Assistant Professor In Ultra-Low Latency Hybrid Neuromorphic Photonics
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Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) Assistant Professor In Ultra-Low Latency Hybrid Neuromorphic Photonics
Description
Neuromorphic photonics is emerging as a promising paradigm to overcome bottlenecks in conventional computing, offering ultra-fast and low-energy information processing. Recent advances include both spiking and deep learning schemes implemented on photonic chips. However, integration challenges and material limitations remain. Non-volatile photonic elements, biological inspired principles and hybrid active–passive platforms are gaining traction, and momentum is building toward scalable architectures, electronic–photonic co-design and multi-material co-integration.
The Electro-Optical Communication Systems (ECO) group
This position is embedded in the ECO group in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Our group has been a leader in optical communications research for over four decades. With a strong international reputation and collaborations spanning academia and industry worldwide, ECO offers an exceptional environment for pioneering scientists to shape the future of communication technologies. Our core strength lies in bridging diverse technologies and addressing the most pressing challenges in communication networks. We bring together expertise across the entire chain: from photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design and fabrication to advanced optical and wireless network architectures. This unique interdisciplinary scope positions us at the forefront of next-generation communication research, including high-capacity telecom and datacom and more flexible and dynamic LiFi, free-space optics, and hybrid RF-optical systems. In particular the Photonic Neural Networks Lab (PNN Lab) focuses on advancing photonic technologies for next-generation artificial intelligence and computing. The lab explores how light can be harnessed to perform neural-network operations, aiming to develop faster, more energy-efficient and highly scalable computing architectures. By combining integrated photonics, semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence, the lab contributes to the development of innovative solutions for future computing systems.
Our researchers have direct access to a state-of-the-art cleanroom and more than 300 m² of advanced laboratories. With 12 tenured faculty staff members and over 70 PhDs and postdocs, ECO offers a vibrant and collaborative environment in which ambitious scientists can excel. You can explore our research activities in this short video.
Information
Despite significant progress, several key challenges remain open in the development of next-generation intelligent photonic systems. Addressing these challenges defines a set of promising research directions that goes from the development of mature hybrid-integrated active–passive photonic platforms to the systematic exploitation of physical parallelism, from the realization of stronger all-optical nonlinearities and scalable synaptic devices to the design of efficient photonic memory architectures to support neuromorphic training functions, towards Photonics Physical AI to establish the sensing, computation, communication and decision continuum. Further, high-efficiency neuromorphic photonics will require the convergence of neuromorphic computing and deep learning on photonic hardware, the development of optically informed algorithms that explicitly account for noise and limited precision inherent to photonic systems, and stronger coupling to real-world application layers through system-level demonstrators.
Therefore, within this position you will take a holistic approach that considers not only individual components (e.g., emerging materials and devices) but also their interaction at the system level, encompassing architecture, electronic integration, algorithms, and end-use applications.
As Assistant Professor within the Photonic Neural Network LAB, you will:
Your research will play a central role in the photonic systems activities at the TU/e Casimir Institute, contributing to sustainable, high-performance communications and computing infrastructures. This inherently interdisciplinary work offers opportunities for collaboration, bridging fundamental advances with practical application demonstrators.
In this role, you will contribute to the ambition of the Beethoven program to educate top talent and strengthen research across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
The Electro-Optical Communication Systems (ECO) group
This position is embedded in the ECO group in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Our group has been a leader in optical communications research for over four decades. With a strong international reputation and collaborations spanning academia and industry worldwide, ECO offers an exceptional environment for pioneering scientists to shape the future of communication technologies. Our core strength lies in bridging diverse technologies and addressing the most pressing challenges in communication networks. We bring together expertise across the entire chain: from photonic integrated circuit (PIC) design and fabrication to advanced optical and wireless network architectures. This unique interdisciplinary scope positions us at the forefront of next-generation communication research, including high-capacity telecom and datacom and more flexible and dynamic LiFi, free-space optics, and hybrid RF-optical systems. In particular the Photonic Neural Networks Lab (PNN Lab) focuses on advancing photonic technologies for next-generation artificial intelligence and computing. The lab explores how light can be harnessed to perform neural-network operations, aiming to develop faster, more energy-efficient and highly scalable computing architectures. By combining integrated photonics, semiconductor technology and artificial intelligence, the lab contributes to the development of innovative solutions for future computing systems.
Our researchers have direct access to a state-of-the-art cleanroom and more than 300 m² of advanced laboratories. With 12 tenured faculty staff members and over 70 PhDs and postdocs, ECO offers a vibrant and collaborative environment in which ambitious scientists can excel. You can explore our research activities in this short video.
Information
Despite significant progress, several key challenges remain open in the development of next-generation intelligent photonic systems. Addressing these challenges defines a set of promising research directions that goes from the development of mature hybrid-integrated active–passive photonic platforms to the systematic exploitation of physical parallelism, from the realization of stronger all-optical nonlinearities and scalable synaptic devices to the design of efficient photonic memory architectures to support neuromorphic training functions, towards Photonics Physical AI to establish the sensing, computation, communication and decision continuum. Further, high-efficiency neuromorphic photonics will require the convergence of neuromorphic computing and deep learning on photonic hardware, the development of optically informed algorithms that explicitly account for noise and limited precision inherent to photonic systems, and stronger coupling to real-world application layers through system-level demonstrators.
Therefore, within this position you will take a holistic approach that considers not only individual components (e.g., emerging materials and devices) but also their interaction at the system level, encompassing architecture, electronic integration, algorithms, and end-use applications.
As Assistant Professor within the Photonic Neural Network LAB, you will:
- Develop an independent research program in hybrid neuromorphic photonics, spanning the full protocol stack, from physical-layer innovation and hybrid integration (optics, photonics, electronics, novel materials) to higher-layer network optimization, inference, and training in real time.
- Investigate novel architectures such as hybrid network topologies, neural network mapping in the optical domain, spiking (and non) encoding and strategies to address photonic engine noise, limited resolution, and system-level robustness and contribute to brain-inspired optical computing and photonic physical AI, contributing to the PNN Lab vision.
- Translate research into applications in emerging domains including digital twins, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, edge computing, extreme data processing, computational science, real-time predictions.
- Initiate and lead collaborations with ECO members and within TU/e and with national and international academic and industrial partners, driving multidisciplinary projects and sector plan initiatives.
- Secure funding and disseminate results by writing competitive research proposals, acquiring public and private funding, and publishing internationally leading work in high-impact journals.
- Contribute to education and mentorship by developing and teaching courses in the Electrical Engineering Bachelor’s and Master’s programs, obtaining a University Teaching Qualification, and supervising BSc, MSc, EngD, and PhD students and PDs.
Your research will play a central role in the photonic systems activities at the TU/e Casimir Institute, contributing to sustainable, high-performance communications and computing infrastructures. This inherently interdisciplinary work offers opportunities for collaboration, bridging fundamental advances with practical application demonstrators.
In this role, you will contribute to the ambition of the Beethoven program to educate top talent and strengthen research across the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).