Job Opportunities in Hungary

The Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project is an integral part of the European plan to build
the next generation of large research facilities identified and selected by the European Strategy
Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). ELI is the first infrastructure in the world able to
investigate interactions between light and matter with the highest intensity, in the so-called
ultrarelativistic range. It will open a doorway into new territories within physics and establishing
new technical developments such as relativistic microelectronics and small laser particle
accelerators. ELI will have a considerable impact on numerous fields of materials science,
medicine and environmental protection.


Research Fellow position is available in the Laser Sources Division of ELI-ALPS



We are looking for an enthusiastic and skilled researcher with expertise in high energy or high
average power ultrafast laser physics, preferably experienced in solid-state, fibre and/or optical
parametric amplifier development, ultrafast pulse characterization and/or post-compression
techniques. The successful candidate will work as part of the laser team in an international and
interdisciplinary scientific environment by supporting various research projects of external user
groups on ELI-ALPS beamlines; while also leading or participating in internal R&D activities.
Description of the Laser Sources Division at ELI-ALPS
Our Mission:
Here at ELI-ALPS (https://www.eli-alps.hu/) we offer beamtime for external research
applications which require state-of-the-art attosecond and femtosecond pulsed laser
technologies. Our main goal is to provide the shortest possible light pulses at the highest
available average power for the scientific community.
The Laser Sources Division is responsible for the operation of all laser systems in order to drive
the attosencond beamlines, end-stations and individual user experiments with the requested
beam parameters, including pulse energy, beamsize, polarization state, pulse duration, CEP etc.
specified for a given research project.
Other scientific activities within the Laser Sources Division include

• research towards further pulse shortening via post-compression techniques at all

available wavelengths at ELI-ALPS,

• laser pulse metrology developments at high repetition rates and average powers, and
• advancement in new sources (UV, VIS, far IR) with few-cycle durations and CEP stability.

Technologies:

• High average power and high repetition rate (100 k Hz) ultrafast fibre laser systems: HR1

under development in Szeged, HR2 under development in Jena. These unique few cycle
laser systems deliver few m J, CEP stabilized, near-infrared pulses for gas harmonic
attosecond beamlines.

• Mid-infrared and high repetition rate ultrafast OPCPA systems: MIR (100 k Hz) and MIR-HE

(1 k Hz, under preparation). Wavelengths around 3 μm, sub-two-cycle pulse duration with
exceptional CEP stability and control for various experimental applications.

• High peak power, near-single cycle 1 k Hz OPCPA systems: SYLOS 2, SYLOS 3 (under

development in Vilnius) and SYLOS Experiment Alignment. CEP-stabilized, near-infrared
pulses with excellent overall stability features. The most versatile systems for gas and
surface harmonic attosecond beamlines and electron and proton acceleration.

• High repetition rate PW laser: Ti:sapphire-based HF PW laser (under development in

Szeged). The only 2 PW peak power system at 10 Hz repetition rate which delivers 34 J with
17 fs for surface harmonics attosecond beamlines and particle acceleration.

• THz pump lasers: high pulse energy systems with moderate pulse durations designed

specifically to drive high energy THz pulse generation and THz spectroscopy applications. Duties and Responsibilities:
The work tasks of the Research Fellow to be hired in the Division include but are not limited to
the following:

• Participating in or leading the laser support team in external user campaigns.
• Participating in or leading the design, preparation and execution of upgrades of existing

beamtime is available. The candidate is expected to have a vision of projects that could
be carried out using the available infrastructure.
Minimum education and experience:
The successful candidate must hold a Ph D in physics, laser engineering, optics, photonics or
other related scientific field. Applications of candidates on track to complete their Ph D are also
considered. Candidates with 5+ years of experience in the field of laser physics and/or laser
engineering together with a demonstrated record in research will be considered too.
Required skills and abilities:

• the successful candidate must be able to work as part of a scientific support team, but

also have the ability to handle tasks independently in the laboratory,

• broad practical knowledge of high-power, ultrafast pulse generation, amplification,

propagation and manipulation,

• experience with ultrafast pulse characterization methods,
• good written and oral communication skills in English.

Additional preferred qualifications:

• experience in scientific projects carried out by interdisciplinary research teams,
• hands-on experience with both solid-state-based and optical parametric amplifiers,
• experience in supervising students,
• good practical problem-solving skills, being eager to acquire new knowledge,
• good programming skills (Python, Matlab, etc.),
• experience with ray tracing software (e.g. Zemax),
• good written and oral communication skills in Hungarian.

What we can offer:

• challenging tasks and room of career advancement while working with cutting-edge

technology in an international scientific environment,

• competitive benefit package in regional comparison,
• flexible working hours,
• very attractive standards of living in a socially vibrant city.

Job location:
Hungary, Szeged

If you are interested in the position, please upload your CV and motivation letter to our Career
Site at https://www.eli-alps.hu/en/Career.