PhD Candidate Profiles

I am Victoria Jacob, a Marie Curie Doctoral Candidate at CNRS PhLAM as part of the MATCH project, where I pursue research on how light scattering influences coupling in multicore fibers, one of the key challenges in improving the efficiency of future telecommunication systems. My work focuses on identifying the origins of losses and coupling mechanisms and developing fiber designs that can minimize these effects.

My academic path has taken me from a strong theoretical foundation in physics and materials science in India to hands on optical research in Germany. There, I discovered my passion for experimental photonics while working with fiber lasers and nanostructures at Fraunhofer IOF and the Institute of Applied Physics. Through MATCH, I look forward to exploring new research domains and broadening my expertise in a collaborative European environment that connects academic insight with industrial innovation. I believe in continuous learning, curiosity, and collaboration. 

Outside the lab, I enjoy short treks and discovering new places.

I am Konstantinos Papafilippou from Greece. I hold a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki where I specialized in Telecommunication Systems. My current research lies at the intersection of photonics and optical devices, focusing on the design and characterization of weakly coupled multicore fibers (MCFs) and fan-in/fan-out (FIFO) devices for high-capacity short-reach optical links. I am particularly interested in exploring wave behavior and optimizing optical devices. Prior to joining the MATCH project, I have mastered in my thesis the quality factor calculation methods in photonic and plasmonic resonators supporting quasi normal modes. Joining MATCH offers a unique opportunity to bridge advanced fiber design with practical implementation, contributing to the next generation optical interconnects.

I’m Riya Kothari, and I recently finished my M.Tech in Applied Optics at IIT Delhi, where I worked on designing and optimizing multimode hollow-core fibers to make data transmission faster and more efficient. My interests lie in optical communications, photonic integrated circuits, and fiber-based sensing. I’ve always been fascinated by how light can be engineered to carry information in smarter ways. Now, as a PhD researcher in the MATCH project at the University of Stuttgart, I’m exploring randomly coupled multi-core fibers (RC-MCF) combining high-speed transmission with sensing, enabling a new class of fiber networks that can transmit massive amounts of data while also monitoring the environment in real time. I’m excited to be part of this collaboration and to contribute toward more energy-efficient and scalable optical networks.

My name is Luca Yago Wolinsky Mancini, and I joined the MATCH Project as a doctoral researcher focusing on the design and optimization of innovative fully fibered fan-in/fan-out (FIFO) systems for multicore amplifiers. I hold an Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree in Radiation Effects in Photonics and Microelectronics (RADMEP), during which I completed a research internship at CERN on radiation-tolerant wireless mesh networks. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication Technologies Engineering from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC). As I am passionate about developing advanced photonic systems for telecommunications, sensing, space, and defense applications, I see the MATCH project as an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in multicore fiber technologies and to enhance my knowledge in photonic systems and their applications.

I am Alice Houard, from Belgium, and I completed a Master’s degree in Physics Engineering at the Université libre de Bruxelles, with a focus on photonics. During my studies, I had the opportunity to do an internship at PhLAM, working on optical frequency comb generation for AI applications which introduced me to fiber and nonlinear optics. I then went on an Erasmus exchange at KTH University where I studied fiber optics as well as semiconductor photonic devices. I completed my Master’s thesis in collaboration with IMEC on integrated optomechanical devices. I am now joining PhLAM as a doctoral candidate to work on the generation of optical frequency combs in multicore fibers, within the MATCH project. I am particularly motivated to join this project for its international, interdisciplinary scope, and I am very excited to contribute to its collaborative environment.

I’m an industrial and telecommunication engineer from Argentina. The latter degree was completed at the Instituto Balseiro, where I developed a strong experimental and research-oriented profile, as the institute belongs to the National Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA). My thesis at the Bariloche Atomic Center’s Photonics and Optoelectronics Laboratory focused on initiating a pulsed THz antenna research line, working with ultrafast lasers and semiconductor materials. Later, during an internship at CROMA in Grenoble, France, I worked on noise characterization of a photonic glass laser and ROF communication. These experiences motivated me to deepen my career with a PhD as the next step toward research and development roles. MATCH offers the opportunity to work through the full cycle of design, fabrication, and characterization of integrated photonic devices while addressing the PIC input/output bottleneck through multicore fibers. It also brings the chance to collaborate in an international environment with other researchers and organizations.

My name is Adèle, I’m 24 years old and from France. I am currently pursuing a PhD in Aveiro, Portugal. Since high school, I have been passionate about physics, particularly photonics. I began with a two-year vocational degree at the University of Lille, then continued at an engineering school in Lannion, France, completing a Master’s in Photonics Engineering. Most of my academic journey has been research-oriented, with internships in laboratories. At Lille, I worked as a research technician at IEMN in the terahertz group. Later, in engineering school, I contributed to a holography project and conducted my Master’s thesis in Denmark at DTU with the Bioimaging group. After graduation, I worked outside photonics but missed laboratory research. This motivated me to pursue a PhD. Learning about MSCA led me to the MATCH project, which resonated with my interest in optical fibers, a field I find both fascinating and impactful.

I’m Ruiqing Xi from China, the DC11 doing research about mitigating inter-core crosstalk and building up the end-to-end learning framework for multicore fiber communication systems. 

During my master’s study, I did some research about signal recognition and adaptive entropy loading for radio-over-fiber systems, which trained both my simulation and experimental skills. My research interests lie in machine learning assisted-digital signal processing, aiming to improve transmission efficiency and accuracy. 

Joining the MATCH network is a precious opportunity to share my ideas and experience as well as learning from other candidates. Hope we can make contributions!

My name is Vsevolod Efanov. I received my master’s degree from Bauman Moscow State Technical University with a major in Laser Equipment and Laser Technologies, with an average grade of 4.94/5. During my studies, I mastered the programs Zemax OpticStudio, OPAL, KOMPAS 3D, AutoDesk Inventor, SolidWorks, and MATLAB, as well as many disciplines with an emphasis on fiber optics. My master’s thesis, completed at the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, was devoted to the topic “Creation of birefringent elements based on LIPSS on the surfaces of chalcogenide semiconductors.” During this work, I gained practical experience with fiber lasers, optical parametric generation, optical bench setup, alignment, and various optical equipment. 

I have always been interested in fiber optics technology, and I have always wanted to create technologies that will be used by as many people as possible. This, along with my constant desire to become better professional, was my main motivation for participating in the MATCH project.