PhD scholarships in nanophotonics

About the Project
PhD scholarship is available for a motivated student to work on combination of experimental and theoretical research in photonics at the nanoscale. Photonics in the 21st century is undergoing revolutionary transformations driven by nanotechnology. Today we can nanofabricate functional optical components hundreds of times thinner than a human hair that outperform conventional bulky optics or/and offer novel functionalities.

The project aims to develop approaches to control propagation of light in nonreciprocal ways, similar to ways we control directions of electric currents with semiconductor diodes and transistors. Nonreciprocal behavior of light is difficult to achieve, and it is currently limited to relatively large optical systems, which represents a roadblock for further miniaturization and integration of optical devices. Expected outcomes of this project include first demonstrations of a radical miniaturization of nonreciprocal optical components to the nanoscale. The 21stcentury photonics might depend on nonreciprocal optical components as much as the 20th century electronics depended on nonreciprocal semiconductor diodes.

Students joining the project can be involved in the following lines of investigation:

theoretical research,
clean room nanofabrication,
optical experiments.
The Australian National University (ANU) is among the world-leading centers for education and research. Ranked #1 in Australia and #31 in the world (QS World University Rankings 2021), Australia’s national university is further distinguished by an outstanding record for student satisfaction and graduate employability.

Physical sciences including sub-disciplines of optics and photonics are among the top disciplines at the Australian National University, receiving the highest rating of 5: ‘well above world standard’ in the ERA 2018 National Report. The stimulating collaborative research environment includes well-developed infrastructure in nanophotonics, including the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF), advanced microscopy units, and photonics laboratories. The Research School of Physics has supportive and inclusive environment with a diverse network of mentors providing multiple opportunities for the development of transferrable skills.

The project will be supervised by Dr Sergey Kruk and Prof. Yuri Kivshar. Dr. Kruk has been recognized nationally and internationally through awards and distinctions, including the Australian Optical Society award of the Geoff Opat Prize (2017) and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics award of the Young Scientist Prize (2019). Professor Kivshar has continuously been recognized in the Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers List (including the latest available 2019 data), placing him among the world’s most prolific and influential researchers.

About the scholarship

A living allowance stipend, tax exempt and indexed annually $28,597 per annum for a period of three years. Successful applicants will additionally receive a full tuition fee sponsorship. The project allocates funding for conference travels. The program can allocate flexible working arrangements, and the performance will be measured by outcomes relevant to opportunity.

Eligibility and application criteria

You must have recently completed a bachelor’s or master’s degree or equivalent in a field relevant to physics, optics, and/or electromagnetism.

How to apply

Express your interest to Dr Sergey Kruk at [email protected] by sending:

• a cover letter,

• an up-do-date CV.

Application closing date

This opportunity will remain open until the positions are filled.

Further information

Please contact Dr Sergey Kruk at [email protected] for further information.