Positions

Available positions in the group

  • Postdoctoral position in Experimental and Theoretical Optical Metamaterials & Plasmonics
  • Postdoctoral position in theoretical/computational accelerator and plasma physics
  • Research Assistantship positions for graduate students
  • Research positions for undergraduate and high school students

Postdoctoral Position in Experimental and Theoretical Optical Metamaterials & Plasmonics

Applications are solicited for a postdoctoral position in the field of experimental optical metamaterials and plasmonics in the research group of Prof. Gennady Shvets at Cornell University. The topics pursued in the group include (1) integration of 2D materials and metasurfaces, (2) topological photonics, (3) biosensing and cancer detection using plasmonic metasurfaces. Possibilities for conducting experimental work on microwave metamaterials also exist, especially in the context of non-reciprocal and topological metamaterials. More information about the research can be found at the group’s homepage: http://shvets.aep.cornell.edu . A PhD in physics, optics, or related area is required, and hands-on experience in the following areas will be considered a plus: infrared optics, nanofabrication, biophotonics, spectroscopy, microwaves. It is expected that the candidate has a record of publications on these topics in leading refereed journals.  Theoretical projects are also available for the right candidate. The salary and benefits are competitive, and the successful candidate will join a well-established yet dynamic group. Starting date: as early as summer/fall each year. Send a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names of three references to Professor Gennady Shvets by email to gshvets@cornell.edu, or to the address below. Applications will be considered until this position is filled.

Cornell University
Applied and Engineering Physics
208 Clark Hall
142 Sciences Dr
Ithaca, NY 14853

Postdoctoral Position in Theoretical/Computational Accelerator and Plasma Physics

Applications are solicited for a postdoctoral position in the computational/theoretical plasma physics, with the emphasis on ultra-intense laser-plasma interactions and high energy density laboratory plasma physics (including astrophysical plasmas). Applications to plasma based acceleration of electrons and ions and high energy density plasmas are currently pursued in the group. More information about group’s activities can be found at shvets.aep.cornell.edu. Abundant opportunities exist to interact with several laser-plasma experimental groups in the US and overseas. A recent PhD in physics or related area is required, and experience is desirable in one of the following areas: plasma physics, accelerator physics, laser-plasma interactions, particle simulations. The salary and benefits are competitive, and the successful candidate will join a well-established dynamic group. Starting date: as early as summer each year. Send a CV, a statement of research interests, and the names of three references to Professor Gennady Shvets by email to gshvets@cornell.edu , or to the address below. Applications will be considered until this position is filled.

Cornell University
Applied and Engineering Physics
208 Clark Hall
142 Sciences Dr
Ithaca, NY 14853

Graduate Research Assistantship positions in AEP for PhD students in Physics and Engineering

We are primarily targeting AEP, Physics, Electrical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering PhD candidates, but highly motivated students from other graduate fields with appropriate background and interests are also invited to contact Dr. Shvets at gs656@cornell.edu or at 208 Clark Hall. To learn more specifics about the research done in our group, browse through our webpage’s research section.

Advanced Structure-Based and Plasma-Based Benchtop Accelerators (Theory and/or Experiment). The project has a substantial computational component, and is related to developing ultra-high gradient accelerators of charged particles (leptons and hadrons). Perspective student will participate in modeling exciting upcoming experiments at a variety of facilities around the world that employ ultra-intense laser pulses to generate the world record high energies (multiple GeVs) for the electrons produced via laser-plasma interactions. Structure-based accelerators such as a surface wave accelerator based on silicon carbide (SWABSiC) and Topological Photonic Bandgap Accelerator (TPBA) are also experimentally pursued in the Shvets’ group, with ongoing experiments at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) on Long Island and at the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Chicago. Other topics in computational plasma physics, including laser-ion acceleration and Fermi acceleration in astrophysical plasmas, may also be pursued depending on the student’s interests/skills. Depending on which part of the project you end up pursuing, you will learn high-performance massively parallel computing, first-principles particle-in-cell simulations, design of novel microwave metamaterials, and laser physics.
Requirements: preferably, you have already taken a graduate E&M or a modern optics course, some introductory plasma physics (an undergraduate course is sufficient). Strong programming experience (C, C++, Fortran, MATLAB) will be very valuable, as well as optics or microwaves background for experimental students.

Plasmonics and Metamaterials: Topological Photonics, Two-dimensional Nano-photonics, and Plasmonically-Enhanced Spectroscopy of Cancer Cells. All these projects have experimental and computational components. The mix between theory and experiment will depend on the student’s interests and expertise. As part of your research, you will learn micro- and nano-fabrication techniques (FIB, e-beam lithography, reactive ion and wet etching), characterization (SEM and AFM microscopy), laser diagnostics (visible and infrared), infrared spectroscopy and vibrational fingerprinting, electromagnetic simulations (finite-element frequency-domain and finite-difference time-domain), and the basics of biomedical photonics. The nanophotonics projects involve integrating plasmonic metasurfaces with two-dimensional materials, with the ultimate goal of developing rapidly reconfigurable infrared devices, particularly with topological features. The cells spectroscopy project involves trapping and spectroscopic analysis of different types of live cells and bacterial, with the ultimate goal of developing the “liquid biopsy” optical technique for phenotyping circulating tumor cells, as well as developing a Lab On a Fiber Tip (LOFT) spectroscopic tool for intraoperative detection of tumor margins.
Requirement: some optics lab experience is desirable; clean room is helpful as well.