Missions

As part of the European SENSEI project - Smart European Networks for Sensing the Environment and Internet quality, within a multidisciplinary project team, you will be responsible for the design and development of experimental devices utilizing the fibre optic networks of telecommunication systems. You will participate in the study of the scientific needs of these devices, as well as conducting tests in both laboratory and field environments. Specifically, you will develop prototypes based on coherent laser interferometry, using advanced, low-noise, and fast detection techniques through polarization modulation, frequency and/or amplitude modulation of ultra-low-noise laser sources to measure fibre deformation induced by the environment.
The goal is to develop extreme performance techniques in terms of sensitivity and range by using coherent, low-noise laser sources, while being implemented on operational telecommunication networks without disrupting the existing data traffic. These developments will combine optics, photonics, and electronics, focusing particularly on laser engineering, fibre optics, high-resolution optical interferometry, and low-noise electronics.
These developments will enable the use of existing fibre networks, especially the REFIMEVE research infrastructure network, as large-scale sensors for geosciences, fundamental and applied physics, as well as seismic and climate monitoring, network integrity and infrastructure surveillance. Significant scientific and societal outcomes are expected. Existing industrial partnerships should facilitate the transfer of developments realised in this project.

Activités

Instrumental developments will be based on the instrumentation developed for the REFIMEVE national research infrastructure network – French acronym for Metrological Fiber Network with European Vocation. The activities are as follows:
- Develop an experimental prototype utilizing laser interferometry and light polarization modulation to measure optical fibre deformations on deployed networks. Study and determine the technological choices to optimize sensitivity over long distances (>100 km). Implement dual-polarization coherent detection and develop appropriate signal processing.
- Actively participate and contribute to the development of an experimental prototype using laser interferometry, self-heterodyne detection and frequency modulation of a laser source over a wide dynamic range to measure optical fibre deformations.
- Participate in the study of scientific needs and the development of the technical specifications for these two prototypes, in collaboration with experts in photonics, telecommunications, and seismology.
- Conduct measurements with these prototypes in the laboratory and in the field, interpret the results and validate the performances.
- Contribute to the integration of these prototypes into the industrial instruments of the REFIMEVE network, in close collaboration with a company, particularly to add these new detection capabilities to the REFIMEVE research infrastructure.
- Monitor technological developments.
- Communicate, disseminate and showcase the achievements and results at international conferences. Write at least one peer-reviewed paper.
- Contribute to project monitoring, participate in writing deliverables, and attend project meetings.

Compétences

Desired profile:
• Education: You hold a PhD (or alternatively an engineering degree) in the field of optics/photonics, electronics, or engineering.
• Professional experience: Ideally, you have an experience in an important experimental development combining photonics and low-noise electronics. You have experience in signal processing, metrology, and a strong interest in instrumental development.
• Desired Skills:
- In-depth knowledge of engineering techniques and sciences, particularly in signal processing.
- In-depth knowledge of photonics.
- General knowledge of physics, data analysis and processing, electronics.
- Basic project management skills.
- Written and oral presentation skills.
- Fluent English (reading, writing and speaking).
- Actively contribute to complex instrumental developments project with both academic and industrial partners, lead sub-projects.
- Plan and manage your activities in close coordination with partners, meet project deadlines and deliverables.
• Qualities: Creativity, autonomy, rigor, organization, and critical thinking. Ability to work in a multidisciplinary and international environment.

Contexte de travail

REFIMEVE [1] is a national research infrastructure that disseminates time and frequency reference signals across the french national territory, including an ultra-stable optical signal, for numerous laboratories. Thirty laboratories are connected, along with three European links to Germany, the UK, and Italy. The European project Smart European Networks for Sensing the Environment and Internet Quality (SENSEI) [2] aims to develop new tools and methods to operate global telecommunication networks as large-scale distributed sensors. This project is an international collaboration bringing together worldwide experts in various fields, where the research engineer will have the opportunity to collaborate with several laboratories and companies.
REFIMEVE is supported by the University Sorbonne Paris Nord, Paris Observatory, and CNRS. Research will be conducted mainly at Laboratoire de Physique des Lasers (LPL), an experimental physics research unit of CNRS and University Sorbonne Paris Nord, located at the Villetaneuse campus (Paris region). The SENSEI project team, to which you will be integrated, consists of two permanent staff from the REFIMEVE direction (a CNRS research director from LPL and a research engineer from SYRTE laboratory at Paris Observatory), the REFIMEVE research engineer at LPL, as well as two electronics engineers (research engineer and assistant engineer) from the electronic servicesof LPL. In addition to LPL and SYRTE, the European project involves the company Exail, an industrial partner with two dedicated engineers for the project.
The position includes missions at the European partners' sites for project meetings, collaboration meetings, and field testing.
[1] Refimeve+, « project www.refimeve.fr/ ».
[2] « Smart European Networks for Sensing the Environment and Internet quality | SENSEI Project | Fact Sheet | HORIZON », CORDIS | European Commission. https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101189545