Research Specialist
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee•Milwaukee, WI
•Onsite
About The Position
The Research Specialist position will contribute to advancing research in integrated photonics, optical interconnects, and semiconductor technologies, with a focus on external cavity lasers, copackaged optics (CPO), and 3D optoelectronic integration for next-generation AI and data communication systems. This role will function as a key technical contributor within the research group, supporting both fundamental device innovation and system-level development aligned with departmental and institutional research priorities.
Requirements
- PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied physics, Photonics, or a closely related field
- Demonstrated expertise in integrated photonics, semiconductor lasers, or optical systems
- Experience in simulation, design, or experimental characterization of photonic devices
- Strong record of peer-reviewed publications in relevant research areas
- Ability to conduct independent research and contribute to collaborative projects
- Effective written and verbal communication skills for technical reporting and publication
Nice To Haves
- Experience with external cavity lasers, narrow-linewidth laser design, or optical source development
- Experience with co-packaged optics (CPO), optical interconnects, or data communication systems
- Familiarity with photonic simulation tools (e.g., Lumerical, COMSOL, MATLAB)
- Experience with experimental optical setups, including laser characterization and noise measurements (e.g., RIN, linewidth)
- Experience contributing to research proposal development or funded projects
- Experience mentoring students or working in interdisciplinary research environments
- Experience collaborating with industry or translating research toward practical applications
Responsibilities
- Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences
- Performs literature reviews and writes reports
- Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s).
- Collects data and monitors test results
- Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials
- Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area.
- Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders
- Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers
- Designing, modeling, and optimizing photonic devices and systems, including external cavity lasers and integrated optical components
- Conducting experimental validation and characterization of photonic devices and optical systems
- Developing system-level architectures for optical interconnects and co-packaged optics applications
- Contributing to the preparation of research proposals and technical reports to support external funding efforts
- Publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at conferences
- Collaborating with faculty, students, and external partners to advance interdisciplinary research initiatives
- Mentoring graduate and undergraduate students and supporting the development of research infrastructure
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
