Italy
Commitment & contract: Collaboration contract, 2 years
Location: Center for Life Nano- and Neuro-Science, Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• A PhD in Photonics, physics or optical engineering
• Documented experience in optics and photonics
• Documented experience control and synchronization of optical devices (sensors, lasers optical modulation) and low level programming of microcontrollers and microprocessors (FPGA with VHDL language)
• Diverse background that includes and integrate biology with bio-physics and materials science
• Good publication record
• Motivation and experience in coaching junior scientists
• Good command of spoken and written English

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

• Good team working skills in a interdisciplinary environment
• An open mind and the attitude toward highly multidisciplinary research
• The ability to properly report, organize and publish research data
• Good communication skills
• High motivation to learn new things and go beyond the own comfort zone
• Spirit of innovation and creativity
• Good in time and priority management
• Ability to work in a challenging and international environment
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a highly interdisciplinary environment

You will be working in a multicultural and multi-disciplinary group, where junior and senior scientists collaborate, each with their expertise, to carry out a scientific activity with a shared research goal.
The Nanotechnology for Neuroscience Research Unit is coordinated by prof. Giancarlo Ruocco. The research is centered on creating and refining innovative theoretical frameworks and practical methodologies (e.g. Microscopes, Spectro-microscopes, Cellular models, …) that can be used to explore the workings of the central nervous system. These tools aim to enhance our understanding of brain function and behavior under normal (physiological) circumstances, as well as during disease (pathological conditions).
Within the research team, your main responsibilities will be to implement the development of an optical computing tool using the nonlinear Brillouin effect. The experiment is based on a high-power coherent light beam that is modulated by a spatial light modulator (Digital Micromirror device technology) and scattered by a disordered medium. The resulting linear and nonlinear speckle will then be fragmented into a multiplicity of light modes. The project will be dedicated to the realization of a novel optoelectronic architecture capable to control in a single microprocessor (FPGA) illumination (DMD control) and sensor signal (photodiode or array of photodiodes) without the support of a CPU thus avoiding interrupts from operating system and capable thus to reach maximal speed performance (DMD speed 10kHz) together in a dynamical environment (Illumination Dynamically set from the sensor output).