PhD Projects

This PhD project investigates the use of Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) array sensors combined with scintillating fibres to develop a distributed neutron sensing system for nuclear fusion reactors. The work sits at the intersection of quantum photonics and fusion energy research, in collaboration with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

The goal is to create a sensor system capable of spatially resolving neutron distributions within complex reactor geometries, particularly for the LIBRTI blanket experiments, which aim to demonstrate controlled tritium breeding—a key step toward sustainable fusion fuel cycles. Embedding scintillating fibres within reactor blankets will allow neutron measurements in locations inaccessible to conventional diagnostics.

The project will be based at Heriot-Watt University, within the Quantum Optics and Computational Imaging and Photonic Instrumentation groups, and jointly supervised by UKAEA researchers. It will involve:

• Experimental development of SPAD-based neutron sensors
• Computational analysis and data inversion
• Field testing at the LIBRTI facility in Oxfordshire

Open to candidates from any STEM background, the project offers hands-on experience in quantum sensing, fusion diagnostics, and real-world deployment of advanced instrumentation.

This project aims to pioneer quantum sensors based on individual spins in luminescent molecules, creating a new class of nanoscale probes for detecting magnetic fields, temperature, strain, and electric fields with unprecedented sensitivity. Unlike solid-state defect spins (e.g., NV centres in diamond), molecular spins offer tunability, nanoscale modularity, and versatility through chemical synthesis and functionalisation.

Key aspects:

• Objectives:
  • Demonstrate measurement and control of single molecular spins.
  • Explore chemical tunability to enhance quantum-sensing performance.
  • Develop application-specific molecular platforms for biomedicine and materials science.
• Methods:
  • Optically detected electron spin resonance.
  • Time-correlated single-photon counting.
  • Cryogenic scanning confocal microscopy, complemented by simulations.
• Impact: Opens new routes for quantum-enhanced sensing in biology and materials science, leveraging molecular-level engineering for proximity and specificity.
• Environment: Work within the Quantum Optospintronics Group at the University of Glasgow, with access to state-of-the-art facilities and strong national/international collaborations.

This PhD project aims to demonstrate a fully functional quantum network node based on the NPL ion microtrap chip, a UK-developed, scalable 3D ion trap device. The project will integrate and characterise each component of the node independently before demonstrating their combined operation, culminating in the generation of ion-photon entanglement and a reproducible blueprint for future multi-node quantum networks.

Key Hardware Components:

1. Ion Microtrap Chip: A segmented device with 11 experimental zones for ion loading, state preparation, qubit processing, and entanglement.
2. Dual-Species Atomic Oven: Enables optimal selection of atomic transitions for local and photonic operations.
3. Miniature Optical Cavity: Integrated around the ion trap to facilitate efficient ion-photon coupling while preserving optical access.
4. Optical Coupling and Stabilisation System: Delivers and stabilises light in and out of the cavity using non-resonant wavelengths.

Research Objectives:

• Develop and characterise each subsystem independently using scalable, manufacturable techniques.
• Demonstrate ion trapping and ion-photon entanglement using NPL’s testbed and high-efficiency superconducting single-photon detectors.
• Validate the compatibility and performance of the integrated system.
• Produce a template for a reproducible, scalable quantum network node.

Research Context and Alignment with AQT CDT:

This project directly supports the UK’s National Quantum Strategy, particularly Missions 1 and 2, by advancing scalable quantum networking technologies. The NPL ion microtrap is the only UK-developed 3D trap with demonstrated operation and scalability, making it uniquely suited for modular ion-cavity network nodes. Its segmented architecture allows spatial separation of key functions, essential for distributed quantum computing.

The project complements ongoing efforts at NPL, the National Quantum Computing Centre, and the University of Oxford, and will contribute to the UK’s leadership in quantum hardware development. It also supports the growth of the UK quantum supply chain through collaboration with Kelvin Nanotechnology Ltd. and other industrial partners.

This PhD project focuses on the development of a field-deployable Free-Induction-Decay Optically Pumped Magnetometer (FID-OPM)—a highly sensitive, self-calibrating scalar magnetometer capable of detecting geomagnetic fields with 200 fT/√Hz sensitivity and <10 pT drift over 10,000+ seconds. The technology, developed at the University of Strathclyde, enables unprecedented resolution in magnetic survey imaging and transient geomagnetic event detection.

In collaboration with AWE, the project will address three core research areas:

1. Hardware Development and Validation

   • Design and build portable FID-OPM systems using microfabricated alkali vapour cells, chip-scale VCSEL lasers, and high-performance analogue electronics.
   • Validate performance in Strathclyde’s precision optical and magnetic testing facilities, targeting TRL 5/6.

2. Fundamental Optimisation of FID-OPM Operation

   • Investigate the light-narrowing effect and sublevel dynamics in alkali vapour cells to enhance accuracy and precision.
   • Conduct both field and lab-based experiments to deepen understanding and publish high-impact research on quantum sensing mechanisms.

3. Use-Case Demonstration and System Integration

   • Collaborate with AWE to evaluate the sensor across diverse applications, including magnetic anomaly detection, geomagnetic transient monitoring, and GPS-independent navigation.
   • Develop system interfaces and integration strategies, including GPS and non-GPS data registration.

This project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the advancement of quantum-enabled geomagnetic sensing, with strong potential for real-world impact in national security, geophysics, and environmental monitoring.

This PhD project, co-funded by Lumino Technologies, focuses on developing cutting-edge photonic technologies for future quantum communication networks, with two potential research directions:

1. Satellite-Based Transceivers Using Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs)
2. Photon-Detector Technologies for Short- and Mid-Infrared Quantum Communications

The student will play a central role in the design, development, and characterisation of these technologies, collaborating with academic and industrial partners to push the boundaries of secure global quantum networks.

Key Objectives:

1. In-Orbit Measurement Analysis: Use active satellites and Heriot-Watt’s Optical Ground Station to test quantum communication technologies in real-world conditions.
2. Simulation and Modelling: Enhance the Qrackling satellite QKD simulation tool to model system performance across orbital scenarios, validated by in-orbit data.
3. Advanced Photonics:
   • Design and characterise PICs for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and Entanglement Distribution (ED).
   • Develop avalanche photodiodes for quantum and optical communications in the short- and mid-infrared.
4. Technological Integration: Collaborate with space agencies and quantum tech companies to validate technologies and upgrade the ground station for real-time quantum experiments.
5. Innovation and Impact: Contribute to the global quantum internet effort, publish in high-impact journals, and present at international conferences.

Candidate Profile: Ideal candidates will have a Master’s in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with experience in optical systems, quantum communication, waveguides, and electro-optics, along with strong analytical and teamwork skills.

Why Join? Based at Heriot-Watt University, the student will benefit from world-class facilities and a collaborative environment. The partnership with Lumino Technologies offers direct exposure to commercial R&D and access to unique infrastructure, enabling impactful contributions to the future of secure global quantum communications.

This PhD project aims to develop a 4H-SiC integrated platform for spin–photon interfaces and on-chip single-photon detection, essential for scalable quantum repeaters. 4H-SiC hosts spin-active colour centres, such as silicon vacancies, which can be engineered via electron-beam irradiation and annealing. These centres offer room-temperature qubit operation with optical and microwave control.

The project focuses on three key scientific objectives:

1. Purcell-Enhanced Emission: Deterministically couple SiC colour centres to photonic crystal nanocavities (PCNs) using machine-learning-guided inverse design. Techniques include digital etching, in-situ condensation tuning, and nanopositioning. Key challenges include emitter-cavity alignment and spectral diffusion.

2. Strong Spin–Photon Coupling: Increase cavity quality factor (Q) and mode volume (V) to achieve deterministic strong coupling. If single-emitter coupling is limited, the project will explore ensemble coupling or high-Purcell regimes for fast spin readout.

3. On-Chip Photon Routing and Detection: Integrate photon demultiplexing and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) to form quantum interconnect primitives. Challenges include interface losses and cryogenic integration, with mitigation strategies including hybrid packaging and ML-assisted design.

The project is supported by ongoing funded programmes at the University of Glasgow and supervised by a leading expert in semiconductor cavity QED. The doctoral researcher will gain comprehensive training in nanofabrication, spectroscopy, ML-assisted photonic design, cryogenics, and quantum systems integration—preparing them to lead future quantum hardware development.

