Doctoral Researcher in Computational Electrodynamics and Inverse Design of Time-varying Metamat[...]

Organisation/Company Leibniz Universität Hannover Department Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Research Field Engineering » Materials engineering Physics » Electromagnetism Physics » Computational physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Sep 2026 - 23:00 (Europe/Berlin) Country Germany Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The Institute of Photonic Systems and Technologies, the Hannover Centre for Optical Technologies (HOT), and the Cluster of Excellence PhoenixD welcome applications for the following position to be filled at the earliest possible date: Doctoral Researcher in Computational Electrodynamics and Inverse Design of Time-varying Metamaterials (ERC project TEMPORE) (salary scale 13 TV-L “FwN”, 75 %)

The position is initially limited to 3 years, with the possibility of extension, providing the opportunity for further academic qualification, including a doctoral degree where applicable.

About the project

This position is funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under the Horizon Europe programme (ERC Consolidator Grant TEMPORE). This project pioneers the inverse design of time-varying metamaterials operating on picosecond to femtosecond timescales. You will contribute to redefining how light can be controlled in space and time for fully reprogrammable, multifunctional nanophotonic systems. The project requires an integrated approach: from rigorous mathematical modeling and derivation of algorithms, to efficient implementation and scalable execution on modern high-performance computing architectures.

Your role

The PhD project focuses on mathematical modeling, numerical analysis, and algorithm development for ultrafast time-dependent photonic systems, including metasurfaces and metamaterials. The candidate will receive structured supervision and training in advanced numerical methods, high-performance computing, and scientific software engineering. Responsibilities include the following tasks.

Numerical Methods and Algorithm Development:

• Formulation and analysis of Maxwell’s equations in time-varying and nonlinear media.
• Design of scalable algorithms for large-scale 4D (space–time) inverse design.
• Implementation and extension of time-domain solvers (e.g., FDTD and related methods).
• Development of gradient-based optimization strategies for 4D design spaces.
• Application of these methods to simulate and design physically realizable 3D nanophotonic systems, such as dynamically tunable optical metasurfaces and metamaterials.

Scientific Software Engineering:

• Development and optimization of high-performance numerical kernels in modern C/C++, with attention to scalability and portability.
• Development of modular, maintainable, and well-documented research software.
• Parallelization using MPI, GPU computing, or related technologies.
• Application of software engineering best practices (version control, testing, reproducibility).
• Contribution to open-source scientific computing infrastructure.

The candidate will publish results in leading journals, present at international conferences, and collaborate within an interdisciplinary environment spanning physics, mathematics, nanotechnology, and advanced computing.

Requirements

Research Field Physics » Computational physics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Engineering » Electrical engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Research Field Physics » Optics Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We seek highly motivated and creative candidates with a strong interest in the mathematical and computational foundations of inverse problems and large-scale scientific computing, and who are motivated to conduct interdisciplinary research across physics, nanotechnology, advanced computing, materials science, and design.

• Completed master’s degree (or equivalent) in applied mathematics, physics, computational physics, scientific computing, electrical engineering, telecommunications engineering, or a closely related field. Excellent academic achievements are an advantage.
• Strong background in numerical analysis and implementation of time-dependent partial differential equations.
• Excellent programming skills in C/C++ (required); Python or similar strongly preferred.
• Solid understanding of algorithm design and computational complexity.
• Strong background in electrodynamics and photonics.
• Strong interest in scientific software development and high-performance computing.

Desired additional qualifications:

• Experience with finite-difference or finite-element discretizations of Maxwell’s equations.
• Familiarity with adjoint methods and gradient-based optimization.
• Experience with parallel computing (MPI, OpenMP, CUDA, or similar).
• Experience contributing to research software beyond scripting-level programming.
• Demonstrated mathematical maturity and interest in theoretical aspects of numerical modelling.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Selection process

Equal opportunities and diversity are core values at Leibniz University Hannover. Our goal is to tap into individual potential and open up possibilities. We therefore welcome applications from anyone interested in the position, irrespective of gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or ideology, disability, age, sexual orientation and identity.

We strive towards a balanced and diverse workforce and a reduction in under-representation in accordance with the Lower Saxony Equal Rights Act (Niedersächsisches Gleichberechtigungsgesetz – NGG). We therefore also welcome applications from women for the above-mentioned position. Preference will be given to equally-qualified candidates with disabilities.

• Shape a new research direction: 4D inverse design of dynamic nanophotonics 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.