Researcher in the development of multiresonant nonlocal compound metasurfaces (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

Optical see-through head-up and head-mounted displays have emerged as pivotal devices for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) applications, garnering significant attention from leading industrial players. With their ultra-thin form factor, subwavelength modulation capabilities, and modulation flexibility, metasurfaces (MSs) represent a groundbreaking solution to overcome the fundamental limitations of conventional AR/VR near-eye displays. By replacing bulky optical components and enabling novel functionalities, MSs are paving the way for next-generation AR/VR technologies.
MSs have emerged as transformative platforms, enabling unprecedented control over wavefront manipulation through subwavelength artificial structures. By harnessing the linear and nonlinear optical properties of meta-atoms, MSs offer a versatile foundation for next-generation flat-optics devices, rivaling the performance of traditional bulk components.
Nonlocal metasurfaces represent a cutting-edge class of optical devices that engineer optical spectra by exploiting modes supported by arrays of adjacent, identical meta-units. These systems leverage interactions between neighboring meta-units to achieve multifunctionality, including high-quality factor resonances, essential for applications requiring narrowband spectral features. To further advance the capabilities of MSs, research efforts are increasingly focused on multilayered nonlocal MSs . When layers are positioned in close proximity, nonlocal coupling effects give rise to novel collective phenomena and volumetric resonances, which must be carefully engineered. By integrating distinct nonlocal resonances within a single, compact system, these metasurfaces enable multi-wavelength, narrowband, and spatially tailored functionalities in ultra-thin devices.

Activity

The primary objective of this postdoctoral project is to explore the properties of compound nonlocal metasurfaces and develop innovative models and techniques for engineering tightly spaced, multilayered dielectric MSs. The research will focus on creating multifunctional, resonant all-dielectric compound MSs, with enhanced capabilities in multiplexing, dispersion control, near-field enhancement, and tunability.

Scientific aims:
• Design and prototype all-dielectric resonant compound MSs for specific applications, ensuring compatibility with industrial fabrication technologies.
• Establish new methodologies for manipulating light wavefronts using stacked, nanostructured planar surfaces.
• Lay the groundwork for novel system architectures and design concepts for linear and nonlinear optical devices with multifunctional capabilities.

Key activities:
• Develop a comprehensive model for selected structures, utilizing finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) electromagnetic simulations and iterative algorithms.
• Create a physics-based generative neural network tool to design multilayered compound metasurfaces for multifunctional operation.
• Collaborate with nanofabrication teams to prototype and validate designs.
• Conduct optical characterization and iterative optimization to enhance device performance.

Your Profil

Skills

Qualification:
• PhD in Photonics, Electrical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Physics, Materials Science, or a related field.

Skills and Experience:
• Strong background in nanophotonics, metasurfaces, metamaterials, or computational electromagnetics.
• Interest in nanofabrication and flat optics applications, from both design and characterization perspectives.
• Proficiency in software development (Python, MATLAB, etc.).
• Experience with electromagnetic simulations (e.g., FDTD, Comsol) is highly desirable.

Personal Attributes:
• Innovative, proactive, and constructive mindset.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and in collaborative teams.
• Excellent communication skills and fluency in English (spoken and written). Required English level: C1 (European framework) – a fluent command of English (spoken and written) is essential for working in an international environment and publishing in scientific journals.

Your Work Environment

The ICube Laboratory (UMR 7357) is a joint research unit under the supervision of the CNRS, the University of Strasbourg, and INSA Strasbourg. Structured into 4 departments, 17 research teams, and 6 cross-cutting research themes, ICube fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. The laboratory brings together nearly 750 members, including over 430 permanent staff (university professors, associate professors, CNRS researchers, hospital practitioners, engineers, and technical staff) and more than 270 non-permanent members (PhD students, postdocs, and visiting researchers).
ICube stands out for its unique position at the interface between the physical and digital worlds. Its teams explore, design, and develop models and methodsboth physical and algorithmic—as well as new technologies that bridge the real world (matter and living systems), digital data, and virtual environments.
The selected candidate (M/F) will join the IPP (Instrumentation and Photonics Processes) team, which specializes in research on light-matter interactions in micro- and nanostructured media. The team's work focuses on extracting information or modifying materials to achieve specific functionalities, with applications in microscopy, health instrumentation, and laser treatment.
The candidate will benefit from a stimulating work environment within a dynamic and international team, collaborating with leading experts in photonics. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research at the intersection of nanophotonics, metamaterials, and advanced optical engineering, while gaining practical experience in theoretical modeling and experimental validation. The IPP team maintains close collaborations with academic partners (French and international laboratories) and industrial partners (start-ups and major companies in optics and photonics). The postdoc will have the opportunity to participate in collaborative projects and present their results at international conferences.
The laboratory is located on the Illkirch campus, in a pleasant and green setting, easily accessible by public transport. The candidate will benefit from:
• Access to a subsidized administrative restaurant nearby,
• Partial coverage of public transport costs,
• Social benefits (health insurance, cultural and sports activities).
Specificities and Constraints of the Position:
• The position is located in an area subject to Protection of Scientific and Technical Potential (PPST). In accordance with regulations, authorization from the competent MESR authority is required before the start of the contract.
• Short-term travel in France and abroad is to be expected for collaborations or conferences.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Starting from €3072 gross depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions