A research degree at FLARe Lab is for students who want to understand light from first principles and translate that understanding into working optical systems. Our research combines fundamental physics, numerical modelling, and hands-on experimentation to investigate challenging problems in lasers and photonics.

During your research, you may design a laser on paper, model it numerically, build it in the laboratory, characterize its optical and RF-noise properties, discover that it behaves differently from your predictions, investigate why, and ultimately turn that understanding into a new optical source or system.

What You Will Learn

Students gain experience in laser physics, nonlinear fiber optics, fiber laser and amplifier development, numerical modelling, optical and RF characterization, experimental design, scientific instrumentation, and data analysis. Research projects typically involve a combination of theoretical understanding, numerical investigations, and experimental development, allowing students to build a broad foundation while developing expertise in their chosen research problems.

Who Should Apply

We welcome students from Electrical and Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics, Photonics, and related disciplines.

We look for strong fundamentals, intellectual curiosity, the ability to reason through unfamiliar problems, and a willingness to learn experimentally. Prior experience in optics or fiber lasers is useful but not essential. More important are scientific curiosity, persistence, and the motivation to understand how and why things work.

Research Culture

We value scientific honesty, rigorous understanding, independence, and collaboration. Students are expected to take ownership of their research, think critically about their results, prepare for research discussions, and communicate their progress regularly.

Research inevitably involves unexpected results, failed experiments, and periods of uncertainty. We encourage open scientific discussions, constructive feedback, and systematic troubleshooting as essential parts of the learning process.

Our goal is not simply to help students complete a research project, but to develop independent researchers who can formulate meaningful questions, understand the underlying physics, design and execute experiments, interpret results critically, and communicate their findings clearly.

Interested candidates should apply through IISc’s regular PhD or M.Tech. (Research) admissions process. Check here for eligibility criteria and admission process.

FLARe Lab welcomes postdoctoral researchers interested in addressing challenging scientific questions in laser physics, nonlinear fiber optics, and advanced optical source engineering. Our research focuses on understanding how laser architecture and nonlinear propagation influence the spectrum, intensity noise, and coherence of light, and how these properties can be controlled to develop new optical capabilities.

We encourage postdoctoral researchers to bring their own scientific ideas and expertise while contributing to ongoing and emerging research directions. Our work combines physical understanding, numerical modelling, and experimental development, providing opportunities to investigate nonlinear optical phenomena, develop advanced laser systems, and explore their applications. We particularly value researchers who demonstrate scientific independence, creativity, strong analytical skills, and the ability to design and troubleshoot complex experiments.

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from researchers with a PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Photonics, Applied Physics, or related fields. Candidates should demonstrate strong research fundamentals, scientific independence, and a record of meaningful research contributions.

Experimental expertise in lasers, nonlinear optics, fiber photonics, optical instrumentation, or related areas is particularly valuable. Researchers with complementary backgrounds in optical parametric oscillators, ultrafast photonics, computational modelling, or optical imaging are also encouraged to explore opportunities where their expertise aligns with our research.

How to Apply

Interested researchers may contact us at velpulab@iisc.ac.in with:

• An updated academic CV, including publications.
• A brief summary of their major research contributions.
• A short statement explaining their research interests and how they could contribute to or develop new research directions at FLARe Lab.

Postdoctoral opportunities may be available through funded research projects or competitive fellowships, including the CV Raman/IoE IISc Postdoctoral fellowship or NPDF, subject to eligibility, selection, and availability.

Current and Future Opportunities

We welcome expressions of interest from highly motivated researchers whose expertise and scientific interests align with FLARe Lab’s research directions. Opportunities may arise through competitive postdoctoral fellowships at IISc or externally funded research projects, subject to funding, eligibility, and availability.

Outstanding candidates interested in pursuing postdoctoral fellowships with FLARe Lab as their host laboratory are encouraged to contact us to discuss potential research directions.

FLARe Lab offers opportunities for researchers to contribute to externally funded projects involving fiber lasers, nonlinear optics, broadband optical sources, and advanced photonic systems. Depending on project requirements and sanctioned positions, appointments may include Project Research Scientists, Project Associates, and other project research personnel.

These positions provide opportunities to gain hands-on experience in experimental photonics, optical system development, numerical modelling, and scientific characterization while contributing to ongoing research activities.

Current and Future Opportunities

Specific vacancies, eligibility requirements, and application procedures will be announced here as positions become available.

Researchers interested in future opportunities may contact us at velpulab@iisc.ac.in with their CV and a brief description of their relevant research experience and technical skills.