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ST0349: Internship - Optical Computing and Computational Sensing
The Computational Sensing team at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) is seeking a highly motivated PhD student to conduct fundamental research at the intersection of optical computing, computational imaging, and emerging image sensors. The research will explore how optical processing and novel detectors can jointly extract useful information from light, enabling efficient sensing and inference. Potential directions include programmable optical transformations, event-based sensing, and optical–electronic systems for spatial and temporal signal processing. The intern will work closely with MERL researchers to develop physical and computational models, build and characterize experimental prototypes, and design algorithms that connect optical measurements to sensing tasks. The position offers opportunities to combine hands-on experimentation with theoretical analysis and machine learning, and to prepare results for patents and publication. The internship is expected to last 3 months, with a flexible start date.
Required Specific Experience
- Experimental optics or novel detectors: Demonstrated hands-on research experience in at least one of the following:
- Free-space optical systems using components such as spatial light modulators, digital micromirror devices, lasers, lenses, or diffractive optical elements.
- Emerging detectors and imaging systems, such as event cameras, single-photon detectors, or time-resolved sensors.
- Integrated photonic device characterization or photonic computing experiments.
- Physical and mathematical foundations: Strong understanding of relevant optics or detector physics, together with foundations in signal processing, linear algebra, and numerical methods.
- Scientific programming: Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or equivalent tools for modeling, experimental control, data acquisition, and analysis.
- Research independence: Ability to formulate research questions, troubleshoot experiments, and communicate results clearly.
- Current enrollment in a PhD program in electrical engineering, optics/photonics, applied physics, computer science, or a closely related field.
The pay range for this internship position will be 6-8K per month.
- Experimental optics or novel detectors: Demonstrated hands-on research experience in at least one of the following:
- Research Areas: Applied Physics, Computational Sensing, Electronic and Photonic Devices, Optimization, Signal Processing
- Host: Joshua Rapp
- Apply Now