{"id":2568599,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics","title":"Postdoctoral Scholar in Experimental Optics","company":{"id":34416,"name":"University of Central Florida","domain":"ucf.edu","url":"https://alion.io/company/ucf","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Workday","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":75,"open_postings":6,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":1,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":null,"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Early Careers","role_family":"Early Careers","seniority":"junior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Orlando, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":37000,"max_usd":77000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":519},"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-06T00:00:00Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-06","last_verified_at":"2026-10-18T02:01:56Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":12,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":12},"description":"The Opportunity\nCREOL (Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers) is one of the world’s foremost institutions for research and education in optical and photonic science and engineering. The College offers MS and PhD degrees in optics and photonics, and a BS degree in photonic science and engineering. The faculty engages in fundamental and applied research and education in lasers, optical fibers, semiconductor and integrated photonic devices, nonlinear and quantum optics, imaging, sensing, and displays. The college is home to the CREOL, Florida Photonics Center of Excellence (FPCE), and Townes Laser Institute (TLI), and the Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology (iFAST). In addition, the College of Medicine, which includes the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, provides rich opportunities for collaboration. For more information see www.creol.ucf.edu.\nThe Semiconductor Diode Laser Group (https://www.creol.ucf.edu/sdl/) is accepting applications for a postdoctoral scholar position in experimental optics. Our research focuses on large, high-power semiconductor diode laser arrays, with particular emphasis on external-cavity coupling, phase locking, coherent beam combining, and the collective dynamics of coupled laser systems. Current projects explore the emergence and control of synchronization, spatial and temporal coherence, and the other collective states in large arrays of coupled semiconductor lasers. The research combines advanced optical experiments with theoretical and computational modeling of nonlinear laser dynamics.\nWe are seeking highly motivated researchers with strong experimental expertise in free-space optics, beam propagation, and semiconductor laser systems. Successful candidates will contribute to the development, alignment, characterization, and optimization of advanced optical and photonic experimental platforms involving semiconductor diode lasers and laser arrays.\nMinimum Qualifications:\nPh.D. from an accredited institution in Optics/Photonics, Electrical Engineering or a closely related field.\nStrong hands-on experience with free-space optical systems, including optical alignment, optimization, and troubleshooting.\nSolid understanding of Gaussian beam propagation, diffraction, focusing, imaging, and optical beam characterization.\nExperience working with semiconductor lasers, laser sources, and associated optical components.\nDemonstrated ability to independently align, characterize, and optimize complex free-space optical steps involving lenses, mirrors, beam splitters, spatial filters, detectors, and related instrumentation.\nExperience with optical diagnostics, experimental data acquisition, and analysis is desirable.\nPreferred Qualifications:\nFamiliarity with the dynamics and modeling of semiconductor diode lasers and laser arrays.\nKnowledge of nonlinear dynamics, synchronization, or nonlinear systems.\nAdditional Application Materials Required:\nUCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload the following:\nA curriculum vitae.\nBrief statement of research interests and relevant experimental experience.\nNOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.\nThe selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.\nQuestions regarding this search should be directed to: Dr. Yehuda Braiman at .\nSpecial Instructions to the Applicants:\nPosition may be restricted to U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents due to the nature of the research funding. However, all applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. H-1B visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.\nThis is a Contract & Grants (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted.\nThe position is anticipated for at least two years, with continued appointment and possible extension subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding (up to a total of four years).\nDepartment\nCollege of Optics and Photonics (CREOL)Work Schedule\nVariesType of Appointment\nFixed Term (Fixed Term)Expected Salary\nNegotiableThe University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.\nAs a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.\nUCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.\nFor general application or posting questions, please email .\nIf an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please email .","description_format":"text","description_chars":5514,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Education","Higher Education"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-14T22:28:46Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":74,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.828,"p_room":0.9,"age_days":11,"expected_fill_days":18,"reasons":["conf:0","velocity","win:mid","comp:junior"],"computed_at":"2026-10-17T05:46:00Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-18T11:20:35Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":16864,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-19T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":34416},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=34416"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fucf-postdoctoral-scholar-in-experimental-optics"}]}