This project aims to develop a new photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform for nonlinear photonics at UV-to-visible wavelengths, enabling scalable quantum computing, communication, and sensing. Moving from bulky free-space optics to integrated chips will dramatically improve stability and scalability, but requires overcoming challenges in loss, efficiency, and material compatibility.

Key aspects:

• Research focus: Fabricate low-loss PICs in Al₂O₃ and III-N materials, integrate silicon single-photon detectors and nonlinear resonators using nanometre-precision transfer printing.
• Impact: Realise mm²-scale circuits for photon transmission and processing, advancing hardware for quantum emitters/memories and multi-site atom/ion addressing.
• Skills developed:
  • Numerical simulation (FDTD, eigenmode modelling).
  • Cleanroom fabrication (laser lithography, reactive ion etching).
  • Transfer printing integration and optical characterisation.
• Environment: Work within the Institute of Photonics at Strathclyde, with access to state-of-the-art cleanroom and optical labs, plus CDT training and collaborative research culture.

Can we deliver a Quantum Computer that can perform a trillion operations by 2035? This is the mission we received from the UK’s government 1 year ago. There has been a lot of prototype development of qubit technologies (i.e. semiconductors, superconductors, ions,photonics etc.), however scaling up Qubit numbers to millions is a huge challenge. This is because of the extreme cryogenic conditions required for operating Qubits. This challenge will precisely be addressed by this project, by delivering CMOS-compatible qubits [1-3] operating at higher temperatures [4], something than can significantly relax current scalability constraints.

The vision of this project is to develop and deliver the next generation of Quantum Processors (QP) operating at frequencies well above >100GHz, and thus at temperatures>4K. At the moment, one of the main technical scalability problems of quantum hardware (i.e superconducting and semiconducting) is the limited capacity power of low-temperature instruments. Through this project, we will create on-chip components and qubits that can
operate at 4K, temperature that makes qubit scalability easier. This project aims to address current technical scalability problems by pushing this technology from milli-Kelvin temperatures to 4K, a target that will significantly increase the number of qubits within a QP and additionally reduce the overall cost per qubit, as systems operating at 4K are indeed cheaper to manufacture and operate.

Through this project, we will engineer Semiconductor Qubits based on Silicon/Germanium CMOS-compatible platform. The project will involve, extensive nanofabrication at the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre and advanced high-frequency THz characterisation of these semiconductor qubits, as well as control integration. The experimental work, will be complemented by numerical simulations with quantum semiconductor packages, where the PhD candidate can choose to have a 2-month placement at one of my partners in Munich, Nextnano to learn the numerical tools.

This PhD project focuses on the design and fabrication of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) supracrystals—highly ordered assemblies of nanocrystals—for use as ultra-bright, temporally controlled microscopic light sources. CQDs are solution-processable semiconductor nanocrystals with size-tunable optical properties, making them ideal for applications in displays, lasers, single-photon sources, and sensing.

Building on recent advances in emulsion-templated self-assembly, the project will explore the creation of multifunctional supraparticles (SPs) by blending different types of CQDs and coupling them to plasmonic or upconverting structures. These SPs have demonstrated promising capabilities, including microlasing, multi-wavelength emission, and biomolecular functionalization.

Key Objectives:

1. Synthesis and Assembly: Develop protocols for synthesizing CQDs and assembling them into hybrid supracrystals with tailored geometries and functionalities.
2. Optical Characterization: Investigate fluorescence enhancement, laser oscillation, and non-classical light emission to enable efficient microscopic lasers and quantum light sources.
3. Sustainable Materials: Explore non-toxic alternatives to cadmium- and lead-based CQDs to support environmentally friendly photonic technologies.

The student will join the Colloidal Photonics team at the Institute of Photonics, gaining interdisciplinary training in nanomaterials, photonics, and device integration. Depending on interests, applications in biological sensing, optical communications, or quantum photonics can be explored.

This PhD project aims to develop a theoretical framework for atomic quantum sensors capable of detecting electromagnetic fields in regions where classical forces vanish. The approach leverages geometric phase effects—specifically the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) and Aharonov-Casher (AC) effects—where particles accumulate phase shifts due to enclosed electromagnetic flux, even without direct interaction.

Unlike traditional interferometers that rely on spatially separated paths, this project explores internal-state interferometry, where atoms in superposition states traverse a common path near a field source. The resulting geometric phase differences between internal states can be read out optically, enabling sensitive field detection without disturbing the system.

Key objectives include:

• Designing atomic level structures suitable for AB/AC-based sensing.
• Developing optical readout mechanisms for internal-state interference.
• Using time-dependent Schrödinger and Lindblad master equations to simulate and optimize sensor performance.
• Estimating sensitivity limits and identifying practical use cases in collaboration with AWE.

This project combines quantum theory, atomic physics, and sensor design, offering a novel route to detecting hidden electromagnetic fields with potential applications in fundamental physics and advanced sensing technologies.

This project investigates how spins precess on short timescales before reaching steady state, a regime that remains poorly understood yet critical for quantum technologies. Current knowledge of spin dynamics largely focuses on steady states, but many quantum applications require operations within hundreds of nanoseconds—before stabilization occurs. Exploring this transient regime could reveal new phenomena enabling fast, low-latency quantum operations.

The research aligns with the rapidly growing field of quantum magnonics, which leverages magnons—quanta of collective spin excitations—for quantum information processing. Recent breakthroughs, such as single-magnon detection via superconducting qubits, highlight the potential of hybrid quantum systems for sensing and communication. Magnon-photon coupling, in particular, offers a pathway to microwave-to-optical conversion, a key step toward building a quantum internet.

Methodologically, the project draws inspiration from pulse-shaping techniques used in semiconductor spin systems to achieve controlled state transitions. It will explore nonlinear dynamics induced by high-amplitude excitations in magnonic systems—an area largely unexplored but essential for developing quantum spintronic interfaces.

Impact: Understanding and controlling short-timescale spin dynamics could unlock new functionalities for quantum computing, sensing, and communication, bridging a critical gap toward scalable quantum technologies.

This project aims to advance ultracold lattice gases—neutral bosonic and fermionic atoms in optical lattices—as powerful platforms for analog quantum simulation of complex many-body phenomena. Using cutting-edge theoretical tools, the research will design experiments that push the boundaries of quantum simulation.

Key objectives:

1. Non-equilibrium ordering above Tc: Use MPS+MF theory to design experiments simulating dynamically induced ordered states (e.g., superconductivity) above critical temperature.
2. High-Tc analogues in mixed-dimensional states: Explore metastable configurations to realize analogues of high-temperature superconductivity in ultracold gases.
3. Entropy reduction strategies: Model schemes for lowering entropy per particle using pDMRG, enabling more accurate quantum simulations for applications like quantum chemistry.

Methods & Skills:

• Advanced many-body theory (MPS+MF, pDMRG).
• Experiment design for ultracold atom systems.
• Quantum simulation of strongly correlated states.

Impact: Provides theoretical blueprints for experiments that could reveal mechanisms behind high-Tc superconductivity and improve quantum simulation platforms for complex quantum matter.

This PhD project aims to significantly enhance the sensitivity of the Wee-g MEMS gravimeter, a precision accelerometer developed at the University of Glasgow. Currently at TRL5, the Wee-g has demonstrated field performance in environmental monitoring and geophysical applications, including deployments on active volcanoes and for water table monitoring.

The project will focus on replacing the existing capacitive comb readout with a miniaturised interferometric system, leveraging expertise and infrastructure from the Institute for Gravitational Research. The new readout aims to improve sensitivity by an order of magnitude, enabling either enhanced signal-to-noise performance or increased resonant frequency for improved field robustness.

Key Objectives:

1. Interferometric Readout Development

   • Design and integrate a compact free-space interferometer using commercial small-form-factor optics.
   • Align with existing 10m interferometry expertise at 1064 nm and 1550 nm.

2. Squeezed Light Integration

   • Explore the use of squeezed light sources to suppress shot noise by a factor of two, enhancing readout precision at frequencies above 1 kHz.

3. System Integration and Testing

   • Validate the new readout system in laboratory settings and prepare for field deployment.
   • Compare performance against existing capacitive systems and quantify improvements in sensitivity and robustness.

