In the application form, please specify which research topic/project you are primarily interested in and whether you would also be interested in the other topics/projects in this call.

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Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/eqo/">Experimental Quantum Optics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Robert Fickler

Description:&nbsp;The project aims at studying and benefiting from the complex interplay between different degrees of freedom in the context of high-dimensional photonic quantum states. Using advanced &nbsp;integrated modulation schemes, novel quantum states of light will be implemented in the laboratory. In addition, their theoretical advantage over simpler quantum systems will be investigated and the most promising features experimentally demonstrated. The main focus will be towards applications in quantum technological areas, such as advanced sensing mechanisms as well as high-dimensional quantum communication.

1) Quantum effects and applications using complex structured photons

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/nlogroup/">Nonlinear Optics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Mikko Huttunen

Description:&nbsp;During this project, we will investigate metasurfaces exhibiting collective excitations. We will investigate how coupling of adjacent nanoparticles, a key process in formation of collective excitations, can be modified by utilizing hybrid waveguide systems. We will also study formation of large-scale collective excitations, such as dark collective modes, and optimal mode coupling into such excitations via structured illumination.

2) Engineering collective excitations in periodic nanostructures for enhanced light–matter interactions

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/metaplasmonics/">Metaplasmonics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Humeyra Caglayan

Description:&nbsp;Develop rigorous diffraction (forward) models to accurately simulate the interaction of light with linear diffraction layers (LDL) and non-linear activation layers (NLAL); Derive backpropagation relations to complete an all-optical deep learning framework to optimize LDL and NLAL parameters; Fabricate LDL phase masks and NLALs and demonstrate the performance of AONN on computer vision application cases.&nbsp;

3) All-optical (AO) Neural Networks

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/surfsci/">Surface Science</a>

PI:&nbsp;Mika Valden&nbsp;

Description:&nbsp;The research project hosted by Surface Science Group at Tampere University is focused on conversion of carbon dioxide and water into synthetic fuels and feedstock chemicals with electrochemical and photoelectrochemical processes. This artificial photosynthesis approach has been recognized in the EU Green Deal to be one of the most strategically important ways for decreasing atmospheric carbon dioxide at sustainable levels, while simultaneously satisfying the increasing global needs for non-fossil fuels and feedstock chemicals.

4) Artificial photosynthesis approach to renewable energy-assisted conversion of carbon dioxide and water into non-fossil synthetic fuels and feedstock chemicals

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/photonic-glasses/">Photonics Glasses</a>

PI:&nbsp;Laeticia Petit

Description:&nbsp;The student will be in charge of drawing new composite fiber using a different approach than the traditional glass-ceramic fiber technology. Here, the crystalline nanoparticles will be first synthesized with target crystalline phase and rare-earth doping and then added in the glass matrix offering the possibility of preparing a large variety of new fibers with diverse functionality and limited fiber loss (&lt;50dB/m) for various applications. The project targets to provide solutions for functionality integration. It will focus on the development of distributed fiber sensors, laser cooling and faraday rotator component.

5) Nanocomposite fiber for photonics applications

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/nanophotonics/">Nanophotonics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Tapio Niemi

Description:&nbsp;This project aims to advance the technology and applications of photonic integrated circuits. The goals are to prepare photonic integrated circuits, automate microassembly of optical fibers to polymer waveguides, and integrate the developed techniques into existing manufacturing processes.

6) Advanced Micro-Assembly Techniques in Photonic Integration

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/acs/">Advanced Coherent Sources</a>

PI:&nbsp;Regina Gumenyuk

Description:&nbsp;The project will focus on the design and development of ultra-narrow linewidth high-power laser operating at 2.1 um wavelength. The laser design will include all-fiber architecture and high-precision in-situ wavelength modulation. This laser source will be tested for contactless laser-based hydrogen molecular sensing.

