EPFL, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, is one of the most dynamic university campuses in Europe and ranks among the top 20 universities worldwide. The EPFL employs more than 6,500 people supporting the three main missions of the institutions: education, research and innovation. The EPFL campus offers an exceptional working environment at the heart of a community of more than 18,500 people, including over 14,000 students and 4,000 researchers from more than 120 different countries.

PhD position in Precision metrology of millimeterwave signals using integrated photonics

Mission

The Hybrid Photonics Laboratory at EPFL is seeking for talented and motivated candidates to work in the field of Integrated Photonics for precision metrology of high-quality electronic signals at elevated frequencies beyond 100 GHz. This is a part of a larger consortium within the National Center for Competence in Research ( NCCR Precision ) .

Millimeterwave and terahertz oscillators are critical components in accessing and preparing in Rydberg states ( journals.aps.org/ prl/abstract/ 10.1103/ PhysRevLett.... ) , driving and read-out of high-temperature superconducting qubits ( https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.11170') ) , or for studying low-energy excitations, including phonons, plasmons, or superconducting phenomena. Yet, progress in this area is currently hindered by the difficulty to achieve effective source and detectors in this challenging frequency range which remains difficult to access using conventional electronics. Our lab has been making significant progress in conceptualizing, implementing and demonstrating miniaturized chips to generate and detect terahertz radiation by means of photonics. Building upon these demonstrations, we want to resort to photonics and superconductors to realize single-photon level coherent millimeterwave detectors.

You will exploit the low-loss thin film lithium niobate photonics platform, which we can fabricate in-house, at EPFL, to realize chip-scale, photonics-based terahertz local oscillators and mixers, the two essential building blocks required for performing high-precision heterodyne metrology. We aim to achieve a significant amplification in this heterodyne scheme, by maximizing the intensity of the terahertz local oscillators. In parallel, you will improve the noise performance both on the optics side and on the terahertz side through injection locking and using signals disseminated within the SI-traceble frequency dissemination network planned within this NCCR. You will fabricate these hybrid devices in-house at EPFL cleanroom using newly developed fabrication protocols available in the group.

As a successful candidate of a dynamic team, you will shape the future of photonics-based millimeterwave- optical technology in our young and dynamic lab. You will develop first-of-their kind hybrid platforms that enable complex high-frequency operations directly inside miniaturized photonic chips.

You will kick off diverse aspects of the experimental effort: technical (setting up an optical measurement setup design, including design of high-frequency electronics and custom-tailored mechanical components) and conceptual (develop the theory of millimeterwave/ terahertz generation and detection inside photonic chips). In the lab, you will learn about integrated and free-space quantum optical technologies and engineering, and nonlinear optics. You will contribute to the automatisation of measurement routines, comprehensive characterisation of fabricated samples and to bridging the area of microwave/terahertz- optical science and technology with the most modern integrated photonic techniques.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Develop miniaturised millimeterwave/ terahertz oscillator and mixers and apply them to photonic circuits, together with their driving software/hardware, automatize measurement procedures.
• Simulate optical and mmW/THz properties using simulations software such as COMSOL or CST.
• Characterize samples in the lab.
• Model experimental data from first principles using Matlab/Python codes.
• Write scientific publications, file patents, disseminate work at national and international conferences.
• Maintain collaborations and deliver periodic reports that describe your progress within the project.

Profile

• M.Sc. in Physics or related fields, strong interest in high-frequency electronics and integrated photonics, nonlinear optics, high-frequency electronics, metrology and/or electro-optic transduction are mandatory.
• Knowledgeable in Python, Matlab, Labview, Inventor, Illustrator, CST Microwave studio and Comsol (or willingness to learn).
• Enjoy thinking about difficult problems and solving them step by step.
• Hands-on attitude and an interest for taking on new challenges are mandatory for this group. In return, you get to witness setting up experiments from scratch!
• Enjoy collaborations with various other scientific groups, take on a leading junior role in international teams.

We offer

• A unique opportunity to contribute and take on entirely new avenues in the field of quantum 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

The selection process involves multiple stages, and short-listed candidates will be requested to apply to a specific EPFL Doctoral Program to qualify for a PhD at EPFL, i.e. EDPO.
Please check this page for additional information on admission.

Please note that this is a separate application process necessary to be eligible to complete your PhD at EPFL.

Only applications submitted through the platform will be considered.

Your application should contain:

• A motivation Letter (max. one page) where you outline why you want to join this group, what your specific interests are, how your skills can contribute to the mission of the lab and how you think you can advance in your own academic/scholarly pursuit while being a part of the Hybrid Photonics Laboratory.
• Your detailed CV
• Contact information
• The names and contact information of 3 references willing to write a recommendation letter
• Transcript of records

The position will remain open until filled, and we’ll start revising applications from 15.03.2026.

Contract Start Date: May 2026 or later

Activity Rate Max: 100.00

Contract Type: CDD

Reference: 2110



For more information, please contact: cristina.benea@ epfl.ch