4. Commercialisation Pathway

   • Support the spinout Quantrologee, a joint venture between the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde, to deliver a dual gravity-magnetic sensor platform.

Training and Impact:

The student will gain hands-on experience in precision optical sensing, MEMS instrumentation, interferometry, and quantum-enhanced measurement techniques, contributing to the next generation of portable, high-sensitivity gravimetric sensors for applications in environmental monitoring, civil engineering, and national security.

This PhD project aims to develop a novel, scalable Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) using multimode gain-switched lasers coupled with photonic integrated dynamic billiards. QRNGs are vital for quantum cryptography and have broad applications in simulations, data processing, and finance. Traditional QRNGs based on laser phase noise are fast and simple but limited in scalability due to their one-laser-per-channel architecture.

The proposed system introduces chaotic light dynamics via photonic billiards, adding an extra layer of physical randomness and enabling multiplexed bit extraction from each laser pulse. This approach offers advantages in cost, compactness, simplicity, and scalability, without requiring coherent detection.

Key research components include:

• Design and fabrication of integrated photonic billiards to enhance randomness.
• Machine learning techniques to analyze and optimize randomness across output channels.
• Exploration of wave chaos regimes, guided by quantum chaos theory, to identify optimal operating conditions.
• Quantum-inspired machine learning applications based on the system’s high-dimensional phase space dynamics.

This interdisciplinary project combines quantum optics, photonic integration, chaos theory, and machine learning to push the boundaries of secure and efficient random number generation.

The Edinburgh Mostly Quantum Lab (EMQL) specialises in the engineering of quantum light sources for applications in terrestrial and satellite quantum networking. Projects are available in quantum light source development (parametric down-conversion or quantum dots), multi-party quantum networking with graph states, and satellite quantum communication. We are part of the Integrated Quantum Networks hub, and the project will benefit from wide-ranging collaborations with academia and industry.

Developments in single-photon detector technologies has opened exciting opportunities for passive and active imaging in extreme conditions (e.g. high-speed, low-illumination regimes), and in particular for imaging in scattering underwater environments [1]. This PhD project aims to investigate novel imaging techniques based on sensor fusion of single-photon detection technologies and classical approaches to improve the resolution, the achievable range, and the speed of current single-photon imaging techniques.

The project will involve hands‑on experimental work and desk-based work, including data analysis and feasibility studies. Therefore, the candidate will develop skills in single‑photon detection, design and construction of experimental optical setups, and programming. The experimental work will also include to plan, prepare, and conduct field‑trials [2].

The candidate will closely collaborate with the single‑photon group at Heriot‑Watt University, who is internationally leading the research in this field. In addition, this PhD will involve working with academic and industrial partners in several fields, including single‑photon detector array design, underwater robotics, and image processing.

Applicants must have or expect to have a first class degree or equivalent in physics or engineering course, and be strongly motivated with the drive required to pursue 3.5 years of intensive practical and theoretical work. The ideal candidate has a good knowledge of optics and photonics and experience in a laboratory environment is expected.

This project aims to develop core components of a fermionic quantum computer, a new architecture designed to efficiently simulate complex electronic systems that are intractable for classical computers and challenging for qubit-based quantum processors. Instead of encoding fermionic statistics in software, this approach uses ultracold fermionic atoms (e.g., lithium-6) in optical lattices to natively implement electron-like behaviour.

Key aspects:

• Research focus: Controlled motion and entanglement of fermionic atoms for digital quantum gates.
• Techniques:
  • Laser cooling to nanokelvin temperatures.
  • Design of optical lattices, including deep lattices for atom pinning and bichromatic superlattices for double-well gate units.
  • Single-atom resolved imaging and optimal control of tunnelling dynamics.
• Impact: Overcomes scalability bottlenecks in quantum simulation of electronic systems, enabling high-fidelity quantum logic with >99.7% gate fidelity demonstrated in initial tests.
• Environment: Part of the EQOP group at Strathclyde, with strong international collaborations and access to advanced quantum optics facilities.

A picture is worth a thousand words; and in a very real sense, images encoded in the profile of a laser provide a highly efficient method to encrypt and convey information. Vector light beams have spatially-dependent profiles sculpted in their intensity, phase and polarisation simultaneously. These present a particular set of complex images, with advanced generation and detection technology already in place – even for single photons. In this PhD project you will demonstrate storage and processing of vector light information in a rubidium vapour. You will support shifts between differently coloured images and build a dynamically controlled structured light optical conversion platform –required for a truly high-dimensional quantum network. The PhD will be carried out in the Experimental Quantum Optics and Photonics Group in the Physics Department at the University of Strathclyde. This project has already generated relatively high-profile publications around a single previous Leverhulme grant (see below), and mainly requires a new student to work on the experiment again as the lasers, SLM, optics and cells already exist. An important possible extension of the project will be to compare behaviour in hot and cold atomic vapours, as an optical fiber links the two neighbouring labs.

This PhD project focuses on the development of monolithically integrated Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) with silicon photonic waveguide platforms, enabling high-efficiency, low-noise single-photon detection for quantum technologies. SPADs are essential for applications in quantum communication, quantum computing, and quantum-enhanced sensing.

Aligned with the UK’s National Quantum Technology Program and the IQN and QEPNT hubs, this research supports the development of scalable, secure, and high-performance quantum networks.

Key Research Objectives:

• Design and fabricate waveguide-integrated SPADs using silicon-compatible materials for Quantum Key Distribution (QKD).
• Develop low-loss optical couplers to efficiently interface SPADs with optical fibres and free-space systems.
• Innovate optical-electrical decoupling strategies to optimise SPAD performance in photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

Research Training Includes:

• Device Modelling: Learn to simulate and optimise SPAD-PIC integration using advanced tools to reduce noise and maximise detection efficiency.
• Advanced Fabrication: Hands-on training in microfabrication techniques at the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre.
• Experimental Characterisation: Access to £2M+ of electro-optic lab equipment for testing SPAD and PIC performance.

Why Join This Project?

• Collaborate with leading industrial partners in the UK quantum ecosystem.
• Gain access to world-class facilities and training in simulation, fabrication, and characterisation.
• Contribute to next-generation quantum technologies with applications in secure communications, biomedical imaging, quantum LIDAR, and more.
• Publish in top journals and present at international conferences

This PhD project advances fluorescence-lifetime optical electrophysiology (FLOE), a novel imaging technique using SPAD cameras to capture voltage and calcium dynamics in live, contracting heart cells. Unlike conventional methods, FLOE provides motion-robust, calibrated insights into cellular physiology without invasive procedures or pharmacological uncouplers.

Building on recent breakthroughs using a 500×500 SPAD array, the project will:

• Develop hybrid instrumentation combining SPAD-based lifetime imaging with photomultiplier tube photometry for kilohertz-rate acquisition and picosecond timing.
• Enhance computational methods for noise reduction and lifetime estimation.
• Apply the technology to study excitation-contraction coupling in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and ex-vivo rabbit heart tissue, capturing absolute action potential and calcium transient dynamics.
• Collaborate with Clyde Biosciences to translate findings into cardiotoxicity screening tools with strong relevance to drug discovery and regenerative medicine.

The student will gain expertise in ultrafast optics, advanced imaging, and quantitative physiology, contributing to a paradigm shift in how excitable biological systems are studied in their native, contractile state. Broader applications include neuroscience, organoid research, and mechanobiology.

This PhD project focuses on the design and fabrication of bespoke Micro-LEDs for advanced applications in free-space quantum key distribution (QKD) and high-speed optical wireless communications (OWC). Micro-LEDs are a cutting-edge display and photonic technology, known for their high pixel density, fast modulation speeds, and direct CMOS integration.

The University of Strathclyde’s Institute of Photonics, a global leader in Micro-LED research, has demonstrated their utility beyond displays—including in quantum imaging, biophotonics, and secure communications. Recent work has extended Micro-LED capabilities into the deep ultraviolet (230–280 nm) range, with bandwidths up to 800 MHz, making them ideal for terrestrial and space-based optical links.

The student will:

• Design Micro-LED structures tailored for QKD and OWC.
• Fabricate devices using advanced cleanroom techniques such as lithography, etching, micro-transfer printing, and deposition.
• Test and characterize devices using state-of-the-art optical facilities.
• Collaborate with Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP), gaining exposure to commercial R&D and undertaking a short placement to test devices in real-world use cases.

