PhD in Spatiotemporal Light Generation with Frequency-Gradient Metasurfaces

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of ‘engineers of the future’ with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.

Introduction

How can we control light in space, time, and frequency to make photonic systems faster, more compact, and more versatile?

In this PhD project, you will develop frequency-gradient metasurfaces for ultrafast beam steering, temporal focusing, and self-torque, combining design, nanofabrication, and femtosecond experiments.

Job Description

Current photonic components can shape light with remarkable spatial precision, but controlling its spatial, spectral, and temporal structure simultaneously remains far more difficult. This limits how fast, compact, and versatile optical systems can become. In this PhD project, you will develop frequency-gradient metasurfaces that couple these degrees of freedom and enable ultrafast control of structured light. The aim is to realize beam steering, temporal focusing, and self-torque generation on femtosecond timescales, and to establish compact platforms relevant to next-generation imaging, communication, and photonic information processing.

Your research will span the full cycle from concept to experiment. You will:

• Develop design strategies for 2D and 3D frequency-gradient metasurfaces.
• Model and optimize their electromagnetic, spectral, and dispersive response.
• Explore ultrafast beam steering, temporal focusing, and self-torque generation through harmonic beating.
• Fabricate the designed nanophotonic structures using TU/e cleanroom facilities.
• Build femtosecond optical experiments to characterize the generated spatiotemporal light fields.
• Use experimental results to refine the designs and improve device performance.

The project is part of SPARK – Spatiotemporal Photonic Technologies, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network bringing together academic and industrial partners across Europe. SPARK will train 15 doctoral candidates working across spatiotemporal metamaterials, structured light, ultrafast optics, nanophotonics, and advanced fabrication.

You will be based at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and supervised by Dr. Ahmed H. Dorrah, with Prof. Marco Piccardo at INESC MN, Portugal, as co-supervisor. A key part of the PhD is international and intersectoral training. You will spend 6 months at INESC MN in Portugal, focusing on theoretical modelling, holography, and ultrafast characterization, and 3 months at NKT Photonics in Denmark, working on supercontinuum-laser characterization.

You will also take part in SPARK training schools, workshops, webinars, conferences, and network-wide activities. These will give you exposure to different research environments, broaden your technical background, and connect you with researchers and industry partners across Europe.

At TU/e, you will join the Photonics and Semiconductor Nanophysics (PSN) group, where you will work in an interdisciplinary environment with strong expertise in nanophotonics, meta-optics, structured light, and optical characterization, with access to advanced nanofabrication and ultrafast optical facilities.

Job Requirements

• A Master’s degree in Applied Physics, Physics, Optics/Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• A strong foundation in electromagnetics, optics, and/or photonics.
• Experience with scientific programming or electromagnetic modelling, for example using Python, MATLAB, COMSOL, Lumerical, Tidy3D, or similar tools.
• Interest or experience in nanophotonics, metasurfaces, structured light, ultrafast optics, nanofabrication, or optical experiments.
• The ability to work independently while contributing effectively to an international and interdisciplinary research team.
• Strong written and spoken English communication skills.

Experience with femtosecond optics, dispersion engineering, nonlinear optics, nanofabrication, or structured-light characterization is an advantage, but not required. You do not need expertise in all these areas; we value a strong foundation and the motivation to develop new skills during the PhD.

MSCA Eligibility Requirements

At the date of recruitment:

• You must not already hold a doctoral degree.

You must comply with the MSCA mobility rule: you must not have resided or carried out your main activity, such as work or studies, in the Netherlands for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding the recruitment date. Exceptions defined under the MSCA rules, such as compulsory national service or certain refugee/temporary protection procedures, apply.
*

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 at the heart of one of Europe’s largest tech hubs.

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. € 3,204 - max. € 4,051 gross base salary per month (full-time)).
• In addition to your base salary, you will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% year-end bonus, both calculated based on your annual gross base salary.
• Generous leave options: a standard 29 days (based on a 38 hour working week) per year that you can increase to 41 days by working two hours more per week (flexible working hours). This is prorated if you work part-time.
• As a TU/e employee, you participate in the ABP pension scheme, providing retirement pension and pension benefits for surviving dependents and occupational disability. TU/e pays 70% of the pension premium, while employees contribute the remaining 30%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, and on-campus children's day care.
• Unlimited access to the modern on‑campus TU/e Student Sports Center at an exceptionally affordable rate.
• We support your wellbeing with free 24/7 access to OpenUp, providing you and your family with mental health support, expert guidance, and online training.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the Expat Scheme) for international candidates.

On our website you can discover even more information about our conditions of employment. Build on your career at TU/e!

About us

We are a leading international university where scientific curiosity meets a hands-on mindset. We work in an open and collaborative way with high-tech industries to tackle complex societal challenges. Our responsible and respectful approach ensures impact — today and in the future. TU/e is home to over 13,000 students and more than 7,000 staff, forming a diverse and vibrant academic community.

Our university is located in Brainport Eindhoven — a world‑leading tech region with more than 7,000 high‑tech companies and strong R&D activity. Known for breakthroughs in AI, photonics, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing, Brainport is a place where technology serves people and society. Learn more about the Brainport region here.

The Department of Applied Physics and Science Education is a research-driven department housing high-quality educational programs, all featuring strong connections between research and education. Our research is clustered in three focal areas: Fluids, Bio and Soft Matter (FBSM); Plasmas and Beams (PB); and Nano, Quantum and Photonics (NQP). Our shared ambition is to equip the next generation of ‘engineers of the future’ with the knowledge and the skills they will need to impact science, innovation, and society, from regional to global scales.### Information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact the lab PI, dr. Ahmed H. Dorrah, a.h.dorrah@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process. You can also contact HRServices.apse@tue.nl.

Curious to hear more about what it’s like as a PhD candidate at TU/e? Please view the video.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

<!-StartFragment ->

#EUfunded This is an EU funded project, named Spatiotemporal photonic technologies (SPARK), with project number 101310184, within program HE / MSCA.

<!-EndFragment ->

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include a:

• Cover letter highlighting your motivation, research goals, and qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of your publications and contact information of 2-3 references.
• A scanned copy of your bachelor’s and master’s transcripts.
• A copy of your most significant publication and/or a 1-Page description of your MSc thesis.

Ensure that you submit all the requested application documents. We give priority to complete applications.

We look forward to receiving your application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. This position is funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks, Grant Agreement No. 101310184 (SPARK).

Please note

• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• A pre-employment screening (e.g. knowledge security check) can be part of the selection procedure. For more information on the knowledge security check, please consult the National Knowledge Security Guidelines.
• Unfortunately, due to the current closure of the Dutch embassy in Tehran, we are unable to consider applications from candidates residing in Iran at this time, as the required immigration procedures cannot be completed. For further information, please visit our FAQ page.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.

Type of employment: temporary position | Contract type: full time | Number of positions: 1 | Full-time equivalent: 1.0 FTE | City: Eindhoven | County: Noord-Brabant | Country: Netherlands | Reference number: 2026/558 | Published: 2026-09-09 | Last application date: 2026-11-10