The Solid State Photonics (SSP) group in the Photonics Materials Branch of AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate is interested in the investigation of electro-optic (EO) materials and their applications.  The research program includes the identification of novel materials, the growth or synthesis of the materials, the characterization of their linear and nonlinear optical properties as well as other relevant physical properties, and the design and testing of EO devices.  The modeling and testing of EO-based metamaterials are also of interest.  Emphasis is on solid-state materials usable in the mid and long wave infrared regions and their integration into new device concepts.  Some target applications are modulators, beam steerers, sensors, and other active or passive, bulk or structured, devices to control light propagation.  The SSP group’s facilities include: spectrophotometers, single wavelength and tunable lasers to be used in customizable setups for the measurements of nonlinear optical phenomena, crystal growth furnaces, sample preparation equipment (mill, press, sieves), microscopes, and ancillary optical and electrical instrumentation.  A wider range of characterization tools are available in shared facilities.  The candidate can participate in any or all parts of the research program depending on interest and background, and is expected to be highly motivated, carry out research with limited supervision, and be comfortable working in an interdisciplinary team of physicists, chemists, material scientists, engineers.  Interested candidates are encouraged to contact this opportunity’s adviser, to discuss research topics.