This interdisciplinary project offers hands-on experience in photonics, semiconductor processing, and quantum communications, preparing the student for careers in both academic and industrial research.

This PhD project, co-funded by Quantcore and the University of Glasgow, focuses on the experimental characterisation and optimisation of niobium-based superconducting qubits—a promising platform for scalable quantum computing. Niobium’s higher superconducting gap enables operation at higher frequencies and moderately elevated temperatures, offering improved cooling efficiency and integration potential.

The research will explore the performance of niobium qubits under realistic conditions and their interface with Single Flux Quantum (SFQ) electronics for cryogenic control and readout. The project will progress through five key objectives:

1. Performance Benchmarking: Use randomized benchmarking and process tomography to quantify qubit and gate fidelities, and develop statistical models to identify performance bottlenecks.
2. Thermal Stability: Investigate coherence times, frequency drift, and relaxation rates at elevated temperatures (above 100 mK), aiming to improve thermal robustness.
3. Noise Spectroscopy: Perform broadband noise analysis to identify and mitigate decoherence sources such as flux, charge, and photon noise.
4. Single-Shot Readout: Develop FPGA-based single-shot readout systems for high-speed data acquisition and detailed noise analysis.
5. Design Feedback: Use experimental insights to inform the design of next-generation qubit and resonator architectures, in collaboration with Quantcore’s fabrication team.

An optional extension will explore SFQ-based cryogenic control, assessing pulse fidelity, coupling efficiency, and noise backaction.

The student will gain hands-on experience in cryogenic and microwave measurements, quantum device characterisation, FPGA programming, and circuit modelling, with opportunities to present at international conferences. The project aims to enable higher-temperature quantum operation, a critical step toward scalable, energy-efficient superconducting quantum processors.

This project addresses a key challenge in scaling semiconductor quantum dot (QD) qubits: spectral inhomogeneity and device variability. The proposed solution is a hybrid architecture that couples QDs via microcavity exciton-polaritons—light-matter quasiparticles that combine photon agility with exciton interactions. By engineering a polariton “information bus,” the research aims to enable:

• Fast, single-shot quantum non-demolition readout
• Universal single-qubit control
• High-fidelity two-qubit phase gates

The work spans device design, nanofabrication, cryogenic microscopy, and advanced optical spectroscopy. It will optimize cavity and material parameters for strong coupling, characterize qubit properties under hybridization, and implement robust gate protocols tolerant to inhomogeneity. The ultimate goal is to demonstrate polariton-mediated quantum logic, providing a practical route to scalable, photonics-ready quantum processors.

This project addresses a key challenge in quantum photonics: efficient generation of entangled photon pairs at telecom wavelengths. While silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides are widely used for integrated quantum circuits, their weak nonlinearity limits photon-pair generation. Two-dimensional semiconductors like monolayer WSe₂ offer strong excitonic nonlinearities that could dramatically enhance spontaneous four-wave mixing (SFWM).

Research goals:

• Design and simulate hybrid SiN–WSe₂ waveguides for improved nonlinear performance.
• Fabricate and integrate monolayer WSe₂ with SiN photonic circuits using cleanroom techniques.
• Characterize photon-pair generation, entanglement fidelity, and electrostatic tuning.
• Demonstrate an integrated, tunable entangled-photon source for quantum networks.

PhD timeline:

• Year 1: Simulation and design (dispersion engineering, mode overlap optimization).
• Year 2: Fabrication (SiN waveguides, monolayer transfer, encapsulation).
• Year 3: Characterization (loss, CAR, JSI mapping, entanglement metrics).
• Year 4: Integration and system-level testing.

Impact: This work combines material innovation with photonic engineering to enable scalable, high-efficiency entangled-photon sources compatible with telecom networks.

This PhD project aims to develop an AI-driven platform for the autonomous fabrication of 2D quantum materials, enabling the on-demand engineering of strongly correlated phases by stacking and twisting atomically thin layers. By integrating machine learning, optical metrology, and quantum materials science, the project will explore how to program many-body Hamiltonians through precise control of twist angle, strain, displacement fields, and dielectric environment in moiré superlattices.

Key Objectives:

• AI & Machine Vision: Extend real-time detection and segmentation pipelines (Python/OpenCV/PyTorch) and train decision models to autonomously plan and adapt fabrication steps.
• Optical Metrology: Use photoluminescence, reflectivity, and second-harmonic generation to identify materials, assess interface quality, and determine twist angles.
• 2D Device Fabrication: Automate pickup, release, and alignment of monolayers with twist/strain control and contamination avoidance.
• Cryogenic Characterisation: Operate cryostats and perform low-temperature magneto-optical spectroscopy to probe minibands, interactions, and symmetry breaking.
• Quantum Materials Engineering: Link fabrication parameters to emergent quantum phases, using structured logging and digital twins to ensure reproducibility.

Training & Impact:

The student will gain interdisciplinary expertise in AI, quantum materials, optical spectroscopy, and cryogenic systems, contributing to the development of programmable quantum devices. The project supports fundamental discoveries in correlated insulators, superconductivity, and magnetism, and offers collaboration opportunities with academic and industrial partners.

This PhD project focuses on developing integrated quantum light sources that generate entangled or correlated photons for emerging quantum networking, sensing and computing technologies. Based at the University of Strathclyde and supported by the Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP), you will work at the intersection of experimental physics and real-world engineering, contributing to integrated optical sources with genuine routes toward deployment.

You will investigate platforms that exploit nonlinear optical processes to create tailored quantum states of light. These sources will be designed to achieve high pair-generation rates, narrow bandwidths suitable for interfacing with quantum memories, and robust, stable operation suitable for field applications.

The work is primarily experimental, involving photonic devices and advanced optical measurement platforms. You will design and assemble optical testbeds, interface with fabricated chips, and characterise quantum correlations, heralding efficiencies and photon interference. There will also be room to develop models of nonlinear processes, dispersion engineering and device performance. As the project progresses, you may explore areas such as spectral shaping, quantum frequency conversion, or linking sources to external platforms including quantum memories or early-stage network demonstrators.

You will join a collaborative and supportive research environment with the freedom to influence the direction of your work while contributing to broader group activity in quantum photonics. Through Fraunhofer CAP, you will engage with industrial partners developing quantum key distribution hardware, network infrastructure and space-qualified optical systems. These connections ensure exposure to real-world constraints including footprint, environmental stability, manufacturability and telecoms compatibility, while keeping your research aligned with practical needs.

This opportunity suits a student who enjoys hands-on optical experimentation and wants to help move quantum photonics from the lab towards deployment. Experience with lasers, integrated optics or quantum measurements is helpful but not essential. Curiosity, precision and enthusiasm for solving experimental challenges are what matter most.

This PhD project aims to develop a compact, scalable magnetometry system based on coherent population trapping (CPT) in thermal atomic vapours. By integrating micro-fabricated diffractive optics with MEMS vapour cells, the system will enable all-optical vector magnetic field measurements from a single incident beam—probing the magnetic field along all three Cartesian axes simultaneously.

The project builds on the microfabrication and sensor development expertise of Dr McGilligan and the magnetometry and field-deployable sensor experience of Dr Ingleby at the University of Strathclyde. Collaboration with the British Geological Survey (BGS) will provide expert validation and testing, including comparisons with high-precision observatory instruments at Eskdalemuir, such as absolute magnetometers and induction coils used for space weather and lightning detection.

This work will advance miniaturised, high-sensitivity magnetic sensing technologies with potential applications in geophysics, space weather monitoring, and portable quantum sensors.

This project applies inverse design—an approach that starts from a desired performance and uses optimisation algorithms to create the system—to accelerate the development of advanced quantum devices. By integrating quantum mechanical models with cutting-edge optimisation techniques (e.g., adjoint methods, Bayesian optimisation, generative models), the research aims to autonomously design materials and structures that exhibit tailored quantum behaviours such as long coherence times, robust entanglement, and strong collective effects.

