Directorate: The School of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Salary: Grade 7 (£36,924-£46,485)
Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (3 Years)
Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff (Part time workers should pro rata this by their FTE).
Detailed Description
The Laboratory of Ultrafast Physics and Optics (LUPO, https://lupo-lab.com) seeks a talented and motivated scientist to carry out a research programme focused on developing novel ultrafast light-source technologies. The role will involve working in close collaboration with our industry partner—a major player in the semiconductor lithography sector—to harness new techniques in nonlinear optics in gas-filled fibres to develop light sources with unique properties.
The project is expected to lead to significant technological progress and high-impact scientific publications in the areas of ultrafast and nonlinear optics. The work will be conducted in a special environment combining the academic freedom and creativity at a university with a stimulating and demanding interaction with Europe’s leading technology company.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
The post holder is required to:
* Design and perform rigorous and systematic experiments to explore new ultrafast nonlinear optics phenomena in gas-filled hollow-core optical fibres.
* Work with ultrafast optical setups, including: management of advanced laser systems, the design and construction of pulse compression systems, and building and operating optical characterization devices.
* Run existing simulation codes and process their results. Helping to develop new models and algorithms to simulate pulse propagation, the material response, and other aspects of our experiments. Coding in Julia and python.
* Take a prominent role in discussions and knowledge transfer with our industrial collaborators, including writing detailed progress reports.
* Writing, editing and publishing scientific articles in leading journals, and presenting results at international conferences.
* Assisting with the filing of intellectual property and technology transfer.
* Supervising the activities of junior group members and mentoring PhD students.
* Assisting in the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities, liaising with companies and external collaborators.
* Carry out the research project to a high standard by: meeting planned milestones and deliverables; reporting progress regularly to supervisors, both verbally and in written reports; keeping clear written records of work done and storing data in accessible formats according to a system agreed with the project supervisor.
* The post holder will join the Laboratory of Ultrafast Physics and Optics and will be expected to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a team environment; this involves shared use of laboratory equipment (therefore effective communication between group members is essential).
Education, Qualifications and Experience
Essential
* A PhD in physics or engineering with a specialisation in ultrafast laser systems, ultrafast nonlinear optics, or extensive additional experience in these areas. Candidates must have submitted their doctoral thesis before starting in post.
* A record of high-quality publications, and evidence of contribution to the writing of these publications proportionate to opportunity.
* The ability to articulate research work, both in technical reports/papers and by oral presentation.
* A strong theoretical understanding and thorough grounding in experimental techniques relevant to the project.
* The ability to work as part of a team on the experiments at Heriot-Watt and more widely with collaborators at other institutions.
Desirable
* Evidence of ability, subject to opportunity, to guide other researchers, e.g. PhD students and undergraduate project students.
* Evidence of ability to present work effectively in person, e.g. at conferences and seminars.
* Experience with gas-filled hollow-fibre setups, including the design and use of gas systems, beam stabilisation systems and vacuum systems.
* Experience of programming for data acquisition and analysis (preferably in Python).
* Experience of computer aided design (CAD) of components and devices.
* Experience in writing numerical pulse propagation codes.
About the Team
The laboratory of ultrafast physics and optics (LUPO) uses nonlinear optics to create new light sources with tailored, and extreme, spectral and temporal properties. Examples include the generation of high-energy single-cycle pulses in the ultraviolet, new techniques for broadband white-light supercontinuum generation, and the design and construction of high-energy few-cycle ultrafast fibre lasers.
Our work is a mix of experimentation and numerical modelling. We make use of nature’s full landscape of materials, laser beam geometries and nonlinear effects, but our favourite system is hollow waveguides (such as photonic crystal fibres and capillaries) filled with gases, liquids, and plasmas.
We use these light sources for both fundamental science (such as the physics of nonlinear optics, ultrafast light-gas interactions, new ways of driving strong-field physics, advanced spectroscopy), and for applications in healthcare, advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor industry.
How to Apply
Please must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system (1) Cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post; (2) Full CV
Applications can be submitted until midnight on Monday 20th January 2025.
Shortlisting aims to be complete by 27th January, Interviews are expected to commence from early February 2025.
For more information, please send enquiry emails to Prof John Travers (j.travers@hw.ac.uk).
We especially encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups in Physics.
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