Young Graduate Trainee for Advanced Concepts in Nano-Photonics

The Advanced Concepts & Studies Office ensures the overall coordination, coherence and performance of programme and corporate studies as support to the preparation of the Agency’s future activities, in line with its long-term strategic objectives and priorities. This includes the Advanced Concepts Team (ACT), ESA’s in-house research think-tank.

The ACT performs beyond-the-horizon multidisciplinary research for space, exploring new approaches to space-related R&D (including competitions, prizes, games), research for disruptive innovation, developing an expert network at academic level and providing a capability for fast first-look analysis of problems, challenges and opportunities. The ACT engages in collaborative research relations with university institutes and research centres, focusing on advanced research topics of potential strategic interest to the space sector and experimenting with new forms of teamwork. To achieve its goal, a multidisciplinary research environment is provided in which young scientific and engineering post-doctoral and postgraduate researchers work on emerging technologies and innovative concepts.

More information on the Team is accessible on the ACT website (www.esa.int/act ).

Candidates interested are encouraged to visit the ESA website: www.esa.int

You will investigate advances in the research field of nano-photonics focusing on future space applications. Depending on your specific background and expertise, you will focus on one to three specific projects. These could include topics such as small lasers and small photodetectors, small optical circuits, novel optical sensors, overcoming diffraction limits via nano-photonic surface and material treatments, space-time wavefront shaping, and non-conventional methods of imaging in scattering materials.

Another broad area of interest could be developments in optical computation considering both classic and quantum aspects as well as neuromorphic, reversible and other novel computation models.

Tasks will depend on your area of expertise and motivation and may include:

• analysing recent advances in nano-photonics for detection/measurement applications in space;
• analysing theoretical options and the limitations of photonic detection techniques;
• creating and developing at least one specific research study in nano-photonics.
• basic modelling of sensor characteristics and/or behaviour;
• providing expertise on nanotechnology and photonics to other research projects of the Team.

 
Depending on the nature of the project, you may also be required to interface with the academic community in these fields. You will be a full member of the ACT and therefore expected to contribute to the development and assessment of new concepts and technologies for space applications in close interaction with ACT researchers who work on a broad range of disciplines, including: informatics, artificial intelligence, climate modelling, energy systems, fundamental physics, biomimetics, computational management science and mission analysis. Based on your detailed background and interests and Team opportunities and needs, you will be involved in a number of other ACT initiatives, including studies conducted via the Ariadna scheme (www.esa.int/ariadna ) and will also participate in reporting and communicating Team results internally and externally.

You should have just completed, or be in the final year of a university course at Master's level (or equivalent) in a technical or scientific discipline. In particular, physics (nanotechnology, (non-linear) optics, nano-photonics) or related fields.

The working languages of the Agency are English and French. A good knowledge of one of these is required. Knowledge of another Member State language would be an asset.　

You should demonstrate good interpersonal skills and the capacity to work both independently and as part of a team. 　

During the interview your motivation and overall professional perspective/career goals will also be explored.