PhD : High performance optical coatings for resonant grating structures

PhD “High performance optical coatings for resonant grating structures” – RCMO Team

 

We are pleased to advertise Doctoral Researcher (PhD) positions to begin in 2026, as part of the Doctoral Network of the European Commission TRADES “Training & Research in Advanced Dispersion Engineered grating-waveguide Structures”. The positions will each last three years, and will allow all students to participate in an exciting program comprising international schools, workshops, and secondments at academic, as well as industrial partners

The research fellow will be responsible for the development of high-performance optical coatings for resonant grating structures. He/she will develop deposition processes for optical coatings exhibiting high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) and high reflectance over the targeted spectral region, on large-aperture substrates. All work will be carried out using a plasma-assisted reactive magnetron sputtering system (Bühler HELIOS), in close collaboration with the deposition equipment manufacturer.

The research objectives include optimization of the coating deposition process to improve thickness uniformity, investigation of film stress, and development of methods to compensate for or mitigate stress-induced deformations. The fellow will also investigate new coating materials with high LIDT in the near-infrared range.

A final and significant aspect of the work will focus on optical monitoring strategies to maximize the agreement between theoretical designs and experimental spectral responses. The candidate will ultimately be responsible for producing all optical coatings used within the TRADES project.

 

Required Skills : Strong background in optics and photonics, Programming skills in MATLAB and/or Python, Interest in Nanotechnologies and cleanroom work, Experience or competence in Optical Coatings is an asset

 

Selection Process :

Applicants will need to submit to julien.lumeau@fresnel.fr & trades@ifsw.uni-stuttgart.de
• Letter of motivation : brief description of why you wish to become a PhD student within TRADES
• Copy of transcripts and of their Bachelor & Master Degrees + Copy of Master’s Thesis and any other Publications (if available)
• Curriculum Vitae of 3 pages maximum
• 2 written Recommendation Letters (e.g. one by the former Master thesis supervisor and their referees contact details)

 

Starting Date : from July 1 to September 1, 2026

Fundings : HORIZON Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions 2024 (MSCA-DN Grant agreement N°101226599)

Contact : Julien Lumeau, RCMO Team