Job offer

The postdoctoral researcher will play a key role in the design, architecture, and long-term development of the computational platform underlying the ERC TEMPORE project, working closely with and under the scientific direction of Prof. Antonio Calà Lesina. Responsibilities include the following tasks.

Algorithm Development:

• Coordinate and actively contribute to the development of time-domain inverse design frameworks with time as a fundamental design parameter (4D design in space and time).
• Design and oversee scalable, memory-efficient, high-performance implementations targeting distributed-memory (MPI) and accelerator-based (GPU) architectures, including scalability studies, performance profiling, and optimization of large-scale 3D and 4D simulations.
• Define and implement the software architecture of a modular, scalable, open-source inverse design framework, including parallelization strategy, memory layout, performance optimization, and long-term maintainability.
• Implement and extend large-scale computational electrodynamics solvers (FDTD and related methods) for dynamic and nonlinear materials.
• Model advanced materials such as transparent conductive oxides, nonlinear media, and other ultrafast tunable materials.

Collaboration & Dissemination:

• Lead methodological subprojects in close coordination with the PI.
• Coordinate and co-supervise doctoral researchers contributing to the shared computational framework.
• Possibility of working closely with experimental partners
• Publish high-impact research, present at international conferences, and enhance the scientific visibility of the group., * Shape a new research direction: 4D inverse design of dynamic nanophotonic systems.
• Work at the interface of applied mathematics, computational physics, and nanophotonics.
• Access world-class research infrastructure within HOT and PhoenixD.
• Freedom to develop original mathematical and algorithmic contributions within an ERC-funded project.
• Strong support for career development, international networking, and scientific visibility.
• Family-friendly policies with flexible working arrangements. A part-time employment can be arranged on request.

PhD or equivalent, We are seeking highly motivated and creative researchers, who are excited to push the boundaries of computational photonics and have a strong interest in interdisciplinary research across physics, nanotechnology, advanced computing, materials science, and design., * Completed university science degree in a relevant discipline is required.

• Strong programming skills (C/C++ required; Python or similar strongly preferred).
• Solid background in physics, photonics, electrical engineering, applied mathematics, or related fields.
• Experience with numerical methods for differential equations (e.g., FDTD, FEM, time-domain methods).
• Ability to work in a collaborative and international research environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in computational electromagnetics (e.g., FDTD, FEM), and not only using commercial software.
• Demonstrated experience developing and optimizing large scientific software projects beyond prototype-level implementations.
• Experience with high-performance computing and parallel programming (MPI, GPU, or similar).
• Experience in inverse design and optimization (e.g., adjoint methods, topology optimization).
• Proven record of independent research and publications in leading journals.
• Background in nonlinear and/or ultrafast optics (desirable).

Languages ENGLISH

The Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT), the Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD, and the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering welcome applications for the following position to be filled at the earliest possible date: Postdoctoral Researcher in Computational Electrodynamics and Inverse Design of Time-varying Metamaterials (ERC project TEMPORE) (salary scale 13 TV-L "FwN", 100 %)