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We look for curious people and nurture their curiosity.

MIT Mechanical Engineering is ranked #1 in the U.S. News 2025 ranking.

Berkeley EECS is ranked #1 in the U.S. News 2025 ranking, tied with MIT and Stanford.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Position description:

1. Nanofabrication Experimentalist

Candidates with substantial hands-on experience in nanofabrication are encouraged to apply. Backgrounds in nanophotonics, MEMS, electronics, or optoelectronics are especially welcome.

2. Optical Instrumentation
Strong experience in free-space optical experiments is required. Preferred backgrounds include nonlinear optics, quantum optics, spectroscopy, or instrumentation. Proficiency in software and coding (e.g., MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python) is expected. A background in instrumentation development and electronics is essential for this role.

3. Optical Metasurface, photonic crystals, metamaterials.

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 haoningtang (at) berkeley.edu or haoning (at) mit.edu:

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

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

External fellowship opportunities:

Berkeley Miller Fellow

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 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.
We only accept on-site internship applications (no remote).

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 employment 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 haoningtang (at) berkeley.edu or 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.