The University of Southampton

Silicon Photonics PhD Projects

 All PhD Projects:

  • Entry Requirements: A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) in physics or a related discipline. 
  • FundingFor UK students, tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus £2,000 ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling around £21,000 for 2024/25, rising annually). EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.
  • How to apply: Applications should be made online
  • Closing date: Applications are accepted throughout the year. The start date will typically be late September, but other dates are possible.

 

Next generation silicon photonic modulators

Supervisory TeamProf David ThomsonDr Weiwei Zhang

This project will focus on research into the next generation of optical data communication technology enabling key applications such as high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to thrive. 

Many aspects of modern life have become reliant on high bandwidth data communication, pushing the associated technology to its performance limits and contributing significantly to global energy use. Optical data communication is progressively being used to replace electrical data links over shorter and shorter distances to enable increasingly high transmission rates to be achieved and allowing performances to grow to meet future needs whilst reducing power consumption. Silicon based optical communication technology is widely considered to be the leading solution for such links since manufacturing can use silicon electronic facilities, allowing high volumes, high yield and ultimately low-cost production. 

We are developing the next generation of silicon optical modulators, a key element in an optical data link enable that converts data from an electrical format into an optical format. Successful applicants will have to opportunity and work alongside world leaders in this field and to be involved in the full cycle of novel device research from concept to design and modelling, fabrication, and test. 

Our group have access to all of the required tools in advanced device development. We can accurately model modulator device performance at speeds up to 100Gbaud and beyond using a range of commercial and in-house developed software packages. At Southampton we have one of the best academic cleanroom facilities in Europe allowing us to fabricated devices using a range of industry like processes. The candidate will have the opportunity to get hands on experience with the device fabrication process, supported by a team of experience technicians. Device characterisation is performed in a range of laboratories with state of the art testing equipment, allowing devices to be tested at speeds beyond 100Gbaud. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with background in photonics, electronics, physics or material science to take on this project.

 

Monolithic integration of III-V lasers on silicon

Supervisory TeamFrederic 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.

 

Silicon photonic memories 

Supervisory TeamDr. 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.

  

Integrated Photonics for Quantum Technologies

Supervisory TeamDr. Thalia Dominguez BucioProf. 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.

 

Silicon photonics for space optics technologies

Supervisory TeamDr Milos NedeljkovicProfessor David Thomson

Space is a new but inevitable frontier for Silicon Photonics technologies. The “New Space economy” has drastically lowered satellite launch costs such that constellations of communications satellites have become a reality, and small satellites for imaging, environmental monitoring, and global positioning are proliferating. The surge in satellite traffic will demand a corresponding surge in satellite data communications capacity. 

Satellite based free-space optical (FSO) communications links will come online over the next few years to complement existing radio frequency links, to enhance the bandwidth, power efficiency, and security of satellite communications. All of the “Prime” aerospace contractors are in the process of demonstrating initial FSO systems, using fibre and bulk optics components. Low size, weight, and power consumption are critical for all space technologies, and especially for small satellite payloads. With Silicon Photonics whole optical systems or subsystems can be integrated onto single chips, giving huge advantages in each of these metrics, and giving resilience to vibrations.

This PhD project will focus on the development of new Silicon Photonic chips for space optics applications, initially exploring which are the areas in which Silicon Photonics can make the highest impact. Applications are anticipated in free-space communications, intrasatellite optical interconnects (just as silicon photonic interconnects have found use in data centres worldwide); RF-over-fibre transceivers for RF satellite communications systems; integrated spectrometers for space science and planetary exploration, and LIDAR for 3D vision (e.g. in docking systems). For example, NASA has recently sent a Silicon Photonic near-IR spectrometer into space and has identified Silicon Photonics as a key future space optics technology. The most exciting applications will be explored by optical & electronic design, cleanroom fabrication, and optoelectronic characterisation of the proposed chips. 

We are looking for an enthusiastic candidate with a background in electronics, physics or photonics. The applicant would join a cutting-edge research group in the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) at the University of Southampton, and work in the state-of-the-art cleanroom facilities and photonic device characterisation laboratories at the ORC. They would work in cooperation with a postdoctoral researcher working on a UK Space Agency funded project developing Silicon Photonic chips for pointing laser beams in satellite optical communication links, and be part of the >40 strong Silicon Photonics group at the ORC.

