Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral in application-driven PIC development for neutral atom quantum technologies ICFO is offering up to two postdoctoral positions to well-qualified, highly motivated and dynamic young scientists who wish to enhance their scientific career in a friendly and stimulating environment.

The successful candidate will join the international project

Photonics for Quantum (P4Q) . P4Q will establish a distributed, pan-European infrastructure for manufacturing high-performance photonic integrated circuits (PICs) tailored to quantum applications. Quantum technologies, including neutral atom quantum computing and simulation, rely heavily on photonics for encoding, processing, and detecting quantum information.

P4Q will address the stringent requirements of these technologies, such as low-loss, high-speed visible-wavelength operation, by stabilizing cutting-edge manufacturing processes and advancing both technology and manufacturing readiness levels. These PIC-based solutions are expected to support the transition from complex optical laboratory setups towards more scalable and deployable quantum technology architectures.

In the

Optoelectronics research group at ICFO, led by Prof. Dr.

Valerio

Pruneri , we are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a broad background in physics and photonics and familiarity with integrated photonics and neutral atom experimental architectures. The selected candidate will play a central role in the conception, coordination of design, fabrication and packaging activities,



as well as testing and characterization of advanced PICs within the P4Q project, contributing to both technological development and application-oriented demonstrators.

The position combines conception and design-oriented work, coordination, and experimental lab work, and is idóneo for candidates with a solid technical background and strong motivation to work with integrated photonics for quantum applications in a dynamic R&D; and pre-industrial environment.

Key responsibilities

Contribute to coordinating research activities on PICs for neutral atom experiments, including quantum computing and simulation.

Conceptualize and contribute to coordinating the development of novel visible-wavelength PICs in close collaboration with neutral atom end users. Analyse possible use cases of PICs within a neutral atom lab, while ensuring that the user requirements are translated into PIC specifications and test metrics.

Contribute to coordinating the design and simulation of PICs for these applications within ICFO.

Contribute to coordinating collaboration with P4Q project partners, in particular within the Quantum Computing with Atoms and Ions work package: PIC manufacturers, packagers, and end users,



the relevant teams within ICFO, including the Optoelectronics research group, facilities and project management.

Contribute to coordinating the Quantum Computing with Atoms and Ions work package, including preparation of project deliverable reports.

Develop characterization testbeds as well as optical/electrical testing procedures for visible-wavelength PICs.

Use the testbeds and testing procedures to analyse and validate PIC performance, operating test instrumentation including lasers, OSAs, VNAs, photodiodes, RF sources, power meters, and probe stations.

Contribute to coordinating with end users to facilitate qualification in application-oriented demonstrators.

Prepare structured testing reports, and support debugging activities across the development cycle.

Actively identify concepts for future PIC iterations in collaboration with end users and project partners. Contribute to conceptualizing and preparing related follow-up projects.

Funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe (P4Q, 101291189), Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) and the Spanish Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service under reference CJU-(phone hidden)-5, as part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Chips Joint Undertaking. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

📌 Optoelectronics Group: Post-doctoral in application-driven PIC development for neutral atom qua[...] (Madrid)
🏢 Institute Of Photonic Sciences
📍 Madrid