Looking Back at the 360 CARLA Career Symposium & Training in Grenoble

The 360 CARLA Career Symposium & Training in Photonics took place on March 23–24, 2026, at Institut NÉEL in Grenoble, France, bringing together a dynamic international community of students, researchers, and industry professionals. With more than 150 participants joining both onsite and online, the event offered a valuable platform to explore career paths, recent scientific advances, and the future of photonics.

Organized as part of the 360 CARLA project, the event brought together the European Optical Society (EOS), Institut NÉEL, the French Physical Society (SFP), the French Optical Society (SFO), the University Grenoble Alpes (UGA), and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). Together, they created a program designed to support early-stage researchers and strengthen links between academia and industry.

From Research to Industry: A Diverse Symposium Program

The first day featured a rich symposium program combining scientific presentations with career-oriented discussions. Talks covered a wide range of topics, from laser technologies and quantum photonics to practical industrial applications.

A central highlight was the roundtable discussion on building a career in photonics, where industry professionals shared their experiences, offering honest insights into career development, hiring expectations, and the evolving needs of the sector.

One of the most memorable moments of the event was the keynote lecture by Anne L’Huillier, Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics 2023. Her talk on the world of atoms at the attosecond time scale stood out as a key highlight, combining groundbreaking science with an inspiring personal perspective on a career in research.

Contributions from organizations such as EPIC and leading photonics companies further enriched the program, providing a strong link between academic research and industrial innovation.

The success of the symposium was made possible by an excellent lineup of speakers from academia and industry: Anne L’Huillier (Lund University, Sweden), Jean-Emmanuel Broquin (CROMA, Grenoble INP, France), Thomas Produit (ID Quantique, Switzerland), Sébastien Boissier (Quandela, France), Elisenda Lara (EPIC, Spain), Jérémy Picot-Clémente (EPIC, France), Frédéric Boeuf (STMicroelectronics, France), Ludovic Laurent (mirSense, France), Quentin Berthome (Teem Photonics, France), Davit Hakobyan (Merck, France), and Laurent Rubaldo (Lynred, France). A special thank you to Melany Koral Soto Carrion and Bianca Garcia from Saint-Etienne University, France, for moderating the roundtable discussion.

^{Credit: Elise Charmot (Communication Graduate School@UGA), Institut Néel}

Practical Training and Advanced Topics

The second day focused on training, offering participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge through expert-led tutorials and hands-on sessions.

Morning tutorials introduced key topics such as nonlinear optics, wavefront shaping, and quantum correlations, while the afternoon sessions provided more in-depth training on areas including optical parametric generation and quantum photonics.

These sessions not only strengthened participants’ technical understanding but also supported their academic and professional development. For some attendees, completion of the training also contributed toward ECTS credits.

The success of the training was made possible by an excellent lineup of tutorial and training speakers: Antoine Godard (ONERA, France), Dorian Bouchet (LiPHY, France), Vilasini V. (UGA, France), Benoit Boulanger (Université Grenoble Alpes, France), Patricia Segonds (Université Grenoble Alpes, France), David Ferrand (Université Grenoble Alpes, France), and Thierry Chanelière (CNRS, France).

^{Credit: Elise Charmot (Communication Graduate School@UGA), Institut Néel}

Connecting People and Opportunities

Beyond the formal program, the event placed strong emphasis on networking and interaction. Coffee breaks, lunches, and informal discussions created an open environment where participants could connect directly with speakers and peers.

The symposium successfully brought together master’s students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and industry representatives, fostering meaningful exchanges and new connections. Participants gained valuable insights into both academic and industrial career paths, helping them better navigate their future in photonics.

^{Credit: Elise Charmot (Communication Graduate School@UGA), Institut Néel}

A European Effort to Support Early-Career Researchers

The event is part of the broader 360 CARLA project, a Horizon Europe initiative focused on strengthening the role and recognition of early-stage researchers in photonics. By combining training, mentorship, and exposure to industry, the project aims to better prepare young scientists for future careers in a rapidly evolving field.

The success of the Grenoble event highlights the importance of collaboration between universities, research institutions, scientific societies, and industry partners in building a strong and sustainable photonics ecosystem.

Closing Remarks

A sincere thank you to all speakers, participants, and organizers who contributed to the success of the 360 CARLA Career Symposium & Training in Grenoble. The strong engagement and enthusiasm throughout the event made it both impactful and inspiring.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the event sponsors, Graduate School@UGA, LABEX MANUTECH-SISE and QuantrALps for their valuable support in making this event possible.

For those who could not attend, recordings of the symposium and tutorials are available online on the @europeanopticalsociety YouTube channel, allowing a wider audience to benefit from the content.

EOS looks forward to continuing to support early-stage researchers and events like this, which play a key role in supporting the next generation of photonics professionals and strengthening the connection between research, industry, and innovation.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming 360 CARLA events and EOSAM 2026, which offer a variety of exciting programs to support students and early-stage researchers in advancing their careers.