Research Fellow (EUV Nanophotonics & Nanopatterning)

Location: NTU Main Campus, Singapore

School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is one of the founding Schools of the Nanyang Technological University. Built on a culture of excellence, the School is renowned for its high academic standards and research. With over 3,000 undergraduates students and 2,000 graduate students it is one of the largest EEE schools in the world and ranks 4th in the field of Electrical & Electronic Engineering in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subjects. Today, the School has become one of the world’s largest engineering schools that nurtures competent engineers and researchers. Each year, the School graduates over a thousand students who are ready to take on great ambitions and challenges.

The position will be based at LUMINOUS! Centre of Excellence for Semiconductor Lighting and Displays, a leading research centre under EEE. LUMINOUS! focuses on semiconductor device research, fabrication, and applications in next-generation lighting, displays, and electronics. With state-of-the-art cleanroom and characterization facilities, the centre brings together interdisciplinary expertise in materials science, device engineering, and system integration to address key challenges in energy-efficient and sustainable technologies.

For more details, please view: https://www.ntu.edu.sg/eee

The LUMINOUS! Centre of Excellence for Semiconductor Lighting and Displays at NTU is seeking a Research Fellow in EUV Nanophotonics and Nanopatterning to join the NRF Competitive Research Programme project, “Extreme UV Nanophotonics: Quantum Control and Meta-Optical Design of Extreme Ultraviolet Light Sources.”

In this role, you will turn theory into practical technology by fabricating chip-scale, free-electron-driven EUV sources and approximately 10 nm electron-beam-lithography masks. You will integrate these devices with advanced vacuum and electron-optical systems to achieve high-brightness emission at short wavelengths. You will lead the first proof-of-concept demonstration of EUV nanopatterning using a chip-scale source, strengthening NTU’s leadership in EUV nanophotonics and opening new possibilities for semiconductor lithography and metrology.

Key Responsibilities

Experimental Platform Development: Lead the design and assembly of high-vacuum and ultra-high vacuum (UHV) systems, custom vacuum chambers and optical setups tailored for free-electron–light interaction and EUV generation.

Chip-Scale Source Development: Lead the development, fabrication, and integration of chip-scale EUV emitter components, including cathode nanostructures (e.g., ZnO, graphene, carbon nanotubes) and Si/Mo multilayer anode structures, using sputtering, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and high-vacuum bonding/sealing techniques.

EUV Nanopatterning Masks: Design and fabricate EUV nanopatterning masks (Si3N4 membrane on Si substrate) using electron-beam lithography and metal dry-etching processes to achieve nanopattern feature sizes of approximately 10 nm.

Beam and Device Characterization: Implement and optimize electron-optical systems and diagnostic tools, including cold cathode field emission testing, to characterize electron beam properties, beam-matter interactions at the nanoscale, and device performance.

EUV Metrology: Oversee the detection and spectral analysis of EUV radiation, ensuring high-fidelity measurements of brightness and coherence.

Hardware Integration and Packaging: Collaborate with theorists and fabrication experts to integrate functional nanostructures (e.g., cathode/anode structures, multilayer waveguides, and nanopatterned masks) into experimental vacuum environments and perform the alignment and packaging of EUV-emitting chip-scale devices and masks.

Proof-of-Concept Demonstrations: Conduct proof-of-concept demonstrations of EUV nanopatterning with sub-10 nm alignment precision and support the scaling of single-chip devices into multi-chip arrays for higher power output.

Laboratory Leadership: Manage experimental workflows, oversee laboratory and cleanroom safety, and provide technical mentorship to PhD and MSc students, research assistants, and junior researchers.

Research Dissemination: Publish research findings in leading international journals, present at prestigious international conferences and contribute to grant reporting, patent applications, and other project documentation.

Job Requirements

PhD and prior postdoctoral experience in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Physics, Nanotechnology, Photonics, or a related field.

Significant experience with electron beam systems (e.g., SEMs/TEMs or custom electron guns) and beam–matter interactions.

Proficiency in the design and maintenance of high-vacuum and Ultra-High Vacuum (UHV) systems, including chip-scale device packaging and high-vacuum bonding/sealing techniques.

Strong hands-on nanofabrication experience, including electron-beam lithography, photolithography, thin-film deposition (sputtering, chemical vapor deposition), and reactive-ion or metal dry etching.

Demonstrated experience in fabricating and characterizing nanoscale and multilayer thin-film structures (e.g., metal, semiconductor, or oxide multilayers) and membrane structures such as Si3N4.

Experience in the EUV or soft X-ray regime (e.g., synchrotron beamlines, or HHG), and familiarity with EUV detectors (CCDs, MCPs) and grazing incidence optics.

Experience with cold cathode fabrication (e.g., ZnO, graphene, carbon nanotubes) and field emission characterization, or with nanophotonics/meta-optics and characterization of photonic nanostructures (e.g., FIB, COMSOL, Ansys, MEEP).

Proven track record of publishing high-quality research in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals, with excellent scientific communication and technical writing skills.

Strong leadership, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with experience managing laboratory operations, experimental workflows, and safety compliance,