PhD scholarships (2) on Theory, Fabrication, and Optical Characterization of Subdiffraction Photonic Cavities – DTU Electro

DTU Electro are looking for two bright and motivated PhD students within subdiffraction cavities based on silicon bowties with the overarching goal of exploring new regimes of light-matter interaction.

Are you a talented, self-motivated, and team-oriented person, who thrives in a collaborative world leading research environment and eager to contribute to developing the next generation of scientific machine learning tools for power systems? If you think optical resonators play a central role in wide areas of research and technology with applications ranging from lasers to enhanced and controlled light-matter interaction in quantum technologies, then you are just the candidate we are looking for. 

Recent research developments have shown that it is possible to confine light at length scales much below the conventional diffraction limit in semiconductors. Previously, this was only considered possible in metals through the excitation of plasmons, which unfortunately are associated with large optical losses. 

These beneficial properties rely on the cavities confining light in both real and frequency space. This new discovery opens tremendous possibilities for realizing a new regime of strong light-matter interaction and has enabled an ERC Consolidator Grant. 

Further information about the new type of cavities can be found in Babar et al., Nature 624, 57–63 (2023) and Albrechtsen et al., Nature Communications 13, 6281:1–8 (2022).

Responsibilities and tasks 
The first position includes a strong element of nanofabrication but numerical design, theory, and optical measurements are important as well. The second position will be focused mainly on design, theory, and optical measurements. 

Some of the main responsibilities and tasks include:

• Nanofabrication of photonic cavities using our state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities at DTU Nanolab.
• Characterization of nanocavities using optical and electrical methods.
• In-situ characterization of tunable nanocavities using scanning electron microscopy.
• Modelling of light-matter interaction using analytical and numerical methods.

The details, responsibilities, and tasks of the PhD projects will be tailored to the qualifications and interests of the applicants but will revolve around the headlines above. Most importantly, we seek highly motivated and excellent students with an interest in teamwork at the highest international level. Depending on interests and qualifications, the PhD projects will involve numerical design, nanofabrication, optical and electrical characterization, and data analysis.

Qualifications
You 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. Our research relies heavily on theory/numerical design, nanofabrication, and optical experiments and we expect the successful applicants to master at least one of these aspects but we welcome applications from students who have demonstrated excellent academic performance in adjacent fields. All projects in the group are strongly collaborative, and strong interpersonal skills are important.

Approval and Enrolment  
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

Assessment
Candidates will be assessed by a panel consisting of Professor Søren Stobbe and Assistant Professor Babak Vosoughi Lahijani .

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here http://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/working-at-dtu/career-paths.

Further information
Further information may be obtained by contacting Professor Søren Stobbe, [email protected] . 

You can read more about DTU Electro at https://electro.dtu.dk/.

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark . Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar ” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application
Please submit your online application no later than 8 May 2024 (23:59 Danish time) . Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file . The file must include:

• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae 
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. 

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion, or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

The Nanophotonics Section at DTU Electro
DTU Electro has 210 employees and is one of the largest research centers in the world focusing entirely on photonics. Research is performed within nanophotonics, photonic nanotechnology, lasers, quantum photonics, optical sensors, LEDs, photovoltaics, ultra-high speed optical transmission systems, and bio-photonics. The Nanophotonics section combines expertise in the synthesis and handling of nanomaterials, the fabrication of nanoscale devices, and theoreticians employing a wide palette of analytical and numerical techniques to provide better understanding of and control over the fundamental properties of light-matter interactions and in this way realizing new nanophotonic devices for emerging information and quantum technology.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.