Postdoctoral Fellow in Optical Ground Station Systems Laser Communications

The Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of Toronto (UofT) seeks to appoint a postdoctoral researcher to work on the development and integration of optical ground station systems for free-space optical and quantum communications.

The appointee will work as a member of Prof. Suresh Sivanandam’s research group, in close collaboration with Tightbeam Photonics Inc. and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). The successful candidate will take a leading role in the development, integration, and testing of the optical and communications subsystems of a compact optical ground station (OGS) for space-to-ground laser communications. The OGS will incorporate a photonic adaptive optics system-on-a-chip (AOSoC) to correct atmospheric turbulence and efficiently couple received light into single-mode fibre, enabling both high-speed classical free-space optical communications and quantum communications, as well as astronomical applications.

• optical system design and simulation;
• laboratory assembly, alignment, characterization, and testing of optical systems;
• integration of optical, mechanical, electronic, communications, and control subsystems;
• development and testing of the optical uplink and downlink;
• integration of the AOSoC into the complete ground station.
• The appointee will work closely with the integrated photonics postdoctoral researcher to define optical and system interfaces for the AOSoC and to characterize the performance of the integrated system.
• The candidate will participate in laboratory testing under simulated atmospheric turbulence and subsequent on-sky testing of the completed system, including testing in collaboration with NRC facilities in Ottawa.

The Dunlap Institute pursues groundbreaking astronomical research through innovative approaches to instrumentation, data-driven science and observations, alongside a substantive commitment to outreach and training. The Dunlap Institute is co-located with and has strong ties to the University of Toronto’s David

A. Dunlap Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics (DADDAA) and to the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics (CITA). These three units together host more than 150 faculty, postdocs, staff and students, who conduct a diverse research program across instrumentation, observations, computation and theory. The Dunlap Institute is located on a beautiful 19th century campus in the heart of one of the world’s great cities.

Rated as having one of the highest standards of living in the world, Toronto offers a huge range of indoor and outdoor pursuits, and a vibrant and diverse cultural community.

The initial appointment will be for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to funding availability.

The position has a starting annual salary of CAD $74,922 plus generous benefits, a research allowance of CAD $10,000 per year, relocation assistance, and the opportunity to request additional research funds from the Dunlap Institute.

• generous benefits
• relocation assistance
• research allowance of CAD $10,000 per year

• experience integrating complex electro-optical or electro-opto-mechanical systems, including hardware and software/control interfaces
• experience with quantum communications or quantum optics
• a demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative…