All PhD Projects:
Supervisory Team: Prof. Frederic Y. Gardes, Dr. Thalia Dominguez Bucio
The project is to contribute to a major Ministry of Defence (MOD) research programme intended to develop generation after next technologies for applications in defence and security, and this project will be co-funded by QinetiQ.
The project will be concerned with the development of a heterogeneous SiN-GaAs platform for a coherent Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR at the 1-µm wavelength band.
This project would aim to develop a heterogeneous SiN-GaAs platform for a coherent Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) LiDAR at the 1-µm wavelength band. This would include the design, fabrication and characterisation of constituent building block components, including; on-chip lasers, IQ modulations, splitter networks, phase modulators, Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers (SOAs), polarisation control elements and coherent photoreceivers, leading to the laboratory demonstration of a fully functional 1-µm LIDAR on-chip.
We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with background in photonics, electronics, physics or material science to participate to the development of a heterogeneous SiN-GaAs platform. The work will focus on device simulation and design followed by process development and fabrication using the best University clean room facility in the UK. Device characterisation will be performed in our state-of-the-art silicon photonics laboratory and in collaboration with our industry partner QinetiQ.
The plan is to recruit a PhD candidate to undertake this project and be part of a new MoD/EPSRC Energy Transfer Technology Skills and Training (S&T) Hub. The main aim of the S&T Hub is to train the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies relevant for defence and other related applications. The Hub is supported by MoD, Dstl, and UK companies working in the defence and security sector.
Each student funded by the Hub will have an industrial partner and have opportunities to work with and train alongside experts from industry. The Hub offers individual’s training for both a research and an industrial career path.
The student will be based at the University of Southampton but will be part of cohort of approximately 12 PhD students per year across a number of UK institutions. The Skills and Training Hub will run online and face-to-face activities to facilitate cohort building and group learning exercises throughout the PhD programme. The duration of the PhD is 4 years, and the start date is 1st October 2024.
The PhD student will be physically located in Southampton.
The industrial partner, QinetiQ, is a major international company comprised of over 6,000 dedicated professionals world-wide with excellence in research and development and interest in coherent beam combination and multifunctional LiDAR technologies. QinetiQ is a catalyst for fast-track innovation, offering outstanding experimentation facilities, and technical, engineering and scientific expertise in defence, aerospace, security and related markets, all working together to explore new ways of protecting what matters most. The partner will provide PhD supervision, a placement and be part of the larger STH community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the STH.
PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.
Supervisory Team: Frederic Gardes, Dr Thalia Dominguez Bucio, Dr Ilias Skandalos
Applications are invited for multiple PhD studentships to be undertaken within the silicon photonics group at the University of Southampton. The successful applicants will join a world leading research group of more than 50 postgraduate students and researchers working on silicon photonics technologies and photonic interconnects technologies in close collaboration with academia (University of Cambridge, University College London and Cardiff University) and industrial partners. The work will be developed as part of a multimillion pounds project running for a period of 5 years and funded by Industry and UKRI/EPSRC UK.
This project is tackling major technological roadblocks associated to silicon photonics and aims to demonstrate the monolithic integration of III/V lasers with CMOS photonic waveguiding components. This breakthrough will enable the development of innovative photonic circuits to serve the requirements of a wide range of low-cost optical interconnects and sensing technologies. The student will work alongside other researcher industrial partners, national and international collaborators to develop integrated photonics circuits coupling III/V materials grown on silicon to CMOS compatible waveguides.
We are looking for several enthusiastic candidates with background in photonics, electronics, physics or material science to take on specific aspects of these projects. The work will focus on device simulation and design followed by process development and fabrication using the best University clean room facility in the UK. Device characterisation will be performed in our state-of-the-art silicon photonics laboratory and in collaboration with our academic partners.
We are looking for a passionate candidate excited about the latest developments in technology. You will work in a multidisciplinary team under a motivating and supportive environment. You are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, electronics or equivalent. A basic level of understanding semiconductor physics, photonics and material science are essential, and we will support you to expand in all these subjects. Experience with experimental work in either electronics, physics, optics or photonics, and computer modelling, programming languages are desirable, and you will have a chance to develop those further during the project.
In the Zepler Institute we are committed into sustaining an inclusive environment for all applicants, students and staff. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award, and we actively work to improve equality in the workplace and encourage a work-life balance. We have a unique, friendly and supportive environment supported by dedicated mentoring, professional development and wellbeing schemes.
Supervisory Team: Dr. Thalia Dominguez Bucio, Prof. Frederic Y. Gardes
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship to be undertaken within the silicon photonics group at the University of Southampton. The successful applicants will join a world leading research group of more than 50 postgraduate students and researchers working on silicon photonics technologies and photonic interconnects technologies in close collaboration with academia and industry. The project will be undertaken as part of a €10M research effort ongoing within the two Horizon Europe EU projects Octapus and Ambrosia.
The project is tackling a major technological roadblock associated to silicon photonics circuits and aims to demonstrate photonic memories based on CMOS photonic waveguiding structures. The potential breakthrough derived from these components will enable the development of innovative reconfigurable photonic circuits in applications such as artificial intelligence (in particular neuromorphic) and non-volatile photonic switches. The student will work alongside research assistants industrial partners, national and international collaborators to develop innovative integrated photonics circuits.
We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with background in photonics, electronics, physics or material science to participate to the development of non-volatile photonic memories. The work will focus on device simulation and design followed by process development and fabrication using the best University clean room facility in the UK. Device characterisation will be performed in our state-of-the-art silicon photonics laboratory and in collaboration with our academic partners.
Supervisory Team: Dr. Thalia Dominguez Bucio, Prof. Frederic Y. Gardes
Integrated photonics is key for the development of Quantum photonic integrated circuits (QPIC). Typical quantum systems are large and expensive, and thus cannot be easily scaled into products. QPICs provide a route for the realization of high performance, cost-effective and reliable quantum devices that will enable the application of quantum technologies in real-world settings. As such, QPIC technology has the potential to transform a variety of fields including information processing, communications, computation, sensing and metrology.
To achieve this potential, photonic integrated technologies need to fulfil the breadth of requirements of quantum technologies in terms of material platforms and devices. The aim of this project is to develop the next generation photonic integrated platform that will offer low optical losses over the broad range of wavelengths within the UV-NIR spectrum required for quantum applications. This platform will enable the realisation of QPICs that will underpin emerging applications such as trapped-ion computers, quantum communications and quantum sensing.
We are looking for a committed candidate that will join our team to achieve this goal. As part of the project, you will explore a variety of materials with potential for UV-NIR operation and you will build upon demonstrated fabrication techniques to optimize their properties to achieve low propagation losses at the target wavelengths. You will also design, fabricate and measure passive photonic integrated circuits (i.e., waveguides, optical coupler, demultiplexers) to create a component library for the development of complex quantum photonic systems. Candidates can expect to develop computational, fabrication and experimental skills throughout the project. In particular, they will gain strong semiconductor processing skills by getting trained in the equipment of our state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities.
You will become a member of the Group IV Photonics team part of the Silicon Photonics group at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton. As part of the team, you will work closely with enthusiastic researchers with strong track record in the development of silicon photonic integrated devices/systems and you will develop a solid knowledge and practical skills in both semiconductor compatible materials and photonics. You will also collaborate with international and national researchers to demonstrate advance Quantum devices.
The research will be carried out in the Zepler Institute, which is the leading photonics and nanoelectronics research institute in the UK. It comprises state-of-the-art cleanrooms for optical fibre, planar photonics, silicon, and bio-photonics fabrication and over 80 laboratories. Computer simulations will benefit from Southampton’s high-performance computing cluster Iridis, one of the largest supercomputers in the UK.
Supervisory Team: Dr Ioannis Zeimpekis, Prof Frederic Gardes
In collaboration with a large EU consortium, we work to create a reprogrammable neuromorphic photonic platform for a variety of applications from telecommunications to biosensing. While working with us, you will benefit from state-of-the-art cleanrooms with access to both a silicon and a silicon nitride integrated photonics platform. You will employ the latest generation of phase change materials to create highly efficient in-memory photonic functionality with novel materials that allow the upscaling of the technology.
The current increase in data generation is expected to start reaching unsustainable rates by 2025. This has a strong impact on the environment, with current implementations reaching the limit of efficiency and therefore new solutions are sought after. In addition, specific applications such as image recognition and lidar are more efficiently processed in the light domain. Integrated photonics have the inherent ability to modulate and carry a much larger data density when compared to electronic solutions. In addition, reprogrammable integrated photonics provide the ability to implement the photonic equivalent of a memristor enabling neuromorphic based computation. Our work is to build the most efficient building components for such a system by employing the latest generation of advanced materials.
If you enjoy developing new technologies and applying novel concepts using the latest technologies, you will enjoy working with us. Our facilities are unique in the UK and will provide you with the opportunity to develop advanced skills in the design, characterisation, optimization, and experimental application of novel materials and devices. You will have the opportunity to optimise the processes and materials you will use which effectively means you will be the first in the world to use the compositions you develop. In addition to field specific skills, the Zepler Institute’s training and mentoring programme will provide training in report writing, project management, time management, presentation skills, and safety, all of which are applicable to future academic or industrial employability.
We are looking for a passionate candidate excited about the latest developments in technology. You will work in a multidisciplinary team under a motivating and supportive environment. You are expected to have a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, in physics, chemistry, engineering, electronics or a related discipline. A basic understanding of semiconductor physics, photonics and material science are essential, and we will support you to expand in all these subjects. Experience with experimental work in either electronics, physics, optics or photonics, and computer modelling, programming languages are desirable, and you will have a chance to develop those further during the project.
The University of Southampton is committed into sustaining an inclusive environment for all students and staff. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver Award and work continuously to improve equality in the workplace and encourage a work-life balance. The Zepler Institute is exclusively a research School: as home to over 200 researchers working in all areas of photonics it offers a unique, interdisciplinary, friendly and supportive environment in which to pursue a PhD.