Silicon devices for nonlinear photonics and applications

Supervisory team: Prof Anna Peacock & Dr Meng Huang

Closing date 31 October 2026

This project seeks to develop compact and power efficient nonlinear silicon photonics devices for use in wide ranging applications such as telecommunications, medicine and spectroscopy. The designs will focus on robust and low-loss component-to-component interconnection, to improve the sustainability and practicality of future photonic systems.

Silicon photonics is fast becoming one of the most active areas of research, offering optoelectronic solutions for a wide range of applications not only in telecoms, but also in medicine, imaging, spectroscopy, and sensing. Within this field, a subdivision that is gaining increased momentum is nonlinear silicon photonics as the semiconductor material displays a number of important nonlinear effects that can be used to generate and process signals at ultrafast speeds.

This research project will follow the development of silicon devices fabricated both from conventional planar waveguides on-chip as well as those based on an emerging platform that incorporates semiconductor materials directly into the cores of optical fibres.

In particular, the silicon fibre platform offers a unique possibility to seamlessly link semiconductor technologies with the silica fibre infrastructures that are used to transmit light around the globe – one of the key challenges facing the mass uptake of integrated photonic chips.

The work will have elements of:

• waveguide design
• component fabrication and optimization
• optical characterization and device benchmarking using both experimental and numerical tools.

You will join our team of dynamic and skilled researchers. There will be opportunities to interact with our National and International collaborators.

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) PhD work comprises a solid education for a research career. The structured first year involves attending our training programme running in parallel with carrying out your research project. This provides a smooth transition from your degree course towards the more open-ended research that takes place in the following years under the guidance of your project supervisors.

A range of technical skills training will also be carried out in areas such as:

• fabrication
• component characterization
• general laboratory work
• data analysis,

depending on needs. You will also have the opportunity to present your work at international conferences and to write papers in leading academic journal.

You can expect to emerge from the PhD with skills at the forefront of future photonics research.

Entry requirements

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent in one of the following:

• physics
• mathematics
• engineering

or a closely related discipline

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.

Additional resources for this PhD project are provided within 'Silicon core fibres: extending the reach of nonlinear fibre systems' research project.

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 and 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.