Research Fellow I

Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Silicon Photonics and Advanced Photonic Packaging

The Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on advanced photonic packaging and silicon photonics. The project focuses on developing low-loss optical coupling and packaging solutions for photonic integrated circuits, including chip-to-fibre, chip-to-chip, and chip-to-free-space interfaces.

We are seeking candidates with strong experience in silicon photonics, waveguide optics, and photonic device design. Hands-on experience in building optical test setups and characterizing integrated photonic devices is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and simulation of silicon photonic devices, waveguides, mode converters, optical couplers, and packaging interfaces using commercial photonic design tools.
• Perform optical simulations and tolerance analyses to optimize coupling efficiency, bandwidth, alignment tolerance, and packaging performance.
• Build and operate optical characterization setups using tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, cameras, fibre alignment stages, and related equipment.
• Characterize fabricated devices and packaged photonic systems, including insertion loss, spectral response, polarization dependence, and alignment tolerance.
• Work with interdisciplinary academic and industrial partners on device fabrication, packaging, system integration, and end-to-end validation.
• Contribute to research publications, technical reports, patent applications, and project proposals.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Optical Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong background in silicon photonics, integrated photonics, waveguide optics, or photonic integrated circuits.
• Demonstrated experience in photonic device design, numerical simulation, and layout.
• Proficiency with relevant design and simulation tools, such as Ansys Lumerical, COMSOL, MATLAB, or Python.
• Hands-on experience in constructing optical test setups and characterizing integrated photonic devices.
• Familiarity with optical components and equipment such as tunable lasers, optical spectrum analyzers, power meters, polarization controllers, probe stations, and fibre alignment stages.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with experimental tests of photonic integrated circuits.
• Experience in waveguide, grating coupler, edge coupler, mode converter, or freeform optical component design.
• Experience with active alignment, automated optical testing, or packaging-tolerance analysis.
• Knowledge of optical communication systems, co-packaged optics, or high-speed photonic systems.
• Familiarity with micro- and nanofabrication processes is an advantage.

Appointment and Salary

The position will be based at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), Singapore.

The initial appointment is expected to be for one year, with the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability.