Postdoctoral Fellow (index no. 6700-00)

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland. We perform cutting-edge research in the fields of future technologies, energy and climate, health innovation and fundamentals of nature. By performing fundamental and applied research, we work on sustainable solutions for major challenges facing society, science and economy. PSI is committed to the training of future generations. Therefore, about one quarter of our staff are post-docs, post-graduates or apprentices. Altogether, PSI employs 2200 people.

For the Nano and Quantum Technologies (LNQ) Laboratory we are looking for a

Postdoctoral Fellow
for silicon photonics devices and sustainable semiconductor processing

Your tasks
For the SNF SINERGIA project Sustainable Group-IV Active Photonics Research (SUGAR) we are looking to hire a Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in cleanroom fabrication of silicon photonics components and optical characterization. The chosen candidate should have an interest in exploring sustainability in the context of semiconductor processing and energy efficiency of photonic devices as this will be part of the tasks, but does not need to bring experience in this field. The project focuses on developing scaled photonic devices such as detectors and photonic crystal lasers based on Ge and GeSn compounds grown at EPFL. We will collaborate with ETH Zurich on assessing the environmental footprint of devices and to potentially optimize micro-fabrication processes to improve in the context of more sustainable fabrication routes.

Your tasks will include:

• Design and fabricate silicon photonics devices in particular active elements such as detectors and lasers based on Ge or GeSn compounds
• Characterize devices in the existing nanophotonics set-up and be responsible to extend the wavelength range of the set-up to around 3 μm wavelength. Including acquisition of the required optics
• Supervise PhD students working on the project
• Interact with our project partners at EPFL (Materials development) and ETHZ (sustainability assessment)
• Explore alternative semiconductor fabrication routes for reduced environmental impact in close collaboration with the ETH Zurich team
• Write deliverables and project reports related to your tasks in the Sinergia project
• Presentation of results at conferences and publication in relevant journals