Small photonic circuits, big-resolution imaging!
Job description
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate to work on the development of next-generation compact optical imaging systems based on integrated photonics. The project aims to enable high-resolution imaging and sensing in a highly miniaturized platform that overcomes the limitations of conventional large-scale microscopy techniques.
You will explore novel optical effects in nanophotonic structures to achieve both high imaging resolution and efficient light collection, with applications ranging from biological imaging and surface inspection to semiconductor metrology. The work combines fundamental physics with cutting-edge photonic device engineering and offers opportunities for collaboration in an international research environment.
Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, electrical engineering, photonics, or a related field, with a strong interest in optics and experimental or computational research.
Job requirements
Applicants should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, electrical engineering, photonics, or a related field, with a strong interest in optics, nanofabrication, and experimental and computational research.
Other mandatory requirements
- MSc or equivalent in Physics or Engineering.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Critical thinking.
Not mandatory but considered plus
- Familiarity with photonics integrated circuits (design, simulation, testing).
- Nanofabrication (particularly nanofabrication of photonics integrated circuits).
- Familiarity with microscopy (theoretical and experimental are both valuable).
- Familiarity with quantum photonics.
TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)
Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.
At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.
Challenge. Change. Impact!
Faculty Applied Sciences
With more than 1,100 employees, including 150 pioneering principal investigators, as well as a population of about 3,600 passionate students, the Faculty of Applied Sciences is an inspiring scientific ecosystem. Focusing on key enabling technologies, such as quantum- and nanotechnology, photonics, biotechnology, synthetic biology and materials for energy storage and conversion, our faculty aims to provide solutions to important problems of the 21st century. To that end, we educate innovative students in broad Bachelor's and specialist Master's programmes with a strong research component. Our scientists conduct ground-breaking fundamental and applied research in the fields of Life and Health Science & Technology, Nanoscience, Chemical Engineering, Radiation Science & Technology, and Engineering Physics. We are also training the next generation of high school teachers.
Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.
Conditions of employment
Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1,5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2,5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.
Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €3059 - €3881 gross per month, from the first year to the fourth year based on a fulltime contract (38 hours), plus 8% holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus of 8.3%.
As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.
The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.
Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.
Additional information
If you would like more information about this vacancy or the selection procedure, please contact Iman Esmaeil Zadeh, via i.esmaeilzadeh@tudelft.nl.
Application procedure
Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply no later than 16 July 2026 via the application button and upload the following documents:
You can address your application to Iman Esmaeil Zadeh.
Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.
Please note:
- You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
- As part of knowledge security, TU Delft conducts a risk assessment during the recruitment of personnel. We do this, among other things, to prevent the unwanted transfer of sensitive knowledge and technology. The assessment is based on information provided by the candidates themselves, such as their motivation letter and CV, and takes place at the final stages of the selection process. When the outcome of the assessment is negative, the candidate will be informed. The processing of personal data in the context of the risk assessment is carried out on the legal basis of the GDPR: performing a public task in the public interest. You can find more information about this assessment on our website about knowledge security.
- Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.
TECHNICAL & MARKET ANALYSIS | Appended by Quantum.Jobs
The emergence of doctoral research positions specializing in nanophotonics and photonic integrated circuits represents a structural necessity for the transition of quantum and optical technologies from laboratory-scale experiments to integrated, scalable systems. As the sector faces critical bottlenecks in miniaturization and high-precision metrology, these roles provide the fundamental research required to bridge the gap between theoretical light-matter interactions and industrial-grade sensing architectures. By investigating novel optical effects in nanostructures, this function serves as a high-leverage stabilization point within the hardware infrastructure layer, directly impacting the technology readiness level (TRL) of next-generation imaging platforms. Market signals from national technology strategies emphasize that such expertise is essential for mitigating the systemic risks of technology obsolescence in high-compute and deep-tech sectors.
The integrated photonics landscape is undergoing a decisive shift from bulk optical setups toward the development of quantum photonic integrated circuits (QPICs) capable of harnessing classical photonic integration platforms. Within the global value chain, this evolution is centered on overcoming the "integration gap" by developing monolithically or hybrid integrated circuits that can handle complex optical signal processing with minimal power consumption. Current industry focus lies on bridging classical and quantum capabilities at scale, necessitating sophisticated management of the interface between nanophotonic structures and enterprise-grade systems engineering to ensure that miniaturized platforms maintain high imaging resolution and efficient light collection.
Ecosystem-wide efforts are increasingly focused on addressing the acute scarcity of interdisciplinary professionals capable of navigating the fragmentation of the optical software and hardware stack. As hardware benchmarks advance beyond proof-of-concepts, the structural layer required to bridge complex cryogenic or room-temperature architectures with end-user applications becomes a primary determinant of commercial viability. These dynamics, influenced by public-private funding cycles and the emergence of specialized AI hardware accelerators, place a premium on researchers who can drive interoperability across disparate photonic and electronic platforms.
The capability architecture for this role type centers on the synchronization of advanced nanofabrication protocols with the requirements of integrated circuit design and high-resolution microscopy. Mastery of the hardware-agnostic design layer is essential for ensuring that photonic circuits are optimized for the specific constraints of modern lithography and characterization tools. These capabilities are fundamental to the throughput of technology organizations, as they enable the parallelization of research initiatives alongside the development of scalable architectures for biological imaging, surface inspection, and semiconductor metrology. By establishing rigorous verification frameworks, this function provides the leverage needed to assess the true value of photonic advantage before full-scale capital allocation. - Accelerates the deterministic transition from laboratory-scale nanophotonic research to industrial-grade integrated circuit applications
- Mitigates systemic execution risks by synchronizing long-horizon research cycles with near-term technology roadmaps in semiconductor metrology
- Facilitates the integration of compact optical imaging systems into standardized high-performance computing and sensing infrastructures
- Strengthens the reliability of organizational technology strategies through the implementation of rigorous photonic circuit benchmarking
- Reduces iteration friction between fundamental light-matter interaction breakthroughs and the deployment of scalable optical architectures
- Optimizes the allocation of specialized technical talent across nanofabrication, simulation, and strategic research portfolios
- Enhances the stability of the quantum and photonic value chain by providing predictable requirement frameworks for foundry partners
- Supports the scaling of sensing capabilities by managing the complex dependencies of hybrid photonic-electronic workflows
- Improves the transparency of technology readiness level progression for stakeholders in the investment and research policy sectors
- Enables the structural reproducibility of nanophotonic experiments through the standardization of architectural implementation protocols
- Protects high-capital R\&D investments by ensuring alignment between scientific discovery and commercial scalability in biosensing
- Orchestrates the convergence of academic research pathways with the practical demands of global integrated photonics marketsIndustry Tags: Nanophotonics, Photonic Integrated Circuits, Semiconductor Metrology, Integrated Photonics, Quantum Nanophotonics, Nanofabrication, Biosensing, Optical Imaging, TRL Progression
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