Post-doc (Research Adiunkt) in pattern recognition by exciton-polariton lattices

This research will be carried out in the Polariton Laboratory at the Division of Solid State at the Institute of Experimental Physics at the Faculty of Physics of the University of Warsaw, under the National Science Center Opus project “Pattern recognition with exciton-polariton lattices” UMO-2020/37/B/ST3/01657. This project is a consortium of two renowned research centres: the University of Warsaw (coordinator, Poland), Institute of Physics Polish Academy of Sciences. Scientists will work together on the implementation of exciton-polaritons into neuromorphic computing.

The aim of the project is to design theoretically and realize experimentally an all-optical artificial neural network based on exciton-polaritons in optical microcavities. Polaritons are quantum superpositions of excitons in a semiconductor quantum well, and photons confined in an optical microcavity. In the regime of strong coupling, these quasiparticles display extremely interesting properties, including very strong optical nonlinearity, strong photon-photon interactions, bosonic condensation and unique spin phenomena. Polaritons form a perfect system for hardware implementation of photon-based neural networks. The goal of this project is to explore this idea and use it for machine learning of pattern recognition tasks at very high speed and energy efficiency.

The project will be carried out in the Polariton laboratory (University of Warsaw) in the group of Prof. Barbara Piętka, who coordinates the work of the consortium.

The requirements

1. PhD in physics (preferable: solid state physics or optics)

2. At least 5 year of experience in scientific research: modelling of non-linear optical systems, algorithms of neural networks, experiment-theory correspondence (experimental implementation of theoretical proposals, evidenced cooperation with both theoretical and experimental groups). Experience with optical microcavities can be an advantage.

3. Scientific publications in Q1 journals in the field (according to Web of Science)

4. Conference presentations in the form of posters and oral presentations of candidate results at prestigious scientific conferences or seminars

5. Ability to theoretical modeling of physical phenomena. Knowledge of Mathematica, Matlab, Python, C++ etc.

6. Knowledge on of principles of operation of optoelectronic devices (SLM, CCD detector or similar).

7. Knowledge of the English language at the level of at least B2

The candidates have to conform to the conditions stated in art. 113 of Higher Education Law dated 20.07.2018. (Journal of Laws of the Republic of Poland 2022, item 574)

The candidate:

- he/she obtained a doctoral degree in an entity other than the Warsaw University;

- during the period of receiving this remuneration, he/she will not receive any other remuneration from the funds allocated as direct costs from research projects financed under NCN calls;

- during the period of receiving this remuneration, he/she will not receive remuneration from another employer on the basis of an employment contract, including an

employer based outside Poland.

A post-doc position is a full-time job planned for a person who obtained a doctoral degree not earlier than 7 years before year of employment in the project. This period may be extended by the duration of the stay during this period, on long-term (over 90 days) documented benefits sickness or rehabilitation benefits due to incapacity for work. Additionally, the number of months on vacation can be added to this period related to the care and upbringing of children, provided on the terms specified in the Labor Code, and in the case of women - 18 months for each born or an adopted child, if there is such a way of indicating breaks in the academic career more beneficial.