PhD candidate position in spatiotemporal photonics: Ultrashort Vector Pulses from Metasurfaces for Nonlinear Optics and Ultrafast Nanomagnetism

Company Description SPARK MSCA Doctoral Network is a collaborative European research initiative focused on advancing cutting-edge science and innovation through structured doctoral training. The network brings together leading academic institutions, research centers, and industry partners to address complex challenges in emerging technological fields. Doctoral candidates benefit from interdisciplinary supervision, international collaboration, and access to state-of-the-art facilities. SPARK emphasizes high-quality research, collaboration, transferable skills development, and strong career prospects within academia and industry. beyond.

PhD Position: Ultrashort Vector Pulses from Metasurfaces for Nonlinear Optics and Ultrafast Nanomagnetism

Project Description

This PhD project develops topology-optimized metasurfaces to generate intense ultrashort vector pulses for applications in nonlinear optics and ultrafast nanomagnetism. The objectives are to create inverse-design algorithms for polarization optics under ultrafast excitation, fabricate large-area metasurfaces, and demonstrate the synthesis of intense ultrashort vector pulses.

Objectives

1. Create inverse design algorithms for polarization optics under ultrafast excitation
2. Fabricate large-area metasurfaces
3. Demonstrate synthesis of intense ultrashort vector pulses

Funded Scientific Secondments

The selected candidate will go on 3 secondments across Europe:

• 3 months at Universite de Namur in Belgium (supervised by M. Lobet) in Year 1 for benchmarking inverse-design methods,
• 3 months at International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Year 2 for large-scale fabrication,
• 3 months at JCMwave in Year 2 for GPU-accelerated optimization.

By enabling the generation of new structured light fields from metasurfaces, the doctoral candidate establishes the technological foundation for spatiotemporal pulse shaping across the SPARK research programme.

What spark offers

• Gross salary starting around 2.518 €/month, with potential for additional funding depending on your family status (Mobility allowance and family allowance depending on the family status).
• In addition to the 12 monthly salary payments, employees are entitled to holiday and Christmas allowances, corresponding in a full year of employment to two additional salary payments, prior to any deductions or withholdings, in accordance with Portuguese law.
• 36 months funded through the SPARK MSCA network, with the additional benefits for employees.
• Three 3-month research stays at UNamur, INL, and JCMwave.
• Training program including research-specific and transferable skills courses.
• Active participation in workshops, conferences, and network-wide events to build professional and scientific connections.
  

Mandatory requirements:

• Master’s degree in physics, applied physics, optics or photonics, electrical engineering, materials science or engineering, or a closely related subject.
• You should not have a doctoral degree at the time of recruitment.
• You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Portugal for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before recruitment (this is a requirement from the funding authority).
• Strong skills in the English language.
• Expertise in photonics, metasurfaces, ultrafast optics, inverse design, numerical methods, and/or scientific computing are strong assets but not a requirement.
• Team player spirit, willing to collaborate with external institution colleagues, autonomy in work as well as transparency are looked for.