Doctoral Candidates
We have gathered the best European academic and industrial partners to train 10 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) to an outstanding level, where they can act as Europe's future leaders within lidar technology. Their profile and bio will be presented in this section as soon as they are recruited.
- NiteLiDAR Team
PRITAM PATRA
Project : FMCW LiDAR on-chip for high speed and robust 3D imaging
Host Institution : Thales
About: Pritam holds a master’s degree in Optoelectronics and Optical Communications from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. During his master’s program, he gained extensive hands-on experience through dedicated labs in Fiber Optics and Optical Communications, complemented by several advanced courses in Photonics and Optics. His master’s thesis focused on developing control strategies for Optical MEMS, particularly in their application within LiDAR systems. This specialized experience has driven him to pursue a PhD position at Thales, where he is contributing to the FMCW LiDAR project, aimed at advancing robust and high-speed 3D imaging technology.
Project Objectives:
- Simulation and modelling of FMCW LiDAR performances and use-cases
- Specify the architecture of the FMCW LiDAR
- Benchmark existing laser sources for FMCW applications and evaluate the new sources developed in the project
- Investigate innovative FMCW waveforms for increased robustness to real environment conditions and more adapted to 3D measurements
- Define and implement the signal processing adapted to the selected waveforms and the targeted application
- Demonstrate the performances of the LiDAR system based on the PIC modules fabricated in the framework of the project.
Expected Results :
- Numerical model of FMCW LiDAR power budget
- Validation of new FMVW waveforms and associated signal processing
- FMCW LiDAR demonstration using the project modules
GIACOMO ZANETTI
Project : FMCW LiDAR for CO2 gas sensing – fence line monitoring and drone implementation
Host Institution : Denmark Technical University
About: Giacomo acquired his master´s degree in Physics from the University of Trento, Italy. During his studies he focused on the structure of matter, photonics, and worked on the experimental fabrication and optical characterization of flexible glass-based 1D photonic crystals for his master´s thesis, which was carried out at the National Research Council (CNR) in Trento. He received his bachelor´s degree in Physics from the Univeristy of Trento. After his master´s degree, Giacomo worked as a research fellow for the University of Trento in the Industrial Engineering department.
Project Objectives:
- Modelling a FMCW CO2 gas LIDAR for drone implementation including: (a) needed frequency scan range for sampling the 1.572 µm CO2 gas line (absorption bandwidth of 50 pm) (b) size of the phased array aperture to have an effective output lens aperture of 25 mm (corresponding to sensing at 50 meter distance to a retro reflector) (c) Minimum laser power with scan frequency read of 10-100 KHz for reaching 2E-5 sensitivity;
- Design and integrate a >20 mW FMCW laser (WP2) with a gas LIDAR system including the receiver;
- Field test of FMCW LiDAR for fence line and drone application.
Expected Results:
- Model of a FMCW LiDAR;
- Experimental FMCW LiDAR set-up including validation;
- Field test for fence line and drones.
Yang Chan
Project : Integrated FMCW Laser
Host Institution : Technische Universiteit Eindhoven -TU/e
About : Yancan acquired a joint Master’s degree in Photonics from Ghent University and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Belgium. During her Master’s studies, she developed a strong interest in photonic integrated circuits. She also gained valuable knowledge in integrated optics, silicon photonics and hands-on experience in measuring photonic integrated circuits. For her Master’s thesis, she developed a modulated monitoring circuit to monitor programmable photonic chips. She received her bachelor’s degree in Optoelectronic Information Science and Engineering in China
Project Objectives :
- Realize a widely and continuously tunable laser on the commercially available InP photonic integration platform of SMART;
- Explore a novel design, using a novel driving technique, that allows for mode-hop free and fast tuning of the laser, thereby enabling wavelength-swept beam steering in (some of) the optical phased array implementations of WP3. A small wavelength modulation will allow for frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) LiDAR applications. The specific target metrics are: <100 kHz optical linewidth, >100 mW output power, >50 nm wavelength tuning range, at >10-kHz sweep rate, and with 15-GHz frequency modulation
Expected Results :
- PICs in an existing foundry platform;
- Setup to characterize all aspects of the laser (including continuous
tunability); - Develop a first demonstrator, including off-the-shelf driving electronics;
- Confirm the driving mechanism (collaborate
with DC4); - Fully integrated second demonstrator (electronic-photonic co-design with DC4).
