Programmable silicon photonic circuits

Supervisory Team: Prof David Thomson, Prof Professor Goran Mashanovich & Dr Bharat Pant

Closing Date: 30 September 2026

This project will focus on the development of reliable and efficient programmable photonic integrated circuits (PICs) on a silicon photonics platform.

Photonic integrated circuits (PICs) based on silicon have recently become an established and powerful technology that supports many applications such as optical communications, chemical and biological sensors, and LiDAR systems. Programmable photonic circuits have attracted a lot of research interest recently as a means of further extending the functionality and feasibility of PICs. A programmable photonic circuit can be readily fabricated and then programmed to perform multiple photonic processing functions by using the same hardware programmed into different configurations. This approach has the benefit of providing greater flexibility and is more cost-effective mass fabrication of photonic products as compared to application-specific PICs.

As a researcher on this project you will:

• explore new technologies and architectures for building programmable photonic integrated circuits
• design, fabricate and test configurable silicon photonics waveguides and switches
• study directional couplers and Mach-Zehnder Interferometers as basic building blocks, in order to form more complex programmable photonic integrated circuits
• study and evaluate network architecture designs such as binary trees, rectangular architectures, and square or hexagonal loops

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.

You'll 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 high speed and across a range of wavelengths.

Entry requirements

You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent.

Fees and funding

We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.

Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.

Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.

Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.

Full scholarships include tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate plus 10% ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling £22,858 for 2025/26, rising annually) and a budget of £4200 for things like conference travel. UK, 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

Apply now

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD ORC (7097)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)

The School of Optoelectronics (ORC) is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break.

The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.