Research Assistant/Associate

Imperial College London - Department of Physics

Placed On: 19th December 2025

Closes: 31st January 2026

Job Ref: NAT02114

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to perform experiments with optical metamaterials.

The post arises from the ERC-Advanced project “Light interaction with synthetically moving metamaterials-LUMINOUS” at Imperial College London with the objective of advancing our understanding of materials that vary in time and synthetic motion. The successful applicant will be expected to work with Professor Riccardo Sapienza and our experimental collaborators to develop experiments in the field of metamaterials that vary in space and time. More details at https://www.sapienzalab.org.

At Research Associate level: To carry out research programmes in photonic metamaterials, nanophotonics, ultrafast spectroscopy and structured light generation, undertake project management and/or supervise multi-disciplinary teams. The Research Associate will be expected to submit publications to refereed journals and to attract external research funding.

Some of the key responsibilities will be:

• Develop ultrafast optical experiments to study optical metamaterials, to structure light in space and time using spatial light modulators and digital micromirrors, and to use it to modulate materials.
• Characterisation of time-varying photonic metamaterials to identify and develop suitable techniques, and apparatus, for the collection and analysis of data.
• Assist with the analysis of data.

Queries relating to the research project should be directed to Professor Riccardo Sapienza - r.sapienza@imperial.ac.uk

Queries relating to the application process should be directed to Judith Baylis, Senior Administrator - j.baylis@imperial.ac.uk