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Postdoctoral Researcher

Position description:

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher with expertise in Nanophotonics, Nanofabrication, MEMS, and Optical Engineering. Open positions include, but are not limited to, the following research directions:

Nanophotonic devices and metamaterials for light control and advanced optical functionalities.
MEMS-integrated photonics for reconfigurable and adaptive optical systems.
Nonlinear optics and spectroscopy for light–matter interaction studies.
Quantum photonics leveraging 2D materials, photonic crystals, and other nanostructures.
Optical instrumentation and interferometry for high-precision measurements.

We welcome applicants with strong experimental backgrounds in nanofabrication, optical characterization, and device design. Experience with cleanroom processing, laser systems, and computational modeling (e.g., FDTD, RCWA, COMSOL) is highly desirable.

Applicants should hold a recent Ph.D. in Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Material Science, or a related field. Having a fellowship or being self-funded can significantly increase your chances of admission.

Information Requested:

Please submit the following to haoning (at) mit.edu:

Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications.
Cover email (include experience, interests, & goals; preferred start date; etc.)
Contact information for at least 2 references (full name, context & duration in which they know you, email).

Review and screening of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

External fellowship opportunities:

MIT Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Engineering Excellence

Schmidt Science Fellow

Intelligence Community (IC) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Fulbright Fellowship

Any other fellowship opportunities you have in mind.

Graduate Students

Students with research experience in experimental optics, MEMS, or nanofabrication are preferred. Exceptional candidates with theoretical or simulation backgrounds in nanophotonics are also welcome.

Applicants from diverse majors: Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, etc., are encouraged to apply to the MIT Mechanical Engineering Ph.D. program. Having a fellowship or being self-funded can significantly increase your chances of admission.

See admissions info for PhD programs in:

MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering

We also accept students from:

Other departments at MIT

Cross-registered students from Harvard

Applicants are welcome to contact Prof. Tang directly at haoning (at) mit.edu.

Undergraduate Interns

Undergraduate students with prior research experience in related fields are welcome to apply.

Non-Berkeley/MIT students need to have fellowships or be self-funded.
Berkeley undergraduates: Please contact Prof. Tang directly.
MIT undergraduates: Our lab at MIT will start in the summer of 2026. Please contact Prof. Tang directly.

Information Requested:

Email about your experience, interests, prior research experience, and goals.
CV (include experience, skills, and coursework;)
Unofficial transcript (not essential, if relevant coursework is already on your CV)
Preferred starting dates (e.g., "spring semester only" or "summer from June 10-Aug 20, then continuing into fall semester & possibly beyond". Note that a summer internship is typically 10+ weeks, and a term-time commitment must be at least 10 hours/week, to maintain substantive progress.)

Please contact Prof. Tang at haoningtang (at) berkeley.edu or haoning (at) mit.edu.

Visiting Scholars

Visiting Scholars with prior research experience in related fields are welcome to apply, scholarship/fellowship/self-funding required.

Information Requested:

Curriculum Vitae with a list of publications.
Cover email (include experience, interests, & goals; preferred start date; etc.)

Please contact Prof. Tang at haoning (at) mit.edu.

Tang lab is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.