UNIST π Lab is recruiting a postdoc, graduate students, and undergraduate interns to join our team starting in 2026.
We welcome candidates with a passion for Optics, Artificial Intelligence, and Electrical Engineering.
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We are looking for motivated candidates to join our team.
📕 Research Introduction
Compared to other senses, visual information plays the most critical role in how humans perceive and understand their environment. This applies equally to machines; modern systems such as autonomous vehicles, AR headsets, and robots operate based on visual data.
With recent advancements in computer vision, machines equipped with multiple cameras can collect high-resolution images for sophisticated interpretation. However, the exponential increase in data volume has created significant challenges regarding computational load, energy consumption, and latency. Conventional cameras—designed with refractive optics and CMOS sensors—are optimized for image quality (resolution and color) rather than computer vision performance.
Our lab aims to design novel optical systems optimized specifically for computer vision. By designing and fabricating diffractive optical elements (such as metasurfaces), we overcome the limitations of traditional cameras and perform computations directly in the optical domain, significantly reducing the digital processing burden. Furthermore, we are exploring the possibilities of efficient and secure optical computing using quantum optical elements.
📘 Research Areas
Fundamentals: Developing diffractive optical systems (e.g., metasurfaces) to design efficient optical front-ends and sensors that accelerate computer vision tasks
Applications: Integrating our diffractive optics into real-world computer vision systems to demonstrate practical advancements in surveillance, monitoring, and robotics
Quantum: Exploring the potential of optics-based computing systems applied to quantum information and quantum sensing
📗 Preferred Backgrounds
Optics: Design, fabrication, and characterization of optical systems; development of optical device design networks using AI
Electrical Engineering: Design, fabrication, and evaluation of optoelectronic devices using nanofabrication/semiconductor process equipment and EE principles
CS / AI: Development of efficient computer vision networks optimized for photonic intelligence research
📙 Open Positions
1. Graduate Students (Master’s / PhD / Integrated)
Openings: 4 positions (Fully-funded)
Department of Electrical Engineering: 3 positions
Graduate School of Artificial Intelligence: 1 position
2. Undergraduate Interns
Openings: Up to 3 positions
3. Postdoctoral Researcher (New)
Openings: 1 position
Focus: Metasurface Hardware for AI & Optical Computing (Design, Fabrication, Characterization)
Requirement:
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, or Applied Physics
Must have prior experience in dielectric metasurface design and fabrication.
Please include contact information for 1-2 references in your CV.
📖 Proposed Research Topics
Tutorial: AI-driven Metasurface Design
Small-scale Topics:
Large field-of-view metalens (Optics)
Privacy-protected vision (AI)
Edge vision module (EE)
📚 Recruitment Schedule
Postdoctoral Researcher (New)
Application Period: Feb 7, 2026 – Mar 6, 2026
Graduate School (2026 Fall)
Application Period: April 6, 2026 – April 15, 2026
Undergraduate Internship (minimum 1 year):
Application Period: Flexible starting date
📑 Important Notes
For Graduate Applicants: We prefer candidates who have previously completed an undergraduate internship with our lab.
For Interns: A stipend will be provided.
Background: As this is multidisciplinary convergence research, we do not restrict applicants based on their major. However, a background in Optics, Electromagnetics, Solid State Physics, Semiconductor Processing, or Programming is highly beneficial.
Support: The lab plans to support research expenses within the allowable range and provide opportunities for presentations at international conferences and joint research/exchanges with overseas universities.
How to Apply: Please send your Academic Transcript, CV/Personal Statement, and Official English Score (optional) to m.choi@unist.ac.kr.
Deadline: Please submit at least one week prior to the official start of the application period for each track.
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