Research Staff (PhD position) in the field of Structured functional glasses for lasing, sensing and health applications

 

Nestled in a modern city surrounded by nature and with an exceptional standard of living, Leibniz University Hannover offers excellent working conditions in a vibrant scientific community.

The Institute of Transport and Automation Technology welcomes applications for the following position starting October 1^st, 2025: Research Staff (PhD position) in the field of Structured functional glasses for lasing, sensing and health applications (salary scale 13 TV-L, 100%)

The fixed-term position is for a duration of 3 years. The focus is research through design and theory work for Inverse design for optical meta-fibers sensors.

Your position

The position is part of the Horizon Europe's Doctoral Networks “FunctGlass - Structured functional glasses for lasing, sensing and health applications“ (funded by the European Commission within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions). It is oordinated by CNR and is a unique interdisciplinary research and training programme with a double degree.

The backround of the project refers to the fact that over the past four decades, glass, glass-ceramics and composites have contributed to the most advanced socio-economic breakthroughs as high-tech materials. To compete with emerging economies such as China and India, the European glass sector must strive for product leadership by investing more in research and innovation to develop new materials and train specialists for a competitive but promising market. Contributing to this challenge is the main objective of the ‘Structured functional glasses for lasing, sensing and health applications’ (FunctiGlass) project, dedicated to advanced high-tech materials for three sectors: light sources, sensors and biological applications.

The project will train 11 doctoral candidates who will take part in a joint research training programme based on very close cooperation between academia and industry. It will ensure that the trainees are exposed to 11 academic environments (universities and research institutes) and 9 non-academic environments (industry and SMEs) representing 9 different countries. Each PhD candidate will be supervised by two academic tutors from different countries (spending her/his time between both units) and one mentor (industrial partner) to ensure cross-sector knowledge sharing and the acquisition of transferable skills with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the multi-dimensional training of the FunctiGlass programme, the 11 PhD candidates will excel in the future economy by acquiring a multi-dimensional perspective and mindset to become future leaders in glass science and in particular glass-based nano/micro-structured materials. Through this programme, they will find their own path of innovation in academia or industry.

The project is based on the fact that optical fibers have enabled many revolutions in recent decades. The paradigmatic example is optical telecommunications, but the fields of application also extend to fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers as well as sensors. One of the main properties exploited concerns the ultra-transparency of silica glass. Thanks to this, it is possible to transport light over 100 km (interest for telecommunications). This transparency is also sought for lasers since it allows to lower the threshold power for the appearance of this effect.

Conversely to this quest for transparency, another approach has been developed, based on the use of light scattering [1]. This effect induces optical losses but it has been shown that it can be exploited to develop new sensors or benefit the development of lasers [2]. To induce this light scattering, the chosen route consists of inserting nanoparticles into the core of the optical fiber [1]. The performance of applications therefore depends directly on our ability to understand the link between light scattering and nanoparticle characteristics and to prepare optical fibers containing nanoparticles to the specifications required for the intended applications. For example, in the case of sensors, the measurement is performed by analyzing the spectral characteristics of the backscattered light. The length of the sensor therefore depends on the compromise on light scattering so that there is enough backscattered light while being able to probe the longest possible length of fiber.

In this context, this thesis work will consist of studying the light scattering induced by nanoparticles embedded in optical fibers. In particular, it will involve optimizing the shape, size and material of the nanoparticles to engineer the backscattered light or, on the contrary, promote the transmission of light while minimizing light scattering outside the axis of the fiber. This first part of the work will leverage computational electrodynamics solvers, numerical simulations, and inverse design methods for nanophotonics, to achieve scattering and dispersion engineering both in the linear and nonlinear regimes. The second stage of the thesis work will consist of manufacturing an optical fiber with the optimized nanoparticles and performing the experimental characterization.

The objectives of the dissertation are to a) optimize nanostructures via inverse design techniques for (1) transparency and (2) scattering engineering, b) simulate the embedding of such nanostructures within optical fibers: (1) the nanostructure does not scatter (it is transparent) for straight propagation, and the scattering resulting from a fiber bending can be used as a sensing mechanism; (2) the scattering can be engineered to have the nanoparticles diffuse/scatter light in a desired direction, c) fabricate optical fibers with embedded nanostructures, with a special focus on their alignment and position within the fiber, d) perform measurements to prove the design principles

[1] W Blanc, D Tosi, A Leal-Junior, M Ferrari, J Ballato, Are low-and high-loss glass–ceramic optical fibers possible game changers?, Optics Communication, 131300, 2024

[2] J Luo, X Zhang, S Yang, W Blanc, Z Yan, X Yu, Sub-kilohertz narrow linewidth fiber laser based on nanoparticles doped self-injection module, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters 35 (11), 613-616, 2023

The recruiting institution is Leibniz University Hannover (Germany), Mechanical Engineering. The industrial mentor is Corning. The host laboratory is Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (Germany), the supervisor is Prof. Antonio Calà Lesina. The co-host laboratory is Institut de Physique de Nice (France) and the co-supervisor is Dr Wilfried Blanc. The secondments is Corning (France, 1 month) to characterize (SEM) the preforms and the fibers. The student will receive next to his salaray a mobility allowance and a family allowance (depending on family situation) of up to 600 € and 495€ per month, respectively.

Who are we looking for?

• The position requires a completed university science degree (master) in Physics or electrical engineering. Additionally, there are requested a very good knowledge of electrodynamics and programming languages and a good knowledge of computational electromagnetics and numerical methods. All researchers must be doctoral candidates (i.e. not already in possession of a doctoral degree at the date of the recruitment)
• Applicants must demonstrate fluent (oral and written) English language skills at the B2 level (CEFR). Knowledge of the language of the host countries (German, French) may be considered a merit.
• We will also place importance on motivation and personal suitability for the position. We are seeking candidates who possess strong collaboration and communication skills and an interest in working in an international context.
• Applicants must comply with the following mobility rule: the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting university for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date. This rule is not debatable.

Equal opportunities and diversity are core values at Leibniz University Hannover. Our goal is to tap into individual potential and open up possibilities. We therefore welcome applications from anyone interested in the position, irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

We strive towards a balanced and diverse workforce and a reduction in under-representation in accordance with the Lower Saxony Equal Rights Act (Niedersächsisches Gleichberechtigungsgesetz – NGG). We therefore also welcome applications from women for the above-mentioned position. Preference will be given to equally-qualified candidates with disabilities.

Why join us?

• Participation in an engaging research project/doctoral network
• Promising career opportunities
• A stimulating academic environment with dedicated colleagues

 

Additional information

For further information, please contact contact@functiglass.eu. You can find the original call here: https://functiglass.eu/DC10.docx.pdf   

Your application should include:

• The completed application form
• A letter of application explaining your motivation for the project and the network
• A CV
• Contact of two reference persons to be contacted by the selection committee (name, relation to the candidate, e-mail address and phone number)
• Complete list of publications and academic works
• Proof of language proficiencies
• Proof of master diploma or 2024 registration to master degree

All documentation to be considered must be in English.

Please submit your application until April 24^th, 2025 electronically to