Job offer
Organisation/Company Université Paris‑Saclay Department Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay Research Field Physics » Optics Engineering » Materials engineering Chemistry » Physical chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 15 Apr 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full‑time Hours Per Week 38 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
This is an open position for a PhD student studying aspects of "High-speed fabrication of vortex waveplates and polarization rotators in silica" at the University Paris Saclay under Prof. Matthieu LANCRY. This position is funded by the Marie‑Curie Doctoral Network (MSCA‑DN) HiPOVor with a targeted starting date of either September 1st or October 1st, 2026.
Short description about the project and the partners
HiPOVor is an international collaborative effort aiming to overcome the challenges involved in creating light beams that carry optical angular momentum with both very high peak power and very high average power. A group of young researchers will explore the entire development chain of these beams, including the devices used to generate them, the study of their physical properties, their amplification, their behaviour during propagation, and their practical uses. The project will train fifteen doctoral candidates to become the first specialists able to produce powerful light beams that carry optical angular momentum and to advance their use in both academic and industrial settings. The work is supported by an interdisciplinary consortium of eight leading universities and nine partners from industry. The academic partners are Tampere University in Finland, the University of Stuttgart in Germany, the University of Warsaw in Poland, the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom, the University of Bucharest in Romania, Université libre de Bruxelles in Belgium, Université Paris Saclay in France and the CNRS centre known as Femto ST in France. The project partners from industry together with the academic institutions will support research that is expected to strengthen European scientific excellence, enable new optical technologies, improve methods for producing structures at the scale of nanometres and contribute to more sustainable and energy‑efficient solutions.
Context and state‑of‑the‑art of Scientific Research project
Laser‑written flat optics is a far‑reaching solution. With fs laser pulses, nanogratings can be formed inside most glasses in a multi‑pulse laser regime. These structures are subwavelength, periodic (typ. 200‑300 nm), and birefringent. A key feature is that their amplitude and direction can be controlled respectively through pulse energy and light polarization direction. Therefore, Femtosecond Laser Direct Writing (FLDW) unfolds large perspectives to fabricate any optical component. It has been exploited to demonstrate fabrication of 3D space‑variant birefringent optics (vector beams, microwaveplate arrays) as well as optical elements operating on 3D geometric phase (lens, grating).
In parallel, recent advances in flat optics have challenged the limitations of conventional optics. The phase profile of nearly any optical component including lenses, gratings, prisms, vortex phase plates, as well as elements capable of bending light in unusual ways can be designed using the geometric‑phase (Pancharatnam‑Berry phase). Theoretically any phase pattern can be achieved by means of geometric‑phase optics with efficiencies reaching up to 100 %. In addition, the possibility to imprint spatially varying anisotropic phase (birefringence) response will enable the shaping of polarization‑structured (transversal and longitudinal) light beams like cylindrical vector beams or more generally Poincaré beams (Figure 1). However as summarised in table below, current limitations for laser‑written flat optics are many‑fold.
Our concept will address these key challenges by developing high‑speed volumetric writing to inscribe low‑loss arbitrary photonic components e.g. vortex waveplates in glasses (from Vis to Mid‑IR). This 3D laser writing technology is well studied in the academic environment due to its unambiguous advantages but remains weakly exploited at an industrial level. Main targets are:
- fs laser manufacturing of waveplates to create various kinds of optical vortices and beam arrays.
- Optimised fs laser manufacturing process with reduced optical losses, high‑power compatibility, mid‑IR range capability, polarisation state engineering and increased manufacturing speed.
- Passive all‑optical isolators produced with high‑power optical vortices.
Expected Results
This thesis is an opportunity to develop a wide range of skills (modeling, optical optimisation, implementation of a laser bench, metrology, characterization of optical performances, etc.). The expected results are:
- Publications in peer‑reviewed journals
- Oral presentations at international conferences
- Experimental achievements, including at least one proof of concept.
- Dissemination of the work in international conferences to both academic and industrial actors and in the field of glass science (ICG) and photonics (Photonics West, BGPP, CLEO Europe)
1. Ultrafast Laser Direct Writing Nanogratings and their Engineering in Transparent Materials. H. Yao, D. Pugliese, M. Lancry and Y. Dai. , Laser & Photonics Reviews 2024.
