to the automatization of measurement routines, comprehensive characterization of fabricated samples and to bridging the area of microwave/millimeterwave/terahertz science and technology with the most modern fabrication techniques.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Contribute to grant applications to grow your own research agenda and promote your scientific independence (a goal is to apply together for Marie Curie grants or similar).
• Supervise younger scientists and their thesis work (ideally starting from Bachelor level), as to enhance your mentorship skills.
• Lead international collaborations and deliver periodic reports that describe your progress within the project.
• Push our low-loss nanofabrication protocols of electro-optic platforms (with or without superconductors) in the cleanroom.
• Develop novel optical setups, together with their driving software/hardware, automatize measurement procedures.
• Develop and invent novel hybrid optical-terahertz electronics nanostructures and integrated photonic circuits, using simulations software.
• Write scientific publications, file patents, disseminate work at national and international
  conferences.

Profile

• Strong interest in integrated photonics, high-frequency electronics, quantum metrology and/or electro-optic transduction are mandatory. Prior experience in any of these fields is desired.
• Strong nanofabrication skills. Prior experience with TFLN is desirable but not mandatory.
• Strong simulation skills in Python, Matlab, Labview, Inventor, Illustrator, Tidy 3D, CST Microwave studio and Comsol.
• Analytical skills for modelling photonic systems.
• Hands-on attitude and an interest for taking on new challenges are important for young and ambitious group. In return, you get to design your own experiences!
• Enjoy collaborations with various other scientific groups, take on a leading role in international teams.

We offer

• A unique opportunity to contribute and take on entirely new avenues in the field terahertz photonics in a young and dynamic team.
• Excellent infrastructure through the cleanroom at EPFL, the Lausanne center for ultrafast science, and the Quantum Science Center at EPFL.
• Competitive salary, coverage of conference costs, a dynamic and inspiring scientific
  community.

Informations

A brief cover letter (pdf, up to 2 pages).

And in one PDF:

• A CV with a publication list.
• A research statement (pdf, up to 3 pages).
• Contact details for 3 referees.

The position will remain open until filled. It is highly indicated that you write a short statement (half a page to max. one page) where you outline why you want to join this group, what your specific interests are (academically or towards a job in industry), and importantly, how being part of this group enriches your experience to reach that goal.
For any other question you may have, please contact: .

Contract Start Date : 01/01/2027

Activity Rate : 100.00

Contract Type: CDD

Duration: 1 year renewable

Reference: 2509