About

Optics and photonics are key technologies of the 21st century. They form, for example, the basis for today's optical communications, environmental sensing, biomedical diagnostics in the life sciences, energy-efficient lighting and solar energy harvesting. This is reflected in the fact that the average annual growth of the optics and photonics market has exceeded 10% over the past five years. With a worldwide overall volume of more than 250 billion EUR annually, the field of optics and photonics is one of the most important branches of the high-tech industry. The Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics (KSOP) was founded in 2006 as a multidisciplinary graduate school of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology at the interface of the natural sciences and engineering disciplines. Future progress and growth rely on dedicated research and graduates trained in an interdisciplinary environment. Consequently, the KSOP has set up the KSOP research areas to cover many important aspects of optics and photonics. The five KSOP research areas are Photonic Materials and Devices,Â Quantum Optics &Â Spectroscopy, Biomedical Photonics, Optical Systems, and Solar Energy. All research areas are strongly interlinked and most institutes feature research projects in more than one of the research areas. Candidates who are accepted as PhD students within the KSOP are not only part of an excellent research environment but are also trained in a well-balanced and structured manner. While the main focus of the PhD training is on the graduate student research work, the KSOP is convinced that additional elements in the doctoral training are needed in order to achieve optimum academic success and develop leadership capabilities. Scientific success and/or an industrial career depend not only on well-developed technical skills and knowledge but also on several other factors that are not given sufficient consideration in existing PhD programmes. Scientific excellence and technical achievements in the field of the candidate's thesis form the basis for any PhD degree. Successful careers in industry or academia, however, often require additional leadership and management skills and/or interdisciplinary knowledge. Depending on the candidate's orientation, we provide a specific, modular PhD training programme, which comprises units from a catalogue of technical, scientific andÂ management modules. In this context, we benefit from the HECTOR School of Engineering and Management, which provides corresponding modules. Additionally, there is also an MBA Fundamentals programme. The MBA Fundamentals programme puts doctoral researchers in a unique position to gain an additional management qualification. Management expertise often has a positive impact on career possibilities, especially when switching from academia to industry.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Before starting the application process, we recommend that you have the following documents scanned and ready for upload: Curriculum vitae* High school diploma* Bachelor's/undergraduate certificate/diploma* Masterâ€™s certificate/diploma* Transcripts of records Bachelorâ€™s degree* Transcripts of records Masterâ€™s degree* Letter of motivation* Picture* Letters of recommendation (may be sent in via e-mail, please check different access routes for exact requirements) Other documents that prove your qualification (e.g., English language proficiency test certificate, etc., optional) University entrance qualification (optional) Ranking of graduates (in the final year, optional) APS certificate (for applicants from Vietnam, China, Mongolia) Abstract of research interest* Acceptance as a doctoral researcher at the faculty (optional) Cover letter (optional) *mandatory

Fee Information

How to Apply

https://ksop.applicationportal.org/home.html

PhD Programme in Optics & Photonics at the Karlsruhe School of Optics & Photonics (KSOP)