PhD Heterogeneous Photonic ICs Enabled By InP Coupons

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

The mission of the Department of Electrical Engineering is to acquire share and transfer knowledge and understanding in the whole field of Electrical Engineering through education research and valorization. We work towards a Smart Sustainable Society a Connected World and a healthy humanity (Care & Cure). Activities share an application-oriented character a high degree of complexity and a large synergy between multiple facets of the field.

Research is carried out into the applications of electromagnetic phenomena in all forms of energy conversion telecommunication and electrical signal processing. Existing and new electrical components and systems are analyzed designed and built. The Electrical Engineering department takes its inspiration from contacts with high-tech industry in the direct surrounding region and beyond.

The department is innovative and has international ambitions and partnerships. The result is a challenging and inspiring setting in which socially relevant issues are addressed.

Introduction

• Design InP photonic building blocks in coupon format for integration with Si-based photonic platforms
• Fabricate InP coupon wafers suitable for detachment and transfer onto silicon photonic circuits
• Develop strategies for testing of coupons and demonstrate functional heterogeneous photonic circuits

Job Description

Photonic integrated circuits - or optical chips - have evolved into a mature technology with a broad spectrum of use cases and a diversity of platforms and building blocks. The foundry model is now becoming established where Process Design Kits (PDKs) allow fabless designers to create their own chips with custom functionality. While most of the early progress was based on monolithic integration the drive for high-performance cost-effective manufacturing of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) at scale has shifted the focus to heterogeneous integration based on silicon substrates. This approach combines the strengths of different materials within a single PIC particular enhancing silicon platforms with efficient III-V active functions (lasers amplifiers modulators detectors) requires the design and fabrication of tailored InP coupons which can be transferred using advanced micro-transfer technologies.

We are looking for a researcher to drive the development of heterogeneous PIC platforms with a primary focus on innovating InP coupons tailored for LIFT (laser-induced forward transfer) in close cooperation with TNO while also contributing to advancements in established MTP (micro-transfer printing) technologies. Initial work will target InP coupons with semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) for transfer onto SiN (silicon nitride) platforms. This will expand into a broader set of InP building blocks integrated on other Si-based platforms. The role will involve coupon layout design development of low-loss optical couplers coupon fabrication and collaborative transfer experiments to realize demonstrator heterogeneous PICs for a sensing application (to be determined). The research will follow a rigorous design flow to deliver functional PDK-ready building blocks in close collaboration with colleagues working on testing compact modeling and platform development.

The PIC fabrication work will be carried out at the /e cleanroom facility ( which hosts a state-of-the-art 4 processing line for III-V semiconductors including an ASML DUV scanner AIXTRON MOCVD G10 epitaxy reactor electron beam lithography diverse plasma etching tools wafer-level bonding equipment and others.

The position builds on the pioneering work in the foundry production of complex photonic integrated circuits in the JePPIX Pilot Line. The appointed person will work closely with a team of InP PIC technology experts at the Photonic Integration Technology Centre (PITC) and collaborate with integrated photonics researchers. The person is expected to produce PIC building blocks that are accessible to consortium partners. This new position is within the new Chips for Europe PIXEurope Pilot Line which brings together InP PIC technology silicon photonics test automation and packaging within one technology agnostic design flow with Europes leading research organisations.

Link for PIXEurope: for PITC:

Job Requirements

• Masters degree in electrical engineering applied physics or similar.
• Deep-tech understanding of one or more aspects of design manufacturing or testing for relevant semiconductor foundry technology is desirable
• Ability to identify tradeoffs for optimizing device design
• Affinity for hands-on practical work in cleanroom environment
• Knowledge on physics of semiconductor devices and optical waveguides
• Ability to understand complex problems and being able to formulate strategies to solve them
• Skills in programming and physics-based modeling
• Expertise in photonic integration is not a must but having relevant background alongside enthusiasm and curiosity to apply your unique experience is required.

Conditions of Employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful green campus within walking distance of the central train addition we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years with an intermediate assessment after nine months. You will spend a minimum of 10% of your four-year employment on teaching tasks with a maximum of 15% per year of your employment.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme paid pregnancy and maternity leave partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities scale P (min. 3059 max. 3881).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure on-campus childrens day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more Please contact the hiring manager dr. Victor Calzadilla .

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Kevin Caris HR-Advisor .

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae including a list of your publications and the contact information of three references.

We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.