Assistant Scientist, Associate Scientist, Scientist in Large Nonlinear Computational Dynamical Systems, College of Optics and Photonics

University of Central Florida•Orlando, FL

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is seeking a 12-month, non-tenure earning Assistant Scientist, Associate Scientist, or Scientist to conduct research in computational nonlinear dynamics and large-scale numerical modeling of semiconductor laser arrays within the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL). This position, located at the UCF main campus, is anticipated to start in Spring 2027. UCF is a rapidly growing institution with significant external research funding and academic stature, situated in the vibrant metropolitan Orlando area. CREOL is a leading global institution in optics and photonic science and engineering, offering various degree programs and engaging in fundamental and applied research. The research program focuses on collective dynamics, synchronization, and self-organization in large arrays of coupled semiconductor diode lasers, combining experiments with computational and theoretical modeling of nonlinear dynamical systems with time-delayed interactions. A key objective is to develop and implement efficient numerical methods for complex systems of coupled nonlinear delay-differential equations, ranging from single-mode to multimode semiconductor laser arrays. The role involves optimizing and accelerating computational approaches for large laser networks, contributing to numerical integration, modeling, code optimization, parallel computing, HPC, GPU acceleration, and scalable algorithm development. A significant aspect will be redesigning or optimizing numerical algorithms and simulation codes for improved computational speed, accuracy, and stability. This position offers an interdisciplinary opportunity at the intersection of computational mathematics, nonlinear dynamics, high-performance computing, and experimental photonics, with close ties to ongoing experiments. Semiconductor-laser experience is not required, as background in semiconductor laser physics and external-cavity laser systems can be developed on the job. The position is funded by Contract & Grants (C&G) and is anticipated for at least two years, with potential for extension based on performance and funding availability. This position is restricted to U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents due to research funding requirements.

Requirements

Ph.D. from an accredited institution in Applied Mathematics, Computational Mathematics, Computational Science, Physics, Optical Science, Electrical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
Strong programming skills.
Must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident.
Must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer.

Nice To Haves

Strong experience in numerical methods for ordinary and delay-differential equations.
Strong experience in scientific computing and numerical analysis.
Strong experience with large-scale dynamical systems.
Strong experience with high-performance computing.
Strong experience with parallel numerical algorithms.
Strong experience with GPU computing.
Experience with C/C++, Python, Julia, MATLAB, CUDA, or a comparable scientific-computing environment.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement efficient numerical methods for large and complex systems of coupled nonlinear delay-differential equations.
Model single-mode and multimode semiconductor laser arrays.
Optimize and accelerate existing simulation codes.
Engage in parallel computing and high-performance computing (HPC).
Explore GPU acceleration where appropriate.
Develop scalable numerical algorithms for systems containing large numbers of lasers and optical modes.
Determine how numerical algorithms and existing stimulation codes can be redesigned or optimized to achieve substantial improvements in computational speed while preserving numerical accuracy and stability.
Contribute to research at the intersection of computational mathematics, nonlinear dynamics, high-performance computing, and experimental photonics.
Work closely with experimental researchers to test theoretical and numerical predictions against experimentally observed collective dynamics.
Engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with researchers in optics, photonics, nonlinear dynamics, applied mathematics, and computational science.