Key aspects:

• Focus: Computational frameworks for automated quantum device design.
• Methods: Gradient-based optimisation, machine learning, and open quantum systems modelling.
• Platforms: Potential applications include superconducting qubits, spin defects, and nanophotonic structures.
• Outcomes: Open-source tools, interpretable algorithms, and design blueprints for high-performance quantum technologies.
• Candidate profile: Strong background in physics, materials science, or engineering; interest in computational methods and quantum mechanics.

This research project aims to improve brain imaging techniques by addressing limitations in current methods like fMRI and fNIRS. While fMRI offers high-resolution imaging, it is expensive and inaccessible in many regions. fNIRS, a more portable optical method, suffers from poor spatial resolution and limited depth penetration.
To overcome these challenges, the project will explore diffuse optical tomography (DOT) and advanced imaging techniques such as single-pixel and ghost imaging. It will also integrate data from optically pumped magnetometers used in magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG), in collaboration with experts from the University of Nottingham and Cerca Magnetics.
The research will focus on fundamental studies of light transport through biological tissue and resolution enhancement, supported by a strong network of collaborators and supervisors. The project contributes to the development of quantum technologies for impactful biomedical applications.

This PhD project, in collaboration with STMicroelectronics’ Imaging Division in Edinburgh, focuses on improving the simulation and predictive modelling of Single Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs)—semiconductor devices capable of detecting individual photons with sub-nanosecond timing precision. SPADs are critical to technologies such as LIDAR, Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensing, and optical communication.

The project aims to enhance the design-to-fabrication pipeline by validating and improving ST’s current SPAD simulation tools, reducing development costs and accelerating innovation.

Key Objectives:

1. Simulation Tool Validation and Enhancement

   • Compare simulated SPAD performance metrics (e.g., Afterpulsing, Jitter, Dark Count Rate) with experimental characterisation data.
   • Refine simulation models to improve predictive accuracy and reduce reliance on costly fabrication cycles.

2. Design Parameter Analysis

   • Use simulation tools to explore how SPAD design parameters influence key Figures of Merit (FoMs).
   • Identify trends and relationships to guide future SPAD design decisions.

3. Tool Familiarisation and Development

   • Gain expertise in TCAD tools used for optical and SPAD device simulation.
   • Develop a deep understanding of the simulation process to contribute to tool improvement.

Outcomes and Impact:

• A more predictive and efficient SPAD simulation framework.
• Deeper insight into SPAD design-performance relationships.
• Enhanced capability for STMicroelectronics to innovate in consumer and industrial sensing technologies.

This project offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of semiconductor device physics, simulation, and industrial R&D, with direct impact on next-generation optical sensing systems.

This PhD project explores the development of ultrafast, energy-efficient neuromorphic sensing systems using quantum tunnelling-based optoelectronic devices. Inspired by the brain’s ability to process events rapidly, the research focuses on photonic–electronic platforms that mimic neural spiking behavior for in-sensor processing.

Key technologies include resonant tunnelling diodes (RTDs) and vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), engineered to exhibit controllable quantum tunnelling effects at room temperature. These devices act as artificial spiking neurons, converting optical and electrical stimuli into high-speed spike-encoded signals.

The project will:

• Design and fabricate neuromorphic devices operating at telecom wavelengths (850, 1310, 1550 nm) for compatibility with existing fibre-optic networks.
• Integrate these devices with fibre-optic sensing platforms (e.g., Fibre Bragg Gratings and Distributed Acoustic Sensors) to detect and classify events like strain, temperature, turbulence, and RF/audio signals.
• Enable ultrafast optical communication of event signals via fibre or wireless links for applications in infrastructure monitoring, fault detection, and security.
• Collaborate with Fraunhofer UK to explore real-world applications in energy, security, and manufacturing.
• Develop neuromorphic algorithms to support spike-based sensing and processing.

This interdisciplinary research combines photonics, quantum tunnelling, neuromorphic computing, and sensing technologies to create next-generation smart sensing systems for edge computing and remote monitoring.

Nonlinear optics provides the fundamental processes that enable the generation, manipulation, and detection of quantum states of light. Among these processes, frequency conversion plays a central role because it allows quantum information encoded in photons to be transferred between different spectral regions without loss of coherence [1-2]. The NZI Quantum project aims to demonstrate single-photon frequency conversion at telecom wavelengths by exploiting the exceptional nonlinear properties of near-zero-index (NZI) conductive-oxide thin films.

In conventional media, frequency conversion at the single-photon level requires high pump intensities and long interaction lengths, which severely limit integration and scalability. NZI materials, characterised by an extremely small refractive index and a giant effective nonlinear response, provide a new route to achieving strong nonlinear coupling within deeply sub-wavelength volumes and at significantly lower power levels [3-6]. By optically pumping these materials close to their zero-index regime, it becomes possible to tailor the local electromagnetic density of states and to enhance light–matter interaction far beyond what is accessible in standard dielectrics or semiconductors.

The project will experimentally investigate this mechanism using thin NZI films integrated on planar substrates and will develop a quantum-optical model describing the conversion dynamics under realistic non-perturbative conditions. Emphasis will be placed on quantifying conversion efficiency, spectral tunability, and noise suppression at the single-photon level. The combination of experimental demonstration and theoretical modelling will establish clear performance benchmarks for NZI-based quantum frequency converters and define the material and design parameters required for scalable implementation.

By integrating advanced material growth, ultrafast optical characterisation, and quantum-optical detection, NZI Quantum will lay the groundwork for a new class of compact, energy-efficient quantum photonic interfaces that can bridge different communication bands. The resulting technology would directly impact the development of large-scale quantum communication networks and quantum processors by enabling seamless spectral connectivity between otherwise incompatible components.

The availability of precise and stable timing is the backbone of modern science, global communications, and quantum technologies. From synchronising radio telescopes and radar systems to enabling tests of fundamental physics and supporting quantum communication networks, time and frequency is critical to the modern world. While optical fibre links can deliver frequency transfer with fractional instabilities below 10⁻¹⁹, their reach is limited by physical infrastructure. Free-space optical links offer a route to extend high-accuracy timing and frequency references to remote or mobile platforms, including observatories, space systems, and field-deployed experiments [1].

This project aims to develop and characterise a high-performance optical time and frequency transfer system over free-space channels, capable of maintaining ultra-low phase noise and high stability in realistic environmental conditions. The overarching goal is to enable dissemination of traceable frequency standards — such as those derived from optical clocks at Strathclyde and NPL — to users beyond the fibre network, bridging the gap between laboratory precision and field applications.

The research will combine experimental optics, frequency metrology, and control engineering, proceeding through three main phases:

1. System design and stabilisation: The first objective is to develop an optical link architecture capable of bidirectional time–frequency transfer. Techniques such as heterodyne phase comparison [2], two-way optical frequency combs [3], and active path-length stabilisation will be implemented to mitigate atmospheric turbulence and mechanical vibration effects.
2. Free-space link characterisation: The system will be deployed over controlled laboratory paths and then extended to outdoor line-of-sight channels. Measurements will quantify fractional frequency stability, timing jitter, and phase noise under varying turbulence, temperature, and alignment conditions.
3. Applications and integration: In the final phase, the system will be evaluated in scenarios relevant to very-long-baseline interferometry (VLBI), synchronised radar, or distributed quantum sensing, where precise timing enables coherent operation across separated nodes. The results will demonstrate the feasibility of extending metrologically traceable time–frequency references from NPL facilities to end users via compact, deployable optical systems.

By the end of the project, the candidate will have developed a fully characterised optical free-space time-frequency transfer system, contributing directly to the UK’s capabilities in precision timing, frequency metrology, and quantum technology.

This project aims to develop nanodiamond-based sensors using nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centres for precise sub-cellular temperature measurements in living cells. NV centres, known for magnetometry, can also detect temperature via microwave spin resonance shifts, enabling all-optical sensing at the nanoscale. Diamond’s biocompatibility and ability to be functionalised make nanodiamonds ideal for targeting specific cellular structures.

Key aspects:

• Research focus: Quantum thermometry for monitoring dynamic biological processes such as mitochondrial activity and photosynthesis.
• Approach: Implement and improve surface passivation and functionalisation to reduce noise and enhance sensitivity.
• Techniques: Pulsed microwave control for noise rejection, widefield NV sensing, and advanced quantum sensing methods.
• Impact: Opens new routes for quantum-enhanced biological imaging and correlated thermometry/magnetometry.

