PhD student MPC nonlinear opticsFull PhD

For our location in Hamburg we are seeking:

PhD student MPC nonlinear optics

Remuneration Group 13 | Limited: 3 years | Starting date: earliest possible | ID: FSDO007/2025 | Deadline: 15.04.2025 | Full-time/Part-time

DESY, with more than 2900 employees at its two locations in Hamburg and Zeuthen, is one of the world's leading research centres. Its research focuses on decoding the structure and function of matter, from the smallest particles of the universe to the building blocks of life. In this way, DESY contributes to solving the major questions and urgent challenges facing science, society and industry. With its ultramodern research infrastructure, its interdisciplinary research platforms and its international networks, DESY offers a highly attractive working environment in the fields of science, technology and administration as well as for the education of highly qualified young scientists.

Photonic technologies and ultrafast lasers play a foundational role for DESY’s research efforts. They are used to generate and manipulate electron beams at the free electron laser facilities FLASH and XFEL, enable pump-probe experiments at those facilities and will drive future compact accelerators at DESY. In addition, state-of-the-art photonic technologies developed at DESY play a key role in numerous transfer activities carried out in collaboration with industry.

Building up on an ongoing paradigm change in ultrafast optics pushed, among others, by DESY, one of our research topics focuses on the development of ultra-short pulse Ytterbium lasers employing multi-pass cell post-compression. In close collaboration with leading experts at École Polytechnique, the University of Paris‑Saclay, France and the Helmut-Schmidt- University, Hamburg, this PhD project aims at pushing the forefront of multi-pass cell nonlinear optics, advancing an important building block for modern photonics. For this project, we are seeking a self-driven, highly motivated PhD student.

About your role:

• Develop novel laser pulse shaping and frequency conversion schemes using multi-pass cell nonlinear optics
• Develop, plan and carry out experiments involving modern ultrafast lasers
• Prepare scientific publications and present results at national and international conferences

About you:

• A completed master's or diploma degree in physics
• A strong interest (and preferentially experience) in the field of laser physics
• A strong interest in experimental work in an ultrafast optics laboratory
• Computational skills (Python, Matlab, etc.) are a plus
• A strong interest in teamwork and working with experts on a cross-institutional collaborative project
• Very good written and spoken English skills

Good reasons to join:

Look forward to a unique working environment on our international research campus. Respectful cooperation and the well‑being of our DESY employees are particularly important to us. Gender equality is an important aspect for us. To support work‑life balance, we offer flexible working hours, variable part‑time, job‑sharing models and participation in mobile work (up to 50%). You will benefit from our family‑friendly and collegial atmosphere, our established health management and occupational pension provision. As a public funded employer, we offer you a secure workplace and facilitate your individual career with our comprehensive training and development opportunities. Remuneration is according to the regulations of the TV‑AVH. DESY offers its employees a financial supplement for a German job ticket (Deutschland-Ticket) at both locations.

For further information, please contact Christoph Heyl at +49 40 8998‑6085 ( christoph.heyl at desy.de ).

DESY in Hamburg does not grant doctoral degrees directly but collaborates with the Helmut-Schmidt-University Hamburg. Candidates for thesis research will have to satisfy the terms of admission for doctoral theses of the Helmut-Schmidt-University Hamburg. PhD students receive a monthly salary of 67% of the payment of the remuneration group 13 TVöD (Federal Government).

Please submit your complete application documents (letter of motivation, CV, relevant certificates and two letters of references) via our application portal. Please use our online tool for the submission of the letters of reference:  Additional application documents

We look forward to receiving your application via our application portal:

Apply now!

DESY promotes equal opportunities and diversity. The professional development of women is very important to us and therefore we strongly encourage women to apply for the vacant position.
Applications from severely disabled persons will be given preference if they are equally qualified ( sbv.desy.de ).

You can find further information here:
https://www.desy.de/career

Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY
Human Resources Department | Notkestraße 85 | 22607 Hamburg
Phone: +49 40 8998-3392