Foreign academic institution:&nbsp;Technical University of Bari (Italy), University of Southampton (UK)

7) Ultra-narrow linewidth high-power laser for resonance molecular sensing

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/ufo-en/">Ultrafast Photonics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Goëry Genty

Description:&nbsp;Multimode fibers are complex systems with many degrees of freedom and the propagation of intense light in them is associated with a rich landscape of nonlinear dynamics offering new avenues to structure light. The project will focus on the generation of beams in multimode fibers that vary periodically in both space and time. Such artificial spatio-temporal crystals exhibit unique properties that will provide a new toolbox for the generation of structured light beams with applications in laser development, high-resolution imaging and sensing. The project involves theoretical, numerical and experimental studies. &nbsp;&nbsp;

8) Spatio-temporal crystals in multimode fibers 

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/topgroup">Theoretical Optics and Photonics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Marco Ornigotti

Description:The aim of this project is to develop a new set of theoretical tools, based on field-theoretical concepts and nonlinear electrodynamics models beyond Maxwell’s equations, to provide a comprehensive description of nonperturbative nonlinear classical and quantum optics effects occurring in exotic materials, such as 2D, epsilon-near-zero &nbsp;materials and metamaterials, for which the traditional approach of perturbative nonlinear optics (i.e., susceptibility) fails to give a rigorous description of nonlinear light-matter interaction in such materials.

9) Nonperturbative Nonlinear optics Effects in Exotic Materials

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/orc/">Optoelectronics Research Center</a>

PI:&nbsp;Mircea Guina

Description: The project targets the development of light sources for sensing exploiting advanced photonic integration concepts. The research topics include the design of photonic integrated circuits, technology development for high precision integration of III-V optoelectronic chips with silicon photonics circuitry, as well as device and applications related characterization. Such integrated light sources are particularly relevant for sensing applications at 2- 3um wavelength region for monitoring environmental gases and biomedical markers. The research field experiences a fast development, pushed for example by the expansion of medical wearable applications.

10) Photonic integrated mid-IR lasers for miniaturized sensors

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/applied-optics/">Applied Optics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Juha Toivonen

Description:&nbsp;An automated, sensor-based sorting of materials is required in circular economy to achieve high recovery and recycling rates. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy enables rapid detection of elemental composition of materials. Here, we develop and apply the method for application areas like recycling of lithium-ion batteries. The project includes building and development of spectroscopical setups, development of calibration methods for accurate elemental concentrations, and analysis of elemental composition in various environments.

11) Direct laser-based elemental analysis for circular economy

Tampere University ENS Faculty Physics Groups

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/png/">Precision Nanomaterials</a>

PI:&nbsp;Nonappa Nonappa

Description:&nbsp;This project aims to fabricate highly luminescent and photothermally stable nanomaterials. The materials of choice include but are not limited to, surface functionalized noble metal nanoparticles, atomically precise nanoclusters, and hybrid systems to achieve rapid, precise, and accurate detection of biomarkers. The doctoral candidate should have prior knowledge and expertise in nanoparticle synthesis, functionalization, and characterization.

12) Nanoparticle-based ultrastable luminescent sensors

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/spectroscopy-and-light-active-materials-slam">Spectroscopy and Light-Active Materials</a>

PI:&nbsp;Tero-Petri Ruoko

Description: This project aims at synthesizing and characterizing donor–acceptor heterodimers that are confined within a water-soluble supramolecular metal–organic coordination cage. The confinement forces the donor and acceptor molecules in close vicinity, enabling through-space charge transfer, and further boosts intersystem crossing of organic materials. The boosted intersystem crossing will enable thermally-activated delayed fluorescence, on which the current state-of-the-art OLEDs are based. Within the project, you will learn how to fabricate the confined heterodimers (chemistry), characterize them using steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy (photophysics), and finally fabricate emissive devices such as organic light-emitting diodes and electrochemical cells (organic electronics). The interdisciplinary nature of the project provides experience at the crossroads of all the listed fields, and as such is suitable for candidates with chemistry, physics, or materials science backgrounds.

13) Supramolecular confined emitters for next generation OLEDs

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/spm/">Smart Photonic Materials</a>

PI:&nbsp;Arri Priimagi

Description:&nbsp;This project focuses on materials whose dimensions as well as optical and mechanical properties can be reversibly controlled with light. When confined to thin films, such “photomechanical” materials enable precise fabrication of diffractive optical elements, e.g., for applications in augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies. Within the project, you get to develop a synergistic approach combining photomechanics with digital holographic to precisely monitor photoinduced movements and optical properties in different types of light-responsive materials and harness them for fabrication of tunable photonic components.

14) In situ fabrication and analysis: Harnessing digital holographic microscopy for enhanced light-patterning of photonic components

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/light-robots">Light Robots</a>

PI:&nbsp;Hao Zeng

Description:&nbsp;This project aims to develop a novel light-driven, non-equilibrium material platform for interactions among teams of micro robots. It will focus on creating responsive materials with multiple stimuli-responsiveness and excellent light controllability. These materials will be integrated into recently developed model systems from the research group to achieve autonomous functionalities among light-fueled robots.