This PhD project contributes to the UK’s Quantum Enabled Position, Navigation, and Timing (QEPNT) Hub, addressing national vulnerabilities in GNSS-dependent infrastructure. The goal is to develop miniaturised quantum sensors, specifically chip-scale atomic clocks, by integrating atomic systems with photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

Motivated by the UK government’s Blackett review and the strategic need for GNSS-independent timing solutions, this research supports the development of scalable, high-performance quantum devices for critical infrastructure resilience.

Key Research Objectives:

• Device Modelling: Design silicon-based waveguide components for atomic integration using commercial electromagnetic solvers and inverse photonic design techniques.
• Advanced Fabrication: Gain hands-on experience in the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre, using tools like electron-beam lithography and microfabrication processes.
• Experimental Characterisation: Access over £4M worth of specialised lab equipment to test and validate atomic and photonic devices against real-world performance metrics.

The student will be part of a national collaborative network involving top UK universities and industry partners, gaining expertise in quantum photonics, nanofabrication, and sensor systems for secure and resilient navigation and timing technologies.

This project aims to develop compact cold atom sensors—such as atomic clocks, accelerometers, and gyroscopes—using photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Traditional cold atom systems are bulky, occupying large optical benches or the size of multiple washing machines. The goal is to significantly reduce their size, weight, power consumption, and cost to enable real-world deployment.
The work will leverage the silicon-nitride photonic platform at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt Nanofabrication Centre (JWNC), which includes advanced components like low-loss waveguides, microring resonators, polarisation optics, narrow linewidth lasers, and MEMS vapour cells. The project will use red and blue detuned light to trap and guide cold atoms via the evanescent field of waveguides.
Students will receive training in industry-standard design tools (Lumerical, Synopsys), cleanroom fabrication, and advanced photonics measurement. The project is aligned with the UK Quantum Hub for Position, Navigation and Timing, offering access to scientific, social, and professional development events, including skills training and international conference participation.

There is a substantial body of knowledge about the theoretical capabilities of quantum algorithms, given ideal quantum computers, but this is quite far removed from what is needed to run on real quantum computers being built today. Collaborating with computational scientists to understand what their applications do is a key aspect of the project. This includes teams of academics and postdocs who are working on applications to fluid simulations (from weather forecasting to fusion) and materials simulations, and across the whole spectrum of scientific and engineering computing in the UK through the CCP-QC https://ccp-qc.ac.uk/ (Collaborative Computational Projects) network. You will be able to test your ideas on real quantum computers, and there is plenty of scope for choosing which aspects of the research you are most interested in.

This project aims to develop molecular quantum sensors—nanoscale probes that use optical detection of spin states to sense biochemical changes with exceptional sensitivity. Unlike solid-state NV centres in diamond, molecular sensors offer flexibility through synthetic chemistry and easy integration into biological environments via bioconjugation techniques such as click chemistry.

Key aspects:

• Research focus: Optical spin readout in biologically compatible molecules for detecting temperature and biochemical changes at the single-molecule level.
• Advantages: Molecular systems allow tailored control over coherence time, spin-optical contrast, and sensing performance.
• Approach: Build on recent breakthroughs in optical spin readout and coherent spin control in chemically synthesised molecules.
• Skills developed: Quantum sensing, spectroscopy, spin resonance, and quantum-mechanical simulations.
• Impact: Opens new routes for quantum-enhanced biosensing and medical diagnostics.

Neutral atom quantum computers have emerged as one of the most promising platforms for quantum information processing [1], with a major advantage over competing technologies arising from the ability to scale to large numbers of identical qubits as required for performing practical quantum computing. These qubits, created from individually trapped atoms, can be coupled to highly excited Rydberg states to engineer strong, long-range interactions for high fidelity gate operations [2] or continuous time analogue optimisation protocols [3]. Combining this with the ability to dynamically reconfigure atoms to implement arbitrary connectivity, these platforms can allow demonstrations of logical qubit encodings and quantum error correction [4]. This approach provides a viable route to realising the potential advantages of quantum computing in enhancing application areas such as quantum chemistry and material science, as well as accelerating hard classical problems such as factorisation or optimisation.

This PhD project will use the Strathclyde neutral atom quantum computing platform, SQuAre, to advance the development of logical qubit encodings suitable for performing quantum error correction, and demonstrate fault-tolerant quantum algorithms [4].  The SQuAre platform has already demonstrated world-record single qubit gate fidelities [6] and pioneered work on weighted graph optimisation problems [3] using arrays of up to 255 qubits. An early goal of this PhD project will involve upgrading the hardware to implement high-fidelity state-selective readout scheme [4] that can provide efficient measurement without ejection of atoms as used in many experiments currently. This advance will enable fast cycle times by promoting re-use of atomic qubits, as well as facilitating real-time loss-detection to allow rapid replacement of missing atoms.

Using this non-destructive readout technique, we will investigate different logical qubit encoding schemes in which quantum information is stored collectively across an ensemble of physical qubits. By characterising the performance of each encoding, we will identify the best encodings for implementing quantum error correction routines and use this to demonstrate fault-tolerant implementation of quantum algorithms relevant to near-term quantum applications.

This project is closely aligned to the QCi3 Quantum Computing hub, and will benefit from close collaboration with the team of Joschka Roffe at Edinburgh who is a world expert in quantum error correction and decoding techniques.

This PhD project investigates the role of quantum effects in cognition and the nature of intelligence—both artificial and biological. It explores whether quantum-enhanced systems exhibit complexity signatures that could relate to consciousness, using Integrated Information Theory (IIT) as a mathematical framework.

The research will use photonic quantum reservoir computers, which can operate in both classical and quantum regimes, to study how complexity scales with system architecture. IIT and related complexity metrics will be applied to these systems to compare classical vs. quantum scaling laws.

Once established, these scaling laws will be tested against biological systems such as neuron cultures and brain organoids, to determine whether their complexity aligns more closely with classical or quantum models.

The project combines theoretical and experimental approaches, and can be tailored to the student’s strengths. It bridges quantum computing, neuroscience, and philosophy, contributing to the broader debate on consciousness and the future of intelligent systems.

This PhD project explores the use of entangled photon sources to probe brain activity at ultra-low illumination levels, addressing a key limitation in current photonic brain imaging techniques. Conventional methods like functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy rely on intense laser light, which may inadvertently modulate brain activity—a phenomenon known as photobiomodulation—thus interfering with the very signals they aim to measure.

Building on recent breakthroughs in quantum spectroscopy, where entangled photons were used to measure energy transfer in photosynthetic molecules with high precision and low light levels, this project aims to apply similar techniques to the human brain. The goals include:

• Developing quantum-enhanced fNIRS using continuous-wave (CW) lasers to generate entangled photon pairs, enabling high-precision, time-domain measurements without the need for pulsed lasers.
• Comparing classical and quantum systems to quantify and minimize photobiomodulation effects, potentially demonstrating superior accuracy in quantum approaches.
• Extending the technique to new wavelength regimes (e.g., infrared) and integrating with other modalities such as electrical or magnetic recordings for multi-modal brain sensing.

This research could revolutionize non-invasive brain imaging by enabling safer, more precise, and less intrusive measurements, with broad implications for neuroscience, cognitive science, and quantum biophotonics.

Quantum sensing and metrology may have tremendous potential to enhance our ability to observe the universe and address some of the most challenging questions such as the nature of dark matter & dark energy, the formation of galaxies, stars, and planets, and the behaviour of black holes. Astronomy and astrophysics have seen a revolution of our understanding as more advanced instruments with higher sensitivity and finer resolution provide new data. The construction of operation of an optical very long baseline interferometer (VLBI) to provide orders of magnitude higher resolution than conventional telescopes is hindered by the limits of classical optical technologies. Distributed quantum entanglement, together with quantum memories is one proposed route towards breaking the barriers to Earth-sized, or larger, optical telescope arrays able to peer more closely at the astronomical objects, discover new planets, and provide a more powerful view of the universe. This project would investigate the requirements for building such entangled quantum telescope, develop protocols to collect, store, and measure astronomical photons, and provide the foundation for long-term proposals for space-based telescope arrays.

