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PhD on Fibre Optic based Quantum Light Source for Future Quantum Networks – QSonet

• Personal type: Scientific staff

• Field of expertise: PhD

• Organisation: Department of Electrical Engineering

• Apply before: 06-07-2025

• Full-time equivalent: 1.0 FTE

• Salary: € 2.901 - € 3.707

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

The Multi Material Optical Fibre and High Capacity Optical Transmission Lab’s in the Electro-Optics Communication (ECO) group at Eindhoven University of Technology (É«ÖÐÉ«) in collaboration with KPN (Dutch Telecom Operator), are recruiting a PhD candidate to research novel optical fibre based quantum light sources for future quantum networks.

The electro-optical communications (ECO) group in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at É«ÖÐÉ« is a globally recognised, leading scientific and applied research group focused on exploiting light for communication and quantum systems. We apply our knowledge in collaboration with other scientists at É«ÖÐÉ« and more recently within the newly formed Eindhoven Hendrik Casimir Institute (EHCI) to develop the required solution for many of the relevant challenges in communication and sensing systems. The group expertise spans from the fundamentals and physics of photonics, optics, the design and fabrication of photonic integrated circuits (PICs), systems engineering to exploiting optical linear/non-linear signal processing to unlock fiber capacity and relevant higher layer protocols required to operate modern optical communication and quantum networks.

Based in the purposely built FLUX building at the É«ÖÐÉ« Campus, the ECO group has access to 300m2 of labs for conducting experimental research and is supported by a state-of-the-art 800m2 cleanroom. With greater than 100 group members including 13 tenured scientists, 79 PhD candidates, 16 postdocs and senior researchers, the ECO group is a vibrant and exciting research group perfectly suited for talented and ambitious scientists. The group is active in spin outs and starts-ups (e.g. CubiQ, Micro-align, PhotonX Networks and LuXisens Technology) and carries out bilateral industrial research with major stakeholders in the communications industry.

Job Description

The internet is ubiquitous in our daily lives and has revolutionized how we work and socialize and has impacted our culture. This disruptive impact has been driven by the massive deployment of optical fibres, which form the backbone of all our digital communications infrastructure. Furthermore, current disruptive evolution in optical fibre technology is enabling quantum technology development, new sensing techniques and communication developments

Akin to the internet, the future quantum internet promises a similar revolution across society, due to the access to quantum computers, quantum sensors and the possibility of quantum secure communications. To build a quantum internet/network, the sharing and distributing entangled states between widely separate locations is paramount. Entangled photons are a fundamental resource underpinning quantum communication, computing and sensing. Furthermore, to build a future quantum network consisting of interconnected quantum computers and sensors, it will become necessary to distribute and swap entangled photons between remote distributed nodes.

Of particular importance are entangled photon pairs which are compatible with both long-distance communication through optical fibre where the lowest loss is found in the C-band (1530-1565 nm) in traditional SMFs and with quantum memories for example in alkali metal vapours (e.g. Caesium (Cs), Rubidium (Rb)). Direct generation of entangled photon pairs in optical fibre presents inherent advantages of low loss, spatial mode matching, and direct integration into existing fibre optic networks. Previous works have leveraged tapered optical fibres and specialty optical fibres surrounded by gas to generate photon pairs. In this research project, the PhD candidate will address challenges around the following areas:

1. Spontaneous Four Wave Mixing (SFWM) in Gas Cladding Optical Fibre Tapers in both classical and quantum regime.
2. Heralded Single Photon detection and coincidence counting.
3. Narrow linewidth photon pair generation through optical fibre cavities based on Optical Fibre Microknots.

Job Requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) in photonics, electro, applied physics or similar.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Desirable Applicant Competencies

The candidate would ideally have a theoretical understanding and/or experimental experience in one or more of the following areas:

1. Optical fibre theory, practical handling and fibre processing (e.g. splicing, tapering, etc).
2. Experimental Quantum Optics (e.g. coincidence counting, Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) two photon interference, photon pair generation).
3. Python coding and DSP development for optical fibre channels.

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 station. In 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. € 2,901 max. € 3,707).  
• 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 É«ÖÐÉ« we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process. 
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's 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 Tom Bradley, Assistant Professor (t.d.bradley@remove-this.tue.nl).

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact Dr Chigo Okonkwo, Professor (cokonkow@remove-this.tue.nl) or Dr Ali Mefleh, Research Lead Quantum & Photonics at KPN (ali.mefleh@remove-this.kpn.com).

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at É«ÖÐÉ«? 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.
• A written scientific report in English (MSc thesis, traineeship report or scientific paper).

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.

Reference number: 2025/216