Two PhD student positions on Nanophotonics for Biological Applications at University of Chalmers

Rapid conceptual developments and progress in nanofabrication technologies, computational electromagnetics and optical measurement methodologies have brought optics and photonics firmly into the realm of nanoscience. Nanophotonics now encompass subfields of extremely high current interest – plasmonics, optical nanoscopy, metamaterials, to name a few. The methods and concepts developed in nanophotonics have a very broad applicability and may provide solutions to challenges as diverse as single molecule medical diagnostics, quantum optics for tomorrow’s telecom networks and environmentally friendly fuels from solar energy harvesting.

The Division of Bionanophotonics at Chalmers is engaged in fundamental and applied nanophotonics studies at the international research frontier. The group is highly international and consists of MSc and PhD students, post docs and senior scientists. The group is embedded in the Department of Physics at Chalmers University of Technology, which is one of the largest Physics departments in Sweden. Researchers in the Division of Bionanophotonics do experiments, theory and computer simulations and we are heavy users of Chalmers nanofabrication facility. We now seek highly motivated candidates for two PhD projects, as outlined below.

POSITION 1: PHASE-GRADIENT METASURFACES FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
Phase-gradient metasurfaces are built from subwavelength particles which properties are systematically varied over the surface. This allows one to control the phase of light that is transmitted through or reflected from the metasurface, which in turn makes it possible to construct extremely compact analoges of most common optical components, for example microscope objectives. The PhD project involves nanofabrication of flat optics components, experiments targeting applications in optical microscopy of biological cells, and computer simulations of metasurface devices.

POSITION 2. ACTIVE BIONANOPHOTONICS
Light can exert forces on small objects in many ways, including optical forces (like in laser tweezers) and through heat transfer (leading to photophoresis). This PhD position focuses on utilizing such forces for biological sensing and actuation. The ultimate goal is to be able to detect single biological nanoobjects on a sensor chip or in solution and at the same time control the position and movement of those objects at the nanoscale. The PhD project focuses on optical experiments and simulations, but itmay also involve nanofabrication of various devices.

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Two PhD student positions on Nanophotonics for Biological Applications at University of Chalmers