The student would perform theoretical and computational studies to analyse the challenges of collecting weak optical signals, transferring them to quantum memories, and using entanglement to perform distributed phase and interference visibility estimation, close to the quantum limit. Initial work would consider near to medium term quantum technology capabilities, later on incorporating the opportunities opened up by quantum information processing by quantum computers and advanced quantum computing algorithms to process inherently quantum data. There will be opportunities to collaborate with other theorists, experimentalists, and space engineers to advance the state of the art in developing quantum telescopes.

This PhD project explores the use of integrated quantum technologies to revolutionize optical sensing in marine environments. Light plays a critical role in ocean processes such as warming, photosynthesis, and animal behavior, yet monitoring these processes is challenging due to the harsh conditions of the ocean. Optical sensing, particularly when paired with autonomous platforms, offers a promising solution.

The project will develop and demonstrate quantum-enabled sensors with three key innovations:

1. Ultra-High Dynamic Range Irradiance Sensors
   Using solid-state detectors, the project will create sensors capable of measuring underwater light fields across extreme lighting conditions—from bright daylight to the darkness of abyssal depths. These sensors will seamlessly transition between conventional and photon-counting modes, enabling global-scale monitoring of biologically relevant light signals.

2. Quantum LIDAR Enhancements
   The same high dynamic range sensors will improve quantum LIDAR systems by extending sensitivity to both distant, weak signals and intense, near-field signals. This dual capability is crucial for ecological studies in turbid waters where light attenuation is significant.

3. Single-Photon Spectroscopic Sensors
   Leveraging the precision of single-photon detection, the project will develop spectroscopic tools to distinguish Raman and other inelastic scattering signals. These tools will enable accurate identification of particle composition, including organic matter, microplastics, and oil droplets.

The student will work in collaboration with Fraunhofer UK and the Marine Optics and Remote Sensing group at the University of Strathclyde, gaining hands-on experience in quantum photonics and oceanographic fieldwork. This interdisciplinary project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to environmental science through cutting-edge quantum technology.

A quantum simulator has the potential to deepen our understanding of complex quantum dynamics in a way that could be transformative for other fields of research, particularly condensed-matter physics. This project will build on new possibilities in our quantum-gas microscope setups [1] to generate arbitrary light potentials at the single-lattice-site scale [2]. These light patterns are generated by a spatial light modulator and projected onto the atoms with the high-resolution microscope, thereby creating repulsive or attractive light potentials with sub-lattice-spacing resolution.

We will use this technique to tailor the tunnel coupling between lattice sites, creating double-well or ladder structures, or disordered light potentials [3]. A regular pattern of repulsive potentials can be used to block, e.g., the centre site in each 3 x 3 subcell of a square lattice, forming a Lieb lattice. These lattices exhibit interesting properties such as flat bands, localization and edge states. Based on model calculations, we will use the quantum-gas microscope in the first instance to prepare and see the stability of the edge states. Quantitative studies could involve measurements of the corner distance as a function of time, or the time evolution of the probabilities to find certain edge states. Further studies will include lattice geometries of a higher complexity such as Lieb-lattice chains and diamond chains. 

In a second strand of work, within the framework of a recent EPSRC-funded project, we will investigate whether ordered states can be generated from non-equilibrium dynamics well above the phase transition temperature. Such effects have recently been observed in the form of short-lived superconducting states in transition-metal oxides far above their equilibrium critical temperature. However, to date, there exists no basic quantitative many-body theory describing whether and how such dynamic orders can emerge in 2D and 3D, due to the challenge in computing the real-time dynamical evolution in these systems. In collaboration with our theory colleagues, we aim to investigate whether superconducting, superfluid, and insulating orders can be induced above their equilibrium critical temperatures through out-of-equilibrium dynamics.

Harvesting and distributing energy are two of the major challenges faced by society. In Nature, these processes are crucial for all forms of life and have been fine-tuned within living organisms for hundreds of millions of years.

On the atomic scale, energy is quantised, e.g. as a photon of light, and its behaviour is governed by quantum mechanics. Taking inspiration from the ingenious solutions found in Nature, in this project you will explore novel ways of harnessing quantum effects in artificial, quantum-engineered molecular devices. Specifically, you will perform open quantum systems modelling of energy flow through biological and biomimetic molecular networks.

An exciting opportunity for this project would be to contribute to the design and realisation of a bio-inspired sunlight-pumped laser system that directly transforms ambient light into a coherent laser output beam together with our network of experimental collaborators.

More broadly, the project aims to contribute to the quest of realising highly efficient organic energy harvesters that could replace state-of-the-art photovoltaics and offer a versatile and sustainable platform for generating green energy.

This project aims to develop a next-generation fluorescence microscopy platform that surpasses classical resolution limits by leveraging quantum optics and AI. Unlike traditional super-resolution methods (e.g., STORM, PALM), it uses the quantum properties of fluorescence—specifically photon antibunching and second-order correlation functions (g²(τ))—to extract nanoscale information without requiring specialized fluorophores.

Key innovations include:

• SPAD arrays for wide-field, single-photon detection with sub-nanosecond timing.
• Quantum photon correlation analysis to enhance spatial resolution.
• AI-driven image reconstruction for multidimensional imaging (spatial, temporal, statistical).
• Biologically compatible imaging using standard fluorescent labels.

The student will build and test a custom FLIM microscope, starting with model nanostructures and progressing to live-cell imaging. This work supports UK priorities in quantum technologies and AI, and offers interdisciplinary training in quantum optics, single-photon detection, and computational imaging.

This PhD project aims to determine which standard CMOS technology nodes are best suited for building scalable spin qubits—quantum bits made from single electrons in silicon. Spin qubits are promising for quantum computing due to their compatibility with existing semiconductor manufacturing, but it’s unclear which fabrication processes yield optimal performance.

The project will develop a rapid prototyping platform to systematically compare CMOS nodes, helping assess whether quantum processors can be built using conventional microchip tools. It will create a database linking fabrication features to qubit performance.

Research will be conducted within the SEQUEL Lab, combining quantum physics, electronics, and materials science across four key areas:

1. Cryo-electronics & multiplexing – Designing circuits for simultaneous qubit measurements at cryogenic temperatures.
2. Machine learning – Automating qubit data analysis to accelerate testing.
3. High-speed readout – Developing superconducting resonators for fast, CMOS-compatible qubit signal detection.
4. Device simulation – Using tools like QTCAD to model how geometry and materials affect qubit behavior.

This work bridges quantum research and industrial fabrication, advancing scalable quantum computing.

To date, research on quantum phenomena that underpin many of the advantages of modern quantum applications has predominantly focused on entanglement. This spatial quantum correlation enables, for example, secure quantum key distribution, advantages in quantum computing, and the superiority of quantum metrology schemes.

However, current and near-term quantum information processing devices are not only able to share quantum systems, but also manipulate and transmit them, allowing for the exploitation of not only quantum correlations in space but also in time. Many modern quantum algorithms already leverage such spatio-temporal correlations as a resource for improved performance, e.g., in distributed quantum computation, where users can receive correlated quantum states, perform operations on them, and forward them to the next user.

While the creation, verification and exploitation of spatial entanglement is well established, the capabilities of spatio-temporal entanglement and practical protocols that use it as a resource have only recently seen increased attention [1]. First works have investigated its underlying structure [2], demonstrated its advantage for practical tasks [3] and developed techniques for its experimental verification in small configurations [4].

Building on these initial results, this project will focus on the development of a fully-fledged toolbox to efficiently verify quantum correlations in (space and) time, the design of protocols to exploit them and demonstrate their quantum advantage, as well as the investigation of their resourcefulness, robustness to noise, efficient compression, and their limitation under experimental restrictions.

Progress in this direction will help unlock the full potential of current and future quantum technologies and open up a new domain for further quantum advantages. Throughout the project, the candidate will obtain hands-on experience in theoretical quantum information theory, including numerical simulation and optimisation, and learn how to model complex quantum systems in space and time.

This project aims to overcome performance variability in silicon carbide (SiC) colour centres—atomic defects that serve as quantum memories and sensors—by tuning their optical properties in situ. The approach uses optomechanical cavities to control emission via the Purcell effect and mechanical deformation for fine tuning, enabling indistinguishable photon emission for quantum communication protocols.