2. Materials roadmap for inscription of nanogratings inside transparent dielectrics using ultrafast lasers. H. Yao, Q. Xie, M. Cavillon, Y. Dai and M. Lancry. , Progress in Materials Science 2024.
3. Tailoring chiral optical properties by femtosecond laser direct writing in silica. J. Lu, J. Tian, B. Poumellec, E. Garcia‑Caurel, R. Ossikovski, X. Zeng and M. Lancry. , Light: Science & Applications 2023.
4. 3D structured Bessel beam polarization and its application to imprint chiral optical properties in silica. J. Lu, et al. , APL Photonics 8, ).
Facilities and quality of research environment available for the researcher
The doctoral student will have the opportunity to develop a laser‑glass processing method and to produce optical components with various functionalities (polarisation control, phase shifting, etc.). These components will be integrated into optical systems whose high‑power performances, phase and polarimetric properties will be evaluated experimentally.
This thesis is an opportunity to develop a wide range of skills (laser processing, implementation of a laser bench, laser processing, metrology, characterization of optical performance, etc.). The doctoral student will benefit from the skills and experimental resources available in at ICMMO laboratories, as well as the secondments labs. ICMMO hosts most of the major Microscopy and Microanalysis equipment’s for characterising materials and structures at and below the nanoscale, and spectroscopy facilities. Thus, all relevant equipment (SEM, TEM, EBSD, AFM, X‑ray, FTIR, Raman microprobes) are located next door offering a unique environment for material characterization. For the femtosecond work in this project, the PhD supervisor has a dedicated platform called “FLAG”. All the optical characterization (refractive index, birefringence, SHG measurements) are available in the group. Additionally, since nov. 2024, the ICMMO lab has moved into a new building at the heart of the “Plateau de Saclay”. This will be a unique opportunity for the PhD student to be in a brand new and very attractive environment to conduct research.
Where to apply
E‑mail
Requirements
Research Field Physics » Optics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Research Field Chemistry » Physical chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
We are looking for a motivated researcher who is interested in both fundamental and applied topics. A solid background in optics and/or material science is considered a strong asset. Above any previous knowledge, curiosity, honesty, rigor, and attention to detail will lead to success.
The recruited researcher can be of any nationality (but should not have spent more than 12 months in France over last 3 years). Doctoral Candidate must be eligible to be enrolled into Doctoral Program at Saclay and have not been awarded a doctoral degree. Proficiency in written/spoken English is mandatory. Knowledge of French is not at all required.
Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent
Additional Information
The MSCA‑DN provides 3400 euros/Month (including Living and Mobility allowance) + 660 euros Family allowance if eligible according to MSCA rules and training resources,
Eligibility criteria
MSCA Mobility Rule: at the time of recruitment by the host organization the researcher must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of his/her employer (FRANCE) for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to his/her recruitment (the eventual start date). Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays and time spent as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention are not considered.
The applicant must be in possession of Master of Science (MSc) diploma before beginning.
Selection process
Please submit your application by email.
Please use a fixed subject line for the email: HiPOVor DC15 application -LASTNAME-
The closing date for applications is 15 April 2026, but applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and interviews may be proposed and conducted before this closing date. It is in your interest therefore to apply early.
The applicant must submit the following documents, and only a clear copy of the documents will be considered.
- List of publications (if any) and your contributions to each publication (may be included in CV or separately)
- Motivation letter: maximum 1 page where you introduce yourself and present your qualifications, why you are interested in this topic, why you are interested in research, your career goals, etc.
- Reference letters: References will be requested at a later stage of the process, so please have prepared a minimum two contacts who can either prepare a reference letter in advance, or in a timely manner after you apply.
- Certificates: Certified copies of the bachelor's and master's degree will eventually be requested both for confirming MSCA eligibility and for enrolment in the university (and potentially degree equivalence, depending on the country of origin of each certificate). Have these prepared.
- All available Transcripts including master degree