HAOCUN WANG
Project : Integrated electronic circuits for laser driving and control
Host Institution : TU Eindhoven
About : Haocun Wang acquired his Master’s degree in Electrical Integrated Circuit Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China through the second-class Chinese master’s degree scholarship. During his master’s studies he developed a strong interest in electric integration, analog IC design, power management unit design and worked on topology, detailed circuit blocks design, layout design, post-layout simulation on Cadence of high voltage single-input-multiple-output DC converters for his master thesis. He received his bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from TongJi University, China.
Project Objectives :
- Design, fabricate via IC foundry and characterize experimentally an integrated tunable laser driver that maximizes power efficiency and enables accurate wavelength control;
- Design, fabricate via IC foundry and characterize experimentally a chip controlling the laser driver exploiting wavelength sensing and suitable algorithms, including AI;
- Design, fabricate via IC foundry and characterize experimentally a chip enabling FMCW (15GHz) chirps, and is able to interface the other two ICs designed in the IRP.
Expected Results :
- Detailed circuit design of the laser driver, the feedback and control system, and the FMCW chirp generation/driving, all using a suitable CMOS technology available from commercial foundries, fabricated by the foundry, and experimentally characterized;
- System demonstrator (including the tunable laser source), built and experimentally characterized together with DC3. This will demonstrate the capability to build a miniature tunable laser source, based only on integrated components.
Michal Pawel Golas
Project: Full FMCW LiDAR chip on SiN/SOI with OPA, receiver and on-chip mixing
Host Institution: Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum — IMEC
About:
Michał acquired his bachelor’s degree in Photonics from Warsaw University of Technology (WUT), Poland. During his master’s studies in the field of Telecommunications (WUT, Poland), he was working in the Center for Advanced Materials and Technologies (CEZAMAT), Poland, where he was developing silicon nitride platform based for visible and near-IR light. For his master thesis he was implementing passive waveguide structures like ring resonators and Bragg gratings on this platform. During his studies he was part of the student research group called FiberTeam, where he was involved in projects related to the fibers and IoT.
Project Objectives:
- Define system specs, explore state-of-the-art architectures, and identify a few suitable on-chip implementations
- Perform basic link budget calculations for selected options (collaborate with DC1)
- Perform modelling and numerical simulations of basic building blocks for IMEC’s SiN/SOI platform (OPA, grating couplers, etc.)
- Design and layout LiDAR chip (collaborate with DC3 and DC 8/9/10)
Characterize OPA far-field and perform basic ranging experiments.
Expected Results:
- Identification of best architectures for different applications (automotive, industrial, robotics, etc.).
- Definition of challenges and suitable routes for full system integration.
- Demonstration of an integrated solid-state LiDAR chip combining results from the different WPs.
Yangyi Zhang
Project: Integrated Electronic Circuits for FMCW Receiver
Host Institution: Ghent University (UGent)
About:
Yangyi Zhang received the B.S. degree in electronic and information engineering from Jinan University (JNU), Guangzhou, China, in 2022, and the M.S. degree in electronic science and technology from the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China, in 2025. During the master stage, his research interests include high-speed wireline receiver and optical receiver for the data center application.
Project Objectives:
- Define receiver functionality, architecture and specifications;
- Select CMOS or BiCMOS technology for electronic IC design
- Study circuit-level trade-offs considering e.g., bandwidth, dynamic range, power consumption, footprint;
- Electronic-photonic IC co-design and proof-of-concept realization;
Experimental validation and demonstration.
Expected Results:
- Derive circuit-level solutions for FMCW LiDAR;
- Design and fabricate multiple receiver test structures and functional prototypes;
- Test the fabricated IC devices in relevant conditions.
DAVIDE MICHELI
Project : LiDAR based on Dispersive Optical Phased Arrays
Host Institution : Ghent University (UGent)
About : Davide acquired his master’s degree in physics from the University of Trento, Italy. The studies focused mostly on the characterization of solid-state matter, from the fundamental theory to the experimental characterization to the study of practical devices. For their master’s Thesis, Davide studied micro ring resonators, an integrated photonics platform, and how they could be used in neuromorphic computing. He received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Trento.
Project Objectives :
Developing 2D beamsteering architectures based on dispersive optical phased arrays that can be scaled to large emission areas while still supporting wide scanning angles. This involves modelling, designing and fabricating the distribution networks and antennas, and testing them in realistic conditions. The beam-steering architectures, which depend on wavelength sweeping, should be compatible with a swept-source FMCW ranging engine.