Key aspects:

• Research focus: Develop SiC-based optomechanical devices for scalable quantum technologies.
• Techniques: Simulation, design, microfabrication, and laboratory characterisation of integrated photonic circuits.
• Platform: SiC-on-insulator (SiCOI) substrates for waveguides and resonators; colour centres created via ion implantation at the UK National Ion Beam Centre.
• Impact: Enables tunable quantum emitters for entanglement-based communication and sensing.

This PhD project explores the creation and manipulation of synthetic quantum materials using moiré heterostructures—2D van der Waals materials with tunable lattice geometries. These materials offer a powerful platform to simulate the extended Hubbard model, which describes strongly correlated electron systems and underpins phenomena such as high-temperature superconductivity and exotic magnetic states.

The research aims to pioneer in-situ strain control of moiré lattices at cryogenic temperatures, enabling dynamic tuning of lattice geometry and access to new quantum phases. By optically probing these systems as their geometry is reconfigured, the project will map out quantum phase diagrams and investigate emergent electronic, magnetic, and excitonic states.

Key features include:

• Exploration of strongly correlated regimes beyond the reach of conventional solid-state materials or theoretical models.
• Real-time control of moiré lattice parameters to study phase transitions and energy scales.
• Cryogenic optical probing to reveal quantum behaviors at low temperatures.

This experimental project offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the frontier of quantum materials research, with potential implications for future technologies in quantum computing, sensing, and energy.

Superabsorption [1], the process by which an ensemble of atoms collectively enhances the rate at which it converts radiation energy into electronic excitation has been proposed in a variety of nanostructures such as arrays of quantum dots, molecular rings, and recently experimentally demonstrated with atomic [3] and molecular systems [4] where it was enabled by highly sophisticated control approaches. However, the exotic experimental conditions that were required present an impediment to harnessing the effect for practical applications.

In this project, we will study a promising different approach for realising superabsorption under much less demanding conditions. Specifically, we shall study a collection three level emitters inside a conventional microcavity. In this setup the necessary quantum control is provided by an external global microwave drive which allows the coherent suppression of emission pathways [2].

In the later stages of the project, we will develop blueprints for experimental exploration and implementation together with our network of experimental collaborators.

The realisation of superabsorbing devices will open up the prospect of a new class of quantum nanotechnology [4] with applications including photon detection and light-based power transmission.

This project aims to improve the performance of superconducting quantum computers by identifying and reducing noise sources that degrade qubit fidelity. Using advanced quantum magnetometry based on nitrogen vacancy (NV) centres in diamond, the research will map magnetic fields at the nanoscale to diagnose imperfections in qubit fabrication.

Key features:

• Quantum sensor: NV spins in diamond offer ~20 nm spatial resolution and high sensitivity across wide temperature and frequency ranges.
• Facilities: Access to a world-first low-temperature scanning NV magnetometer, dilution fridge, cryostats, lasers, single-photon detectors, and a refurbished nanofabrication lab.
• Industrial collaboration: Sponsored by QZabre Ltd., a leading ETH Zurich spin-off specializing in NV-based quantum sensing technologies.

The student will use NV magnetometry to study superconducting circuits, helping optimize qubit design for scalable quantum computing.

This is a project in theoretical physics. Our goal is to understand the properties of low-dimensional quantum many-body systems in the framework of topological quantum field theories. We will in particular focus on the role of nonlinear and interacting gauge theories, and by doing so bridge the gap between condensed matter physics, particle physics, and gravity. We will do this with two physical platforms in mind, namely, ultracold quantum gases and photonic lattices. Both these platforms offer unique possibilities to study phenomena across a broad range of physical scenarios and provide a deeper understanding of the interplay between topology and gauge theories, closely linked to experimental realisations. By doing so we will address fundamental questions about Nature, ranging from microscopic descriptions of quantum matter to aspects of quantum gravity. The back-action principle is key in this respect. Prominent examples are electromagnetism and gravity where matter tells space how to curve, and space tells matter how to move.

This PhD project focuses on the development of ultra-stable deep-UV laser systems tailored for laser cooling and precision spectroscopy of neutral cadmium (Cd)—a promising platform for next-generation optical clocks. Cd offers significant advantages over other clock candidates like strontium and ytterbium due to its low black-body radiation (BBR) shift, enabling higher accuracy and reduced thermal sensitivity in practical systems.

Key Aims and Objectives:

1. Laser Development

   • Design and build compact, narrow-linewidth UV lasers at 326 nm (for cooling) and 332 nm (for clock spectroscopy) using intra-cavity second harmonic generation (SHG).
   • Target sub-kHz linewidths, low frequency noise, and robust DUV optics handling.

2. Noise Characterisation and Suppression

   • Measure and model intensity, frequency, and phase noise.
   • Explore nonlinear conversion dynamics and UV-induced degradation.
   • Investigate squeezed light injection for further noise suppression.

3. Application Experiments

   • Collaborate with Imperial College London to perform narrow-line laser cooling at 326 nm.
   • Conduct precision spectroscopy on the 332 nm 1S₀–³P₀ clock transition in Cd.

Expected Outcomes:

• Demonstration of compact, low-noise UV laser sources suitable for Cd-based optical clocks.
• Experimental validation of narrow-line cooling and clock transition spectroscopy.
• Publications in laser physics, nonlinear optics, and quantum metrology.
• Contributions to the development of deployable optical clocks for Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) applications.

The project is conducted in collaboration with Fraunhofer CAP and Imperial College London, offering a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of laser engineering, quantum optics, and precision measurement.

This project addresses a critical challenge in quantum technologies: reliably controlling quantum systems despite uncertainties and imperfections. Current quantum devices remain highly sensitive to calibration errors, noise, and device variations, limiting scalability and practical deployment.

The project builds on Universally Robust Quantum Control (URQC) [1], which designs control protocols that maintain high fidelity across multiple error types simultaneously. Unlike traditional methods targeting specific errors, URQC exploits geometric properties of quantum dynamics to achieve universal robustness.

In this context, this project will tackle problems of both applied and fundamental nature:

• To create practical tools for programming robust control sequences into cloud quantum computers
• To investigate fundamental limits of quantum control by connecting robustness theory with dynamical complexity measures from many-body physics—quantum chaos, unitary designs, and operator scrambling [2]
• To combine URQC methods with reinforcement learning techniques to tackle robust control of open quantum systems with particle loss [3]

The methodology will integrate analytical optimal control methods, mathematical insights from group theory and many-body physics, numerical optimization using gradient-based [4] and machine learning algorithms, and validation through realistic hardware simulations. The project will deliver new theoretical connections between quantum control and quantum complexity, alongside validated control protocols and open-source software tools enhancing near-term quantum device reliability.

In a quantum many-body system the interactions between the constituent microscopic particles lead to emergent macroscopic phenomena. Such macroscopic phenomena include superfluidity (fluid flow without viscosity) and superconductivity (conduction of electricity without resistance). Novel phases such as high-temperature superconductivity form the basis of quantum materials, where useful emergent properties can lead to new technologies. Studying the dynamics of vortices (quantum whirlpools) can give key insight into the inner workings of these systems. Superfluids formed of ultracold atoms provide an extremely clean and well-controlled system for studies of collective quantum behaviour. They enable exquisite control over interactions, geometry, and rotation (vorticity). Importantly, in superfluids formed of mixtures of ultracold atoms we can tune the interactions to emphasize quantum effects such as fluctuations.

A key aim of this PhD project is to explore quantum-fluctuation dominated regimes where the behaviour of the superfluid depends on its inherent quantum nature, driving our fundamental understanding of superfluidity as a collective quantum phenomenon.  Research goals include (1) investigating the role of quantum fluctuations in vortex nucleation and subsequent dynamics, and (2) investigating quantum-fluctuation-mediated interactions between two superfluids.

The successful student will join the Quantum Fluids research team, run by Dr Kali Wilson. They will work closely with the supervisor and other team members on a state-of-the-art experimental apparatus designed to explore vortex dynamics in binary superfluids formed of ultracold rubidium and potassium atoms. The successful student will also acquire practical skills in the areas of quantum technologies, optics and atomic physics. These skills include working with lasers, designing optical systems, high-resolution imaging and state-of-the-art image processing techniques, cooling and trapping atoms, as well as electronics and mechanical design.