<!-- ko if: isJobTitleVisible --> Postdoc in Resource-Efficient Programmable Photonics – DTU Electro <!-- /ko --> <!-- ko if: isAlreadyAppliedVisible --><!-- /ko -->

We are searching for an excellent, ambitious, and driven experimentalist for a 2-year postdoc position to drive a project aiming to develop resource-efficient programmable photonic circuits in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) [Zhu2021] and tantalate (TFLT) [Powell2024]. Using the ultrafast Pockels effect in TFLN/TFLT, you will build high-speed cavity-based components [Larocque2024] that process information in temporal rather than spatial modes to reduce their footprint. 
The project involves a collaboration between DTU Electro (Senior Researcher Mikkel Heuck) and Harvard University (Dr. Neil Sinclair and Prof. Marko Lončar), where TFLN devices will be fabricated at DTU and TFLT at Harvard.
Scientific Environment
The project is funded by The Novo Nordisk Foundation  and anchored at DTU Electro in the Quantum and Nanophotonics Section , which focuses on leveraging fundamental light-matter interactions for applications in sensing, optical communications, and quantum technologies. The scientific environment at our department is vibrant and highly collaborative with world-class scientists covering a broad range of expertise in photonics and electronics. Our Harvard collaborators pioneered low-loss TFLN photonics [Zhu2021] and recently demonstrated TFLT as a promising alternative to TFLN with improved DC voltage stability [Powell2024]. 
The Project in Short
The project focuses on developing TFLN and TFLT photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platforms for classical and quantum information processing. Our approach involves cavity-based components with electrically controllable cavity-waveguide couplings that surpass the time-bandwidth limit of static cavities [Xue2022]. With these components as building blocks, we envision large-scale recirculating circuit architectures [Heuck2023b] that trap light to reduce the number of controllable components.
Our long-term goal is to develop a general-purpose PIC platform, so we welcome applicants interested in sensors, optical communications, AI hardware accelerators, or quantum information science. 
Responsibilities and Qualifications
Your primary responsibilities will be centered around the fabrication and characterization of TFLN/TFLT PICs. The TFLN fabrication will be carried out in DTU’s state-of-the-art nanofabrication facility, DTU-NanoLab , and the fabrication of TFLT devices will be done during visits to Harvard University. You will have the opportunity to co-supervise BSc, MSc, and PhDs, and we expect you to actively engage with the team and make your expertise available to your colleagues.
We seek a talented physicist with an outstanding drive and excellent scientific achievements. 
Required qualifications:

• Practical experience with fabrication of optical nano- and micro-structures such as PICs.
• Practical experience with optical characterization of photonic devices.

 Desired qualifications:

• Theoretical understanding of photonic integrated circuits.
• Experience with numerical modeling.
• Experience with Python programming.

 Additionally, we expect that you:

• are academically curious and think deeply and creatively.
• have a strong internal drive, and take responsibility for the progress and quality of your projects.
• enjoy working in a team, and you are excited about exchanging expertise with other group members from diverse backgrounds.
• communicate well in both written and spoken English.

As a formal qualification, you must hold a PhD degree (or equivalent).
Assessment
Candidates will be assessed by Senior Researcher/Associate Professor Mikkel Heuck.
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 2 years. The starting date is according to mutual agreement.
Further information
Further information may be obtained from Dr. Mikkel Heuck, mheu@dtu.dk . 
You can read more about career paths at DTU here  and the Department of Electrical and Photonics Engineering here .   
If you apply from abroad, you may find helpful information on working in Denmark and at DTU here .
Application
Please submit your online application no later than 31 August 2025 (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).
• CV
• Academic Diplomas (MSc/PhD - in English).
• List of Publications.
• List of 1-2 academic references (to contact for letters of recommendation)
• A writing sample, e.g., PhD thesis (or draft), thesis chapter, first-authored publication, or similar demonstrating your work and your dissemination of it.

Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
DTU Electro has more than 300 employees with competencies in electrical and photonics engineering. Research is performed within nanophotonics, lasers, quantum photonics, optical sensors, LEDs, photovoltaics, ultra-high speed optical transmission systems, bio-photonics, acoustics, power electronics, robotics, and autonomous systems.
Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programs, 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 vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 11,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. Our main campus is in Lyngby north of Copenhagen, and we have campuses in Roskilde and Ballerup.
References
[Heuck2023a] Heuck, M. Proposal for Multiport Photon Routing using Photonic Crystal Cavity Phase Shifters . in CLEO/Europe-EQEC, CI-1.5 (2023).
[Heuck2023b] Heuck, M., Englund, D. R. & Jacobs, K. Efficient, high-speed two-photon logic gates at room temperature for general-purpose quantum information processing . US Patent, 11556046 (2023).
[Larocque2024] Larocque, H., Vitullo, D. L. P., Sludds, A., Sattari, H., Christen, I., Choong, G., Prieto, I., Leo, J., Zarebidaki, H., Lohani, S., Kirby, B. T., Soykal, O., Soltani, M., Ghadimi, A. H., Englund, D. R. & Heuck, M. Photonic crystal cavity IQ modulators in thin-film lithium niobate for coherent communications . ACS Photonics 11, 3860–3869 (2024).
[Powell2024] Powell, K., Li, X., Assumpcao, D., Magalhães, L., Sinclair, N. & Lončar, M. DC-stable electro-optic modulators using thin-film lithium tantalate . Opt. Express 32, 44115 (2024).
[Xue2022] Xue, Y., Gan, R., Chen, K., Chen, G., Ruan, Z., Zhang, J., Liu, J., Dai, D., Guo, C. & Liu, L. Breaking the bandwidth limit of a high-quality-factor ring modulator based on thin-film lithium niobate . Optica 9, 1131–1137 (2022).
[Zhu2021] Zhu, D., Shao, L., Yu, M., Cheng, R., Desiatov, B., Xin, C. J., Hu, Y., Holzgrafe, J., Ghosh, S., Shams-Ansari, A., Puma, E., Sinclair, N., Reimer, C., Zhang, M. & Lončar, M. Integrated photonics on thin-film lithium niobate . Adv. Opt. Photon., AOP 13, 242–352 (2021).

• Job Identification 5463
• Job Category VIP B
• Posting Date 07/03/2025, 11:48 AM
• Apply Before 08/31/2025, 10:59 PM
• Locations Ørsteds Plads, Kgs. Lyngby, 2800, DK