Postdoctoral Fellow in Integrated Photonics for Adaptive Optics and Optical Communications in Toronto

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto (UofT) seeks to appoint a postdoctoral researcher to work on the design, fabrication, packaging, and characterization of photonic integrated circuits for adaptive optics, free-space optical communications, and quantum communications.

The appointee will work as a member of Prof. Suresh Sivanandam’s research group, in close collaboration with Tightbeam Photonics Inc. and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The successful candidate will take a leading role in the continued development of the photonic Adaptive Optics System-on-a-Chip (AOSoC), which combines wavefront sensing and correction on a photonic integrated circuit. The AOSoC is being developed as the core adaptive optics technology for compact optical ground stations capable of supporting space-to-ground classical and quantum optical communications, as well as astronomical applications.

The Dunlap Institute pursues groundbreaking astronomical research through innovative approaches to instrumentation, data-driven science and observations, alongside a substantive commitment to outreach and training. The Dunlap Institute is co-located with and has strong ties to the University of Toronto’s David A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and to the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). These three units together host more than 150 faculty, postdocs, staff and students, who conduct a diverse research program across instrumentation, observations, computation and theory. The Dunlap Institute is located on a beautiful 19th century campus in the heart of one of the world’s great cities. Rated as having one of the highest standards of living in the world, Toronto offers a huge range of indoor and outdoor pursuits, and a vibrant and diverse cultural community.

Responsibilities

• Photonic integrated circuit design, simulation, layout, and verification.
• Designing devices using photonic foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs).
• Preparing designs for fabrication.
• Interfacing with foundries.
• Testing and characterization of fabricated devices.
• Development of practical optical and electrical packaging solutions for integration of the AOSoC into an operational optical ground station.
• Work with existing University of Toronto and NRC researchers to advance the current AOSoC architecture and establish an in-house capability for the complete photonic-chip development cycle, from device design through fabrication, characterization, packaging, and system integration.
• Work closely with the optical systems postdoctoral researcher to define interfaces between the AOSoC and the ground station and to integrate and test packaged devices within the complete system.

Selection Criteria

• Demonstrated experience in photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design and hands-on characterization and testing of photonic devices in a laboratory environment.
• Demonstrated experience designing PICs using photonic foundry Process Design Kits (PDKs) and taking designs through the fabrication process.
• A demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative instrumentation-development team.

Additional Desirable Criteria

• Experience with photonic-chip packaging, including fibre coupling, optical interfaces, and electrical interfacing.
• Experience with silicon photonics, interferometric photonic circuits, phase shifters, integrated beam forming or wavefront control, and photonic device modelling.
• Experience developing or testing control interfaces for photonic circuits.
• Familiarity with adaptive optics, free-space optical communications, or quantum communications.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Dunlap Institute is committed to an inclusive and flexible workplace. We encourage applications from qualified applicants of all sexual orientations and gender expressions, racialized people, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities.

Employment Terms

The initial appointment will be for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to funding availability. The position has a starting annual salary of CAD $74,922 plus generous benefits, a research allowance of CAD $10,000 per year, relocation assistance, and the opportunity to request additional research funds from the Dunlap Institute. The nominal starting date for the position is January 2027, but flexibility is available. The normal hours of work are 40 hours per week for a full-time postdoctoral fellow (pro-rated for those holding a partial appointment) recognizing that the needs of the employee’s research and professional development and the needs of the supervisor’s research program may require flexibility in the performance of the employee’s duties and hours of work.

Employment as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto is covered by the terms of the CUPE 3902 Unit 5 Collective Agreement. The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons / persons of colour, women, Indigenous / Aboriginal People of North America, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.