As part of the PICs@ICFO Strategic Initiative, ICFO coordinates PIXEurope, a flagship Pilot Line funded under the European Chips JU program focused on Advanced Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) through which ICFO is advancing frontier technologies, including optical interposers for Co-packaged optics for next-generation optoelectronic and photonic devices.
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher with strong expertise in photonic device characterization and testing, under the PIXEurope Pilot Line. The successful candidate will play a leading role in the experimental evaluation and validation of advanced photonic integrated chips and related devices.
Key Responsibilities:
The selected candidate will be expected to:
- Lead the characterization and performance evaluation of photonic integrated devices and circuits, with a particular focus on photodetectors and optoelectronic components.
- Develop and implement advanced optical, electrical, and electro-optical testing methodologies at wafer and die level.
- Design and execute experimental campaigns for the characterization of passive and active photonic devices, including optical losses, responsivity, bandwidth, noise, linearity, and reliability measurements.
- Contribute to the development of automated characterization platforms and measurement procedures.
- Collaborate with device designers and fabrication partners to optimize device performance through iterative design-test-feedback cycles.
- Participate in the design and simulation of photonic devices and integrated circuits using state-of-the-art modeling tools.
- Support the development of novel photonic architectures and material platforms for next-generation photonic applications.
- Contribute to research activities involving silicon photonics, silicon nitride, thin-film lithium niobate, and glass waveguide technologies.
Assist in the dissemination of research results through scientific publications, technical reports, and conference presentations.
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This position will report to the Prof. Dr. Valerio Pruneri, Director of the European Chips JU Pilot Line PIXEurope.
This contract has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe under the Grant Agreement # 101213727, Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service, and is supported by funds from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR).
Applicants must hold a PhD in Photonics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a closely related field.
Required Qualifications:
- Strong background in the characterization and testing of photonic devices and photonic integrated circuits.
- Demonstrated hands-on experience with optical, electrical, and electro-optical measurement techniques.
- Experience in the characterization of active and passive photonic devices, including photodetectors, modulators, waveguides, couplers, filters, and related components.
- Solid understanding of photonic device physics and optoelectronic device operation.
- Experience with optical laboratory instrumentation, including tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, network analyzers, high-speed detectors, and automated measurement systems.
- Knowledge of photonic device design and simulation tools, including electromagnetic and photonic circuit modeling software.
- Strong data analysis and experimental problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively both independently and within multidisciplinary research teams.
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Preferred Qualifications
- Proven experience working with one or more integrated photonics platforms, including silicon photonics, silicon nitride photonics, thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN), and glass waveguide technologies.
- Experience in the characterization and development of integrated photodetectors.
- Familiarity with wafer-scale testing, probe stations, automated measurement systems, and high-throughput characterization methodologies.
- Experience in characterization techniques relevant to photonic devices.
- Knowledge of emerging photonic materials and heterogeneous integration approaches.
- Experience in developing custom software for measurement automation and data acquisition.
- Experience with fabrication processes will be considered as a plus.
Strong publication record in photonics, optoelectronics, or integrated photonics.
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The ideal candidate is an experimental photonics researcher with extensive experience in photonic device characterization and testing. They should possess a deep understanding of photonic and optoelectronic devices, combined with practical expertise in advanced measurement techniques and experimental platform development. Experience with integrated photonics technologies such as silicon, silicon nitride, thin-film lithium niobate, and glass waveguides will be highly valued. The candidate should be motivated to contribute to the development of novel photonic devices, advanced characterization methodologies, and next-generation photonic technologies through close collaboration with device designers, fabrication teams, and application researchers.
What We Offer
- ASE (Accés al Sistema Espanyol de Ciència i Innovació) contract pursuant to Spanish Law 14/2011
- Access to cutting-edge facilities and a vibrant, interdisciplinary research environment.
- Opportunity to lead impactful projects that connect fundamental research with commercial applications.
A family allowance may be granted to candidates with dependents, upon request and in accordance with ICFO’s policies.
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ICFO is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based solely on merit and potential, regardless of gender, nationality, or disability. ICFO fully endorses the European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers, ensuring a transparent and supportive recruitment process.
Suitable candidates are requested to submit:
- Presentation letter with a declaration of interest,
- Curriculum Vitae, including contact details,
The contact e-mail of two potential referees.
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The selection process will follow open, transparent, and merit-based recruitment (OTM-R) principles. It will consist of:
- Eligibility check of applications.
- Assessment of merits (education, experience, and language)
Interview with shortlisted candidates
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Candidates may contact [email protected] for formal enquiries regarding the application, as well as address scientific enquiries to [email protected].
For update information about the hosting group, please visit https://www.icfo.eu/research-group/15/optoelectronics/home.
For updated information about ICFO, please visit https://www.icfo.eu.
Data Protection
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and Organic Law 3/2018, ICFO informs applicants that their personal data will be processed exclusively for recruitment purposes.
- Controller: Fundació ICFO – Institut de Ciències Fotòniques, Av. Carl Friedrich Gauss 3, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona).
- DPO: [email protected]
- Legal basis: performance of a task in the public interest.
- Rights: access, rectification, erasure, restriction, and opposition.
- Supervisory authority: Catalan Data Protection Authority (APDCAT) https://apdcat.gencat.cat.
All recruitment files will be retained in accordance with the Catalan public-sector archival retention schedule (DOGC 2117).
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