15) Light-driven oscillating elastomers for innovative micro robotic applications.

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/hsc/">Hybrid Solar Cells</a>

PI:&nbsp;Paola Vivo

Description:&nbsp;The project will focus on the design, synthesis and characterization of low-toxicity perovskite-inspired semiconductors for ptoelectronic applications, primarily outdoor and indoor photovoltaics. The structure-property relationships in these materials will be elucidated, in turn enabling the development of &nbsp;high-efficiency devices. The device components (e.g., charge-transport layers) will be ad-hoc selected and fine-tuned to ensure effective charge transport and collection.

16) Eco-friendly perovskite-inspired compositions for optoelectronic applications

Tampere University ENS Faculty Chemistry and Advanced Materials Groups

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/about-us/engineering-materials-science">Engineering and Materials Sciences</a>

PI:&nbsp;Sayani Majumdar

Description:&nbsp;The fast development of brain-inspired neuromorphic computing systems has stimulated requirements for urgent developments of artificial synapses and neurons with ultralow-power consumption with capabilities for biologically plausible computing. In this doctoral study, photonic synaptic and neuron devices will be fabricated and characterized. In the artificial synaptic device, the incident light pulses would play the roles of action potentials, and the light-generated carriers would modify the pre-and post-synaptic membrane potential, similar to the neurotransmitter in biological synapses. Key synaptic functions, like photonic memory, multiple timescale synaptic plasticity, paired pulse facilitation and depression, dynamic “learning–forgetting” etc. will be investigated while for the photonic neurons, the task would be to identify and build systems that can integrate temporally-encoded pixel data at high speed and fire fast optical spikes upon detecting desired image features. Finally, the photonic system will be combined with a software-implemented neural network that will provide a full platform for complex image classification tasks.

17) Development of 2D semiconductor based Photonic-neuromorphic circuits

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/about-us/computing-sciences#switcher-trigger-overview">Computing Sciences</a>

PI:&nbsp;Atanas Gotchev&nbsp;

Description:&nbsp;The project has two research objectives: (1) Develop, optimize and integrate metasurfaces with neural networks for computational hyperspectral imaging. (2) Use the sensed data to analyse material reflectances and co-optimze a new spectral data sampling method with multiple wavelength selection for a subsequent rendering based on path tracing. The expected outcomes are minituarized and portable hypespectral imaging systems and related new pipelines for ultra-realistic scene representation, spectral rendering and immersive display.

18) Hypesprectral sensing and rendering

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/about-us/computing-sciences#switcher-trigger-overview">Computing Sciences</a>

PI:&nbsp;Alessandro Foi

Description:&nbsp;We consider the analysis and modeling of imaging degradations such as noise and bias encountered at the boundary of the operating envelope of scanning microscopes (e.g., confocal microscopy, X-ray microtomography, etc.) and other scientific and medical imagers (e.g., limited-angle digital breast tomosynthesis systems). Particular emphasis is placed on extreme cases of 1) ultra-low signal-to-noise ratio; 2) ultra-low dynamic range; 3) long-range noise correlation. The research aims to provide models that can assist the characterization, analysis, and enhancement of images to ultimately extend the applicability of the devices and improve their performance.

19) Photon imaging in extreme conditions

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/about-us/computing-sciences#switcher-trigger-overview">Computing Sciences</a>

PI:&nbsp;Moncef Gabbouj

Description:&nbsp;Cardiovascular diseases account for 31% of global deaths and costs over $1T by 2035. Diagnosis of such diseases is performed by medical doctors assisted by signal analysis as the primary decision-making tool. The objective is to develop novel Generative AI decision-making tools for the purpose of biomedical signal restoration, synthesis, and transformation applications. Raw sensorial data is often noisy, scarce and expensive. The problem is addressed as a blind restoration and the results allow doctors to perform accurate diagnosis. Large data is costly to produce but needed for model training. Hence, the second objective is to synthesise large-scale bio-signals. Finally, high quality bio-signals are rather expensive to produce. Therefore, our objective is to design virtual machines to transform lower resolution into higher resolution data. We train one doctoral student to develop novel Generative AI models and work closely with medical doctors to validate the proposed approaches.

