Internship | Innovative fiber optics sensor detection system design and testing

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors are widely used for applications such as structural health monitoring, industrial sensing, and advanced measurement systems. These sensors offer excellent performance, but commercially available interrogation systems are often expensive and rely on complex optical instrumentation. In this internship, you will contribute to the development of a novel concept for interrogating fiber optic sensors. The goal is to investigate and demonstrate an innovative approach that has the potential to significantly reduce system complexity and cost while maintaining useful measurement performance.

You will work within TNO's optics department in Delft, collaborating with researchers and engineers on innovative fiber sensing detection system technology also known as FOS interrogation system. The project combines photonics, signal processing, electronics, software, and experimental validation, offering a unique opportunity to explore the next generation of fiber optic sensing solutions. The results, will enable more accessible and scalable fiber optic sensing systems for industrial applications.

During this internship, you will contribute to the development of an innovative fiber optic sensing system. You will investigate new concepts for sensor interrogation and help translate research ideas into practical solutions. Depending on your interests and background, your activities may include modelling, experimental measurements, data analysis, software development, and performance evaluation. Throughout the project, you will gain hands‑on experience with optical sensors in an industrial oriented research laboratory environment.

You will have the opportunity to explore new technologies, develop practical engineering skills, and contribute your own ideas to the project. The internship covers multiple phases, firstly, exploration of the innovative concept, then implementation and testing, and in the end reporting on the results and findings.

The intended internship duration is approximately 3 to 6 months and can be adapted to the requirements of your educational program.

For this internship, we are looking for a motivated HBO or WO student with a background in:

• Applied Physics (preferably with optics background)
• Electrical Engineering

You have an interest in:

• Fiber optic sensing
• Photonics
• Signal processing

Experience with one or more of the following is beneficial, but not required:

• Modelling tools such as, Python, Matlab, etc.
• Laboratory experiments
• Optical measurement techniques

You are analytical, curious, and enjoy turning innovative ideas into practical solutions. You are comfortable working both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

An internship at TNO means working in an environment where substance and impact are central. You will become part of a knowledge organisation where research and practice come together, and where experts collaborate on solutions to current societal and technological challenges. Your internship is a period in which you can discover what suits you, where your strengths lie and what you would like to learn next.

You are part of a professional working environment, gain insight into how things work in practice, and have the opportunity to build experience that goes beyond this internship alone. For many students, an internship is therefore also a first step in discovering whether TNO could be a potential next step after graduation.

In addition, we offer you:

• A professional and innovative internship environment in which you actively contribute to societal and technological challenges, working alongside leading experts in your field.
• Personal and dedicated…