Research Associate in Photonic Characterisation and Sensing
Research Associate in Photonic Characterisation and Sensing
The University of Manchester - Science and Engineering - Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering - School of Engineering
Job reference: SAE-031670
Salary: £37,694 - £46,049 per annum depending on experience
Location: Manchester
Employment type: Fixed Term
Contract Duration: Fixed Term for 36 months
Closing date: 24/06/2026
We are seeking a motivated and collaborative individual to join our team as a Research Associate in Photonic Characterisation and Sensing. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to world-leading research within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Photon Science Institute at the University of Manchester. You will work in a dynamic and inclusive research environment as part of the EPSRC-funded Materials Engineering for Advanced Devices (MEAD) Programme Grant.
This is a full-time, fixed-term post for 36 months from 1 September 2026.
Responsibilities
- Designing and simulating material processing procedures for colour-centre formation
- Delivering experimental studies and developing measurement protocols for photonic and spin-based characterisation
- Using advanced ultrafast laser, cryogenic and high-magnetic-field optical spectroscopy facilities
- Collaborating with academic colleagues within the MEAD programme and external partners
- Disseminating research through high-quality publications, reports and presentations
Essential Criteria
- A PhD (or close to completion) in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical/Electronic Engineering or a closely related discipline
- Strong experience in the fabrication and characterisation of single-photon emitters or related solid-state quantum systems
- Experience using ultrafast laser, cryogenic and magnetic-field-based characterisation techniques
- Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate complex experimental data
- Excellent communication, organisational and team-working skills
Desirable Criteria
- Experience with focused ion beam technologies beyond basic sample preparation
- Experience with photonic or microwave characterisation of doped semiconductor materials
- Experience using modelling and simulation tools (e.g. COMSOL, MATLAB, LabVIEW, Python)
- Experience mentoring postgraduate students or early-career researchers
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