20) Image restoration, synthesis and transformations for biomedical applications

Research group: <a href="https://eur04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsochub.fi%2F&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ctitta.syvaoja%40tuni.fi%7C208e429a8f74425bd2b308dc42b43480%7Cfa6944afcc7c4cd89154c01132798910%7C0%7C0%7C638458588935292880%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3%2BA52p%2BeuXWoOX9y1BacNXqS5JTIRXmgR2RSCbtLUdw%3D&amp;reserved=0">Systems on Chip</a>

PI: Karri Palovuori

Description: The objective is to Integrate for the first time in Finland large System-on-Chips with photonics components for a highly integrated, small form factor System-in-Package. This enables high performance computing class of processing and communications by integrating a multitude of specialized chips with extremely high bandwidth interconnects on- and off-package. The work includes co-design of photonics and microelectronics, system-level architecture design, and constructive research with physical prototypes.

21) Co-design of photonics and System-on-Chip for System-in-Package implementations

Tampere University ITC Faculty 

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/research/3bs-bioceramics-bioglasses-and-biocomposites">Bioceramics, bioglasses and biocomposites</a>

PI:&nbsp;Jonathan Massera

Description:&nbsp;Developing versatile and personalized medical devices is becoming a growing challenges in our modern society. To allow patient specific treatment we aim at developing 3D printed bioactive glass scaffolds for bone tissue engineering, loaded with phosphors to photorelease active agent (such as anticancer drug, antimicrobial agent or pain killer) in a control manner. The phD student will study the pharmacokinetic of photoreleased drug and study the impact of light emission/excitation on human cell behaviour.

22) Biophotonic scaffold for the photorelease of nitric oxide, as antimicrobial agent

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/coeboc/">Body on-Chip</a>

PI:&nbsp;Minna Kellomäki

Description:&nbsp;Injectable soft materials (natural polymers) are promising in tissue engineering. However, at present, while found promising as drug delivery system, the drug release is mainly dictated by diffusion processes. Another challenge with large volumes of hydrogel is the oxygen shortage inside the hydrogels. There is a growing need towards on demand release of drugs or oxygen and in that regards, photoactivated release holds great potential. The aim of the project is to develop photoactive composites thereby photonic crystals will be functionalized for optimal dispersion within the polymer matrix and loaded with photo-releasable substances. These hybrid biomaterials will be studied in terms of rheology for optimal viscosity and flow properties, to assess the extrusion/printing window, and their cytocompatibility and functionality will be evaluated utilizing relevant cell lines.

23) Synthesis and use of biophotonic hydrogels

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/cellular-biophysics/">Cellular Biophysics</a>

PI:&nbsp;Teemu Ihalainen

Description:&nbsp;Soft robotics can be defined as a field which develops, designs, and constructs robots from soft materials. The controlled movement of soft robots is extremely difficult to achieve with mechanical actuators and electronic controllers and even more challenging by using soft materials. The aim of the proposed PhD project is to develop optically controllable cell-based actuators, and to characterize their performance. In this context, Optogenetic tools will be used construct different cell lines which can be utilized as cell-based, self-healing and proliferating light responsive actuators. Furthermore, Various optogenetic tools will be introduced to cells to achieve rapid contraction and cellular force production, which can be controlled spatially and temporally by light stimulus.

24) Development of light responsive cell-based actuators

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://research.tuni.fi/mst/">Micro and Nanosystems</a>

PI:&nbsp;Pasi Kallio

Description:&nbsp;As part of the ever growing field of organ-on-chip, the aim of the project is to develop placement and immobilization techniques for fluorescent oxygen and potassium sensitive probes. The probes will be integrated microfluidic organ-on-chip devices and functionality / performance in the chips will be optimized. Finally cytocompatibility of the device will be studied and the oxygen/potassium probes will be testing in probing neurological disorders on chip.

25) Optical Oxygen Sensing for Integrated Microfluidic Organ-on-Chip Devices   

Tampere University MET Faculty

Research group:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tuni.fi/en/about-us/information-and-knowledge-management">Information and Knowledge Management</a>

PI:&nbsp;Marko Seppänen

Description:&nbsp;The projects aims to investigate how photonics applications can be transferred to sustainable business solutions. New business models to reach wider societal impact from this fundamental research will be studied.

PREIN I-DEEP Doctoral education pilot's research topics