Postdoc in Integrated Lithium Niobate Photonics

About the role

The Hybrid Photonics Laboratory at EPFL is looking for a postdoctoral scientist with strong fabrication skills (or a strong interest in acquiring them) to work in integrated lithium niobate photonics, with applications in frequency conversion, metrology, spectroscopy, quantum and sensing. The postdoc will help build first-of-a-kind hybrid platforms for ultra-sensitive, ultra-precise and ultra-compact chips, while pursuing their own research interests and leading the experimental work.

Key responsibilities

• Contribute to grant applications, including Marie Curie grants or similar, to build an independent research agenda.
• Supervise younger scientists and their thesis work, ideally starting from bachelor level.
• Lead international collaborations and deliver periodic progress reports.
• Improve low-loss nanofabrication protocols of electro-optic platforms (with or without superconductors) in the cleanroom.
• Develop novel optical setups with their driving software and hardware, and automate measurement procedures.
• Design and simulate hybrid optical-terahertz electronics nanostructures and integrated photonic circuits.
• Write scientific publications, file patents and present at conferences.

Required profile

• Strong interest in integrated photonics, high-frequency electronics, quantum metrology and/or electro-optic transduction; prior experience in one of these fields is desired.
• Strong nanofabrication skills; prior experience with TFLN is desirable but not mandatory.
• Analytical skills for modelling photonic systems.
• Hands-on attitude and willingness to take on new challenges.

Required skills

• Simulation tools: Python, Matlab, Labview, Inventor, Illustrator, Tidy 3D, CST Microwave Studio and COMSOL.
• Cleanroom nanofabrication.

What we offer

• A competitive salary and coverage of conference costs.
• Access to the EPFL cleanroom, the Lausanne center for ultrafast science and the Quantum Science Center at EPFL.
• A dynamic scientific community and the chance to design your own research path.

The position is a one-year fixed-term contract (renewable), starting 1 January 2027, with full activity rate. Applications must be submitted through the online platform with a cover letter, CV with publications, research statement and three referee contacts.