Expected Results :
- Models of different dispersive OPA architectures
- distribution networks for dispersive OPAs with a compact footprint and low phase errors
- experimental verification of such architectures
HAN YANG
Project : Slab grating based OPA with on-chip beam expander
Host Institution : Denmark Technical University
About : Yang Han holds a Master’s degree in Materials Engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium. He began his career as a Process Engineer at Imec, Belgium, where he focused on optimizing wafer bonding and assembly processes, including hybrid bonding, fusion bonding, and laser debonding. Yang played a crucial role in enhancing process stability and reducing cycle times by implementing Statistical Process Control (SPC) charts and refining work procedures. His work also involved providing essential first-line support for fab fabrication, addressing both process and hardware challenges. Later, Yang worked as an R&D Engineer at Imec, specializing in wet processing techniques for 3D integration, logic, and memory applications. His responsibilities included conducting fundamental studies on wafer bevel clean and copper recess processes using advanced 300mm tools. Yang’s expertise in characterization techniques such as SEM, TEM, AFM, XPS, and Ellipsometry was instrumental in advancing semiconductor process development.
Project Objectives :
- To develop a slab grating based OPA on silicon nitride platform with >500 actively phase-controlled channels for horizontal beam steering and laser wavelength scanning for vertical beam steering;
- To explore the new regime of integrated OPA for breaking the trade-off between the field of view (FOV) and the sidelobe level, and simultaneously achieving a large FOV of 180°, a large steering range >170° and a high side lobe suppression ratio >25 dB;
- To break the trade-off between emitting aperture and the number of channels (related to the complexity of controlling circuits and overall power consumption) and achieve a large emitting aperture (>5 mm) by an on-chip beam expander, enabling long-range LiDAR with significantly reduced complexity.
Expected Results :
- Design and fabrication of integrated OPA based on a slab grating as the emitter;
- Characterization of the OPA for horizontal beam steering, the exact driving parameters for DACs can be collaborated with DC10 (design of electronic IC);
- Characterization of the OPA for vertical beam steering, the exact parameters for wavelength scanning can be collaborated with DC3 (scanning FMCW laser);
- A next round of OPA will be designed and fabricated, taking into account of electronic-photonic co-design with DC10 and DC3, to realize a fully integrated OPA for both horizontal and vertical beam steering.
ALDI WISTA FADHILAH
Project : Integrated aperiodic 2D OPA using N+N controlling signals
Host Institution : Denmark Technical University
About : Aldi obtained his master degree’s in photonics through Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Photonics for Security, Reliability, and Safety program. During his study, he developed a strong interest in Integrated Photonics and Nonlinear Optics. He worked on Brillouin Dynamic Grating and Stimulated Brillouin Scattering in SIlicon Oxynitride for his master’s thesis. After graduating, he joined DTU electro, working as a Research Assistant.
Project Objectives:
- To develop an integrated N×N 2D OPA on silicon nitride platform requiring only N+N phase shifters and N+N controlling signals, which can realize 2D optical beam steering without scanning the wavelength of the laser;
- To develop energy-efficient thermal[1]optical phase shifter on silicon nitride platform based on densely distributed spiral waveguides;
- To explore an aperiodic 2D OPA with 180° field of view on both horizontal and vertical directions.
Expected Results:
- Design and fabrication of integrated 2D (128×128) OPA using only 256 phase shifters and controlling signals,
- Characterization of the OPA for both horizontal and vertical beam steering, the exact driving parameters for DACs can be collaborated with DC10 (design of electronic IC);
- Characterization of the FOV, beam steering speed, beam divergence and energy consumption of the 2D OPA;
- A next round of OPA will designed and fabricated, taking into account of electronic-photonic co-design with DC10.
ISAAC WANG
Host institution: Technische Universiteit Eindhoven – TU/e
Project: Array of unit Digital-to-Analog Converters interfaced to hundreds of optical phase shifters
About:
Issac received his Master’s degree in IC Design Engineering from Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST) in 2020 before joining the industry as an Analog IC designer. Through his postgraduate study and across his career, he developed a burning interest in the area of analog-front-end (AFE) applications and mixed-signal design with a special emphasis on
data converters (ADC & DAC). His research aims at the innovation in analog circuit design through collaboration of the industry and the academia.
Project Objectives: (1) To develop an area efficient Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) unit to drive optical phase shifters of the OPA; (2) To explore the limits of DAC unit integration in a single IC; (3) To develop a large IC array of the DAC units; (4) To interface the ultra large array of DAC units to the OPA.
Expected Results: (i) A proposal and model of a high-density array of DACs; (ii) design and fabrication of an IC test chip featuring a novel array of DAC units; (iii) Design and fabrication of test Printed-Circuit-Board (PCB) to characterise the novel array of DAC units; (iv) Measurements of the novel array of DAC units