"Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow"

Job details

Salary

The starting salary for Associate will be from £32,982 up to £38,205 on Grade E. For Fellow it will be from £41,732 on Grade F, depending on qualifications and experience. Salary will be per annum (pro rata for part-time).

Contractual hours

36.5

Package

Generous holiday allowances, flexible working, pension scheme and relocation package (if applicable).

Job category/type

Research

Date posted

07/08/2024

Job reference

P95189

Job description

Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy

This UKRI-funded full-time, permanent post: Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow in developing quantum sensors to probe the quantum biology of single molecules is available immediately until February 2025, with the possibility for extension pending grant award.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in working part-time hours or job-sharing arrangements.

The post

The Faculty wishes to recruit a Postdoctoral Research Associate or Fellow to participate in developing quantum sensors to probe the quantum biology of single molecules.

The successful applicant will:

Utilise the single molecule technique developed in Professor Vollmer's laboratory, which is based on optical microcavities with whispering gallery modes (WGMs). You will apply quantum measurements using entangled and squeezed light sources to probe single molecules and their conformational states with precision beyond the shot noise limit 

You will complete building a light source that employs a nonlinear optical interaction, specifically spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC) in a PPKTP crystal, enclosed in an optical cavity. This setup will produce spectrally narrow (~10 MHz) and tunable entangled photons and squeezed light to match the excitations of WGMs. You will harness Enhanced Whispering Gallery Mode Phase Shift using Indistinguishable Photon Pairs and squeezed light, as detailed in Callum Jones, Antonio Vidiella-Barranco, Jolly Xavier, Frank Vollmer, "Enhanced Whispering Gallery Mode Phase Shift using Indistinguishable Photon Pairs" (arXiv:2404.17409, 2024). https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2404.17409.

You will improve WGM detection limits (signal-to-noise ratio, SNR) for detecting dilute proteins interacting with our sensor individually. This will enable the detection of signals at lower concentrations of an Alzheimer’s biomarker (amyloid beta protein). Additionally, you will quantify absorption cross-sections and WGM signals associated with conformational state transitions within the photocycle of Bacteriorhodopsin, a well-established