 

Wearable thermoelectric generators using advanced materials

Supervisory Team: Dr Ioannis Zeimpekis

Wearable technologies are revolutionising our daily lives, integrating everyday objects into our clothes, accessories and even our bodies. But how can we power these without using rigid batteries that require overnight charging?  

The answer is renewable energy sources such as ourselves. Using our body’s heat, thermoelectric generators can provide uninterrupted renewable energy for wearable devices. 

In our highly multi-disciplinary team, the goal is to develop cutting-edge wearable systems, using thermoelectric generators to power wearable technology such as health monitors and fitness sensors.  

Working in a cleanroom environment, new materials will be developed and optimised, using state-of-the-art fabrication and characterisation equipment, and turned into cutting-edge thermoelectric energy harvesters. Our goal is to implement these generators into commercially usable system that powers internet-of-thing devices, designed with the end-user in mind. This will be achieved through working closely with academic and industrial collaborators. 

This PhD project direction is mouldable, guided by an experienced supervisory team, whilst offering a high level of technical and professional skill development. Chances to collaborate with companies and researchers are plenty, with many opportunities for international travel, attending conferences and publishing high impact work.

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 level of understanding semiconductor physics and material science are essential, and we will support you to expand in all these subjects. Experience with experimental work in either electronics, physics, 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.

 

Novel phase change materials for neuromorphic applications

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.

 

Materials and devices for photonic co-processors

Supervisory Team: Dr Ioannis Zeimpekis, Prof Kevin MacDonald 

Modern society depends massively on the generation, processing and transmission of vast amounts of data: it is predicted that by 2025, 175 zettabytes (175 trillion gigabytes) of data will be generated around the globe. Processing such huge amounts of data demands ever increasing computational power, memory and communication bandwidth - demands that cannot be sustainably met by conventional digital electronic technologies. Indeed, CMOS-based von Neumann architectures are now approaching a widely accepted ‘efficiency-wall’ – a fundamental limit on the number of operations per unit energy, while the number of operations required continues to grow at unprecedented rates. 

A new approach is needed. In this project we aim to exploit the clear advantages offered by photonic computation to develop a novel, highly efficient non-von Neumann co-processor. Working in collaboration with the Universities of Exeter and Oxford (and supported by at £1.1M grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), we will utilise phase-change photonic “in-memory computing” concepts to deliver massively parallel computation at high speed and low energy, while retaining the ability to integrate with existing electronic computing infrastructure.

If you enjoy developing new technologies and applying novel concepts using the latest nanofabrication and materials/device characterization tools, you will enjoy working with us. Our cleanroom and laboratory 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 develop skills relevant to academia and industry. Alongside these project-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 are expected to have a very good bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in physics, chemistry, engineering, electronics or a related discipline. A basic understanding of semiconductor physics, optics/photonics, and materials science are essential. Experience in experimental physics, electronics, optics or photonics, and computational modelling and/or programming languages will be beneficial.

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.

 

Large area 2D semiconductor platforms

Supervisory Team: Dr Ioannis Zeimpekis, Dr Kevin Huang

The project aims to create a revolutionary semiconductor platform using 2D materials to unlock the ultimate limit in miniaturisation of semiconductors. You will benefit from state-of-the-art custom large area 2D equipment not available anywhere else. With access to both a silicon and a silicon nitride platform you will be able to combine 2D semiconductors and contribute to the latest generation of photonics and electronics. 

Moore’s Law is currently being challenged with Nvidia CEO recently claiming it is dead. The scaling of transistors cannot continue due to physical limitations of silicon. 2D semiconductors offer the solution as they can be scaled to the molecular level and create excellent devices such as transistors, light emitters, and photodetectors. In this project you will work on the creation of a truly 2D platform with both p-type and n-type materials on the same layer to enable the next generation of electronics and photonics. 

If you like learning and applying novel concepts using the latest technology, you will certainly enjoy working with us. During your PhD studies you will have the opportunity to learn how to design, fabricate and characterise materials and devices for integrated electronics and photonics at the cutting edge of research. The project includes a development plan, but you will be free to innovate in both material and device design domains. 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 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. 

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.

 

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