Studentships and research positions

This self-funded opportunity will allow you to engage in unique, interdisciplinary challenges across various photonics domains - a rare opportunity in the field. Frequent cross-pollination, translation within several subject areas and participation in different research endeavours and outputs will enrich your experience and training potential.

This blue-sky PhD project seeks to define a novel landscape of photonics by investigating the interplay between nonlinear dynamics and topological protection in nano- and micro-structured systems - particularly at terahertz (THz) frequencies.

By exploiting materials that enable nonlinear mechanisms - especially in reduced dimensionality systems like quasi-2D materials - you will delve into the conceptualisation, fabrication and study of topologically insulated waveguide devices with cross-pollination with other research areas including quantum technology, complex systems and condensed matter physics.

You will join our cutting-edge research team in the dynamic field of photonic neuromorphic computing - a rapidly evolving domain seeking to address the inherent limitations of conventional Machine Learning (ML) technologies.

Current ML methods rely heavily on software-based neural networks which are prone to escalating power consumption and extensive use of supercomputing resources.

Neuromorphic photonics leverages optical elements - such as miniaturised lasers and optical fibres - to embody neurons and synapses, replicating the functionality of neural networks at the speed of light.

Blending theoretical and experimental approaches, you will work towards revolutionising quantum technologies by developing ultra-precise timing counters. Central to this is the advancement of optical frequency combs - the cornerstone of modern optical atomic clocks.

You will join Professor Alessia Pasquazi's team, contributing to novel science and producing leading-author publications in peer-reviewed journals. Presentations at selected international conferences will also be a key aspect of your role.

This self-funded opportunity will develop an advanced approach to the characterisation of a  micro-comb laser - using advanced data-driven techniques - to reconstruct an effective machine-learning model of the experimental system suitable for real-time control.

You will be directly involved in the development and testing of machine learning control models in numerical simulations and real-life experimental setups - developing theoretical / experimental expertise in applied machine learning, experimental ultrafast photonics and micro-comb science.

You will support the development of novel approaches towards the realisation of compact optical frequency combs in microresonators.

The outcomes will have a key impact in several domains, spanning quantum technologies and portable atomic clocks to environmental sensing, metrology and telecommunications.

Combining Terahertz radiation with ultrafast Photonics could radically shift the boundary of what we can see in the microscopic world beyond what is currently visible.

This PhD will provide you with a range of exciting opportunities to:

• support the development of the modelling for a multi-dimensional space-time imaging approach, targeting the extraction of spectral information in subwavelength volumes
• work alongside a diverse set of experimental endeavours and access a vast research collaboration network

Combining Terahertz radiation with ultrafast Photonics could radically shift the boundary of what we can see in the microscopic world beyond what is currently visible.

This PhD will allow you to:

• support the development of the modelling for a multi-dimensional space-time imaging approach, targeting the extraction of spectral information in subwavelength volumes
• become familiar with the theoretical development which will comprise several advanced modelling approaches - including the use of machine learning and inverse problems

Micro-combs could provide the fast-beating "optical heart" required by a range of transformative technologies.

This PhD offers you a unique opportunity to:

• be directly involved in the development and testing of machine learning control models in numerical simulations and real-life experimental setups
• develop a thorough expertise in applied machine learning, experimental ultrafast photonics and micro-comb science

Portable, miniaturised atomic clocks are expected to change the way we access timing, positioning and navigation.

This PhD project offers a unique opportunity to:

• support the development of an optical clock, based on a recently discovered type of nonlinear optical wave - the temporal laser cavity soliton 
• address the physics of microcombs in a holistic fashion, considering the range of effects that play a role in the system and provide a path towards robustness

Nonlinear photonics has recently emerged as a promising hardware platform for neuro-inspired computing.

This exciting PhD opportunity, will allow you to:

• explore the development of new types of neuromorphic photonic systems, based on nonlinear wave interaction in multimode optical elements
• devise strategies to feed data into the optical system and leverage multi-mode interactions to emulate the response of an artificial neural network operating in the optical domain