PhD Scholarship - Self-Tuning Photonic Circuits
Job No.: 670108
Location: Clayton campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: $35,013 p.a. (tax-free), with top-ups potentially available
Project
Photonic chips control the flow of light, in an analogous way to electronic chips controlling the flow of electrons. The bandwidths available in optics are orders of magnitude larger than for electronic, which has the potential for processing information in a very energy efficient way. However, photonic chips are less developed than electronic chips, meaning that these chips need to be tuned to operate as we want them
to.
This project focuses on methods to help photonic chips “self-tune”, to enable complex photonic functionality involving many elements on a single chip. This will harness the development of optical microcombs, using the light from these microcombs both to measure the chip response, but also to enable the chip to process information encoded on microcombs. This will push toward energy efficient photonic acceleration of information processing (both deterministic & neuromorphic) of microcombs that support massive amounts of data, to help us gain intelligent insights from precision sensing, spectroscopy and optical communication data.
Opportunity
As part of this PhD, you will be trained in photonic chip design, photonic device characterization, and the use of photonic chips in various systems. You will also become one of the world’s few experts in the use of a new type of laser – optical microcombs. You will have opportunities through this project to work with local academics (this project links specifically to RMIT University) and through local & international industry. This PhD will provide you with skills to develop a career in academia or industry.
This project has the scope to blend optical physics with communication engineering, and can suit candidates with a background in Physics, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, or related disciplines. You will be working as part of a large collaboration – the Centre for Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS) – a 7-year, $70M research collaboration started in 2024. This centre is based on shared research goals, equipment and expertise amongst 8 Australian universities and many international partners. This provides a globally unique and highly connected research environment for PhD students.
Details
The scholarship (Monash RTP) is $35,013 p.a. (tax free), with top-ups potentially available. Tuition fees are waived by Monash. PhD positions in Australia are open to graduate with honours or masters degrees, and run for 3-3.5 years. Your home campus will be Monash Clayton, located within the metropolitan area of Melbourne. The main supervisor for this work in Professor. Arthur Lowery. H1-equivalent preferred, in Australia this is a GPA of >80%, and varies with country of degree. Due to trade embargos, we cannot consider
applicants with Iranian citizenship.
Applicants should apply through this online form (https://forms.gle/PJMB4fCXB2gpH4Zi7), Domestic (Aus/NZ citizens & permanent resident/visa) applications are preferred before October 15, 2024. The first round of applications will remain open until 31 October, 2024.
Background
Applicants with a background including project work in optics, photonics, optical communications, and/or communications engineering will be starting off with an advantage for this PhD topic.
This work builds on research from Professor. Lowery’s group at Monash in collaboration with RMIT, and aims to leverage microcombs to make the most of the bandwidth advantage. See below for more:
[1] Xu et al., Nature Photonics, www.nature.com/articles/s41566-022-01020-z
[2] Liu et al., J. Lightwave Technology, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9970345
COMBS @ Monash
At Monash, work feels different. There’s a sense of belonging, from contributing to something groundbreaking – a place where great things happen. You know you’re part of something special and purposeful because, like Monash, your ambitions drive you to make change.
The Faculty of Engineering is one of the largest in Australia, renowned worldwide for the quality and calibre of our teaching, research and graduates. We offer a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and higher degree by research programs in a wide range of engineering disciplines. Our research activities provide a platform for establishing a thriving educational enterprise and our staff are committed to creating a dynamic learning environment. The research activities range from fundamental studies to research with a strong applications orientation.
The Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering aims to provide high quality programs for undergraduate and research students as well as undertaking and publishing high quality research. We offer internationally recognised undergraduate and research programs in telecommunications, electronics, robotics, biomedical engineering and electrical power systems. We maintain strong links with engineering professionals to ensure our programs remain at the leading edge of professional practice. We have a vibrant research culture, with major research areas in communications & RF identification, intelligent robotics, biomedical engineering and power electronics & energy.
The ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS – combs.org.au) is a large dynamic, diverse and inclusive community that spans across Australia and beyond. Optical frequency combs hold remarkable promise for reshaping the realms of precision measurements, highspeed communication, sensing, and astronomical discovery. Recent advances in nanofabrication make it possible to miniaturise bulky optical and electronic systems onto microchips, thus streamlining the production and reducing costs. This emerging microcomb technology holds the key to unlocking the full potential of optical frequency combs. By joining the ARC Centre of Excellence in Optical Microcombs for Breakthrough Science (COMBS), you will play an important role in developing these microcomb technologies to transform science and society.
As a member of COMBS, you will have the opportunity to work with other COMBS scientists within the eight Australian Universities network, take advantage of internships with industry and our many international partners in Europe, Asia and the US. There will be many opportunities for learning through workshops, technology translation and entrepreneurship bootcamps, and access to top photonics scientists. COMBS values equity, diversity, inclusion, and access, and we recognise the importance of intersectionality. We are committed to creating an environment that embraces and harnesses these intersections to do the best science we can. We invite you to join us to become part of the diverse and inclusive COMBS community.
Applications Close: Thursday 31 October 2024, 11:55pm AEDT
Supporting a diverse workforce
