Research Associate / PhD Position (m/f/d) in Advanced Analysis Methods for Photonic Devices and Integrated Sensors

2026-04-22T14:38:33+02:00

Shape the next generation of photonic analysis methods
We are offering a PhD position at the interface of advanced analytical diagnostics, integrated photonics and sensor development within the Diagnostics, Sensors & Emerging Modules (DSE) group.
This position is built around a highly relevant research question:
How can performance bottlenecks, variability effects, and failure-related phenomena in photonic devices and integrated sensor structures be localized, understood, and translated into better designs and better testability?

You will work across two complementary research directions within DSE:

development of photonic sensor concepts and low-loss silicon nitride (SiN) platforms

development of advanced analytical and fault-localization methods

A key strength of the role is the close connection between photonic device design, experimental analysis, method development, and ongoing research projects in photonic sensing.

Your research focus
Your PhD will focus on the development of advanced analytical methods for the localization and investigation of performance bottlenecks and failures in photonic devices and integrated sensors.
A particular methodological emphasis lies on laser and optical-based analysis techniques. Starting from methods such as PLS, LVP, LVI, and PEM, you will assess, adapt, and further develop these approaches for photonic applications.
To support this work, you will also design and evaluate dedicated photonic test structures and selected photonic building blocks, for example SiN-based couplers. This creates a direct link between photonic design, experimental validation, and analytical method development.
The position also directly supports ongoing R&D projects in photonic sensing by contributing targeted design capabilities for photonic devices and test structures. In this way, your work will help identify critical bottlenecks in performance, testability, variability, and failure behavior, and feed these insights back into device and technology development.

Research environment
The work is embedded in the DSE group at IHP and carried out in close scientific cooperation with partners at Technische Universität Berlin, in particular with the groups Sensors and Actuators and Security in Telecommunications.
This gives you access to a highly attractive research environment with complementary expertise in:

photonic sensing

laser-based and application-oriented analy

experimental characterization

sensor-related demonstrators and advanced test concepts

Your responsibilities

Develop advanced analytical methods for the localization and investigation of performance bottlenecks and failures in photonic devices and integrated sensor structures

Adapt and validate laser-based analytical methods for photonic applications, including approaches such as PLS, TLD, LVP, LVI, and PEM

Design and evaluate dedicated photonic test structures and selected photonic building blocks, for example SiN-based couplers

Plan, execute, and analyze experiments on photonic components and sensor-related demonstrators

Investigate performance bottlenecks, testability limitations, technological variability, and failure modes in photonic structures

Support ongoing research and development projects in photonic sensing through targeted photonic device and test-structure design

Work in close scientific exchange with cooperation partners at Technische Universität Berlin

Publish and present your results at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals

Prepare and complete a PhD thesis in the corresponding research field