This program focuses on designing, fabricating, characterizing, and modeling novel metamaterials-based infrared nanophotonic systems that can efficiently manipulate infrared light. Through these efforts, we aim to enhance and control how light interacts with nanoscale matter, thereby significantly improving the sensitivity and selectivity of sensing technologies; reducing the size, weight, and power (SWaP) of optical systems; and introducing new sensing modalities into novel infrared ‘smart’ imagers and detectors. To achieve this, we exploit the unique optical properties of nanostructured materials that support plasmon-polariton resonances, phonon-polariton resonances, and dielectric resonances. 

To carry out this work, we 1) nanostructure materials using e-beam lithography, photolithography and 3D printing nanolithography (Nanoscribe) techniques; 2) characterize nanostructures with a suite of optical techniques that including: reflection, transmission, photoluminescence, thermal emission, and Raman spectroscopies as well as scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy; and 3) perform Full-wave electromagnetic modeling with COMSOL, Lumerical, and CST Studio software packages, which enables us to model, design, and understand novel nanophotonic states in the infrared. 

Current research opportunities include:

1) Investigating how infrared plasmonic-like resonances can be actively tuned

2) Developing infrared metamaterials for underwater chemical sensing

3) Designing, fabricating, and characterizing inverse-designed metamaterials to realize 'smart' optical imagers

4) Inverse designing novel infrared light sources

5) Designing and characterizing the optical properties of tunable thermal emitters

physics; optics; plasmonics; spectroscopy; FTIR; photonics; simulations; fabrication; lithography; inverse design; COMSOL; Lumerical; quantum; metamaterials; nanoscribe; photolithography

citizenship

Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

level

Open to Postdoctoral applicants

Additional Benefits

relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.