PhD position Multifunctional mechano-optical metasurfaces

Are you a highly motivated physicist with a strong interest in merging photonics and mechanics We are seeking an excellent and ambitious PhD candidate to carry out interdisciplinary research on mechano-optical metasurfaces.

A long-standing challenge for both fundamental and applied sciences is to devise new tools to actively manipulate physical signals such as light sound or motion. During the past 20 years metamaterials have become a particularly fruitful paradigm to control light or motion in unprecedented ways. By patterning materials at a length scale much smaller than the typical interaction length in the material metamaterials can be designed that have man-made properties that cannot be found in nature. For instance optical metasurfaces can now redirect and pattern light beams with nm-thick layers and mechanical metamaterials can exhibit extreme and programmable shape-changes. Yet despite these impressive advances metamaterials research has so far been focused on restricted sets of properties: metamaterials allow the control of either light or motion yet rarely simultaneously.

In this project you will merge optical metasurfaces and mechanical metamaterials and leverage their combined advantages to realize mechanical programming of light fields. Merging mechanical and optical metamaterials offers exciting prospects: Can the large and programmable deformations of mechanical metamaterials be transferred to the scale of photonic chips How do mechanical reconfigurations of optical arrays change the nature of light-matter interactions How to combine multi-stable mechanical deformation with multifunctional optical performance Addressing these fundamental research questions will help develop a new route in metamaterial research that of mechano-optical metasurfaces. This research will pave the way to the grand goal of realizing on-the-fly programmable control of optical wave fronts.

You will be joining an exciting team of researchers with a strong emphasis on collaboration.

You are expected to perform fundamental research in the field of active metamaterials.

You will:

• develop and fabricate micron-scale metamaterials and nanophotonic optical metasurfaces in the cleanroom of the AMOLF NanoLab Amsterdam ( and create mechanically programmable active optical metasurfaces;
• perform optical experiments with electro-mechanical stimuli;
• construct a multiscale hybrid mechanics/optics model to support and guide the experiments;
• present your results in international workshops and conferences;
• closely collaborate with members of the Machine Materials lab in the design of mechanical metamaterials;
• collaborate with other members of the research group other groups within the Quantum Materials cluster AMOLF and (international) collaborators;
• take part in the teaching efforts of the group including supervision of bachelor and master students.

• a creative curious and driven nature;
• a strong background and Masters degree in physics or a related field;
• an eagerness to learn new techniques and to combine numerical simulations theory and experiments;
• excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

Other skills experiences and documents that would benefit your application:

• previous experience in an optics lab or cleanroom fabrication;
• demonstrated experience with programming and modelling software (matlab python Comsol Lumerical);
• scientific publications.

We offer a temporary contract for 38 hours per week for the duration of 4 years (the initial contract will be for a period of 18 months and after satisfactory evaluation it will be extended for a total duration of 4 years). The gross monthly salary based on 38 hours per week ranges between 3059 to 3881 (Scale P). This does not include 8% holiday allowance and 83% year-end allowance. The UFO profile PhD candidate is applicable. A favourable tax agreement the 30% ruling may apply to non-Dutch applicants.

The preferred starting date is before September 1 2026 (but open for discussion).This employment should lead to a dissertation (PhD thesis). We will draft an educational plan that includes attendance of courses and (international) meetings. We also expect you to assist in teaching undergraduates and master students.

The Collective Labour Agreement of Universities of the Netherlands is applicable.

This PhD project will be carried out in the 2D Nanophotonics lab headed by Dr. Jorik van de Groep within the Van der Waals-Zeeman Institute (WZI) the experimental division of the Institute of Physics of the University of Amsterdam. Our laboratory focusses on photonic metasurfaces and 2D material science and benefits from an exceptional scientific environment in hard condensed matter nanophotonics and materials science. The Institute of Physics is part of the Faculty of Science.

The Faculty of Science has a student body of around 8000 as well as 1800 members of staff working in education research or support services. Researchers and students at the Faculty of Science are fascinated by every aspect of how the world works be it elementary particles the birth of the universe or the functioning of the brain.

Do you want to know more about our organisation Read more about working at the University of Amsterdam.

If you feel the profile fits you and you are interested in the job we look forward to receiving your application. You can apply online via the red button. We accept applications until and including June 17 2026.

If you have any questions or do you require additional information Please contact:

• Dr. Jorik van de Groep Associate Professor
• Email:
• Phone: 31-

Applications should include the following information (all files besides your cv should be submitted in one single pdf file):

• a detailed curriculum vitae (Including months and years);
• a motivation letter (max 1 page) that explains why you choose to apply for this position including a statement of your research experience and interests;
• list of scientific publications if applicable;
• the name and email address of at least two references who will be asked for their recommendation letters when you are shortlisted.

We particularly encourage women and candidates from other under-represented groups to apply.

A knowledge security check can be part of the selection procedure (for details: national knowledge security guidelines). Only complete applications received within the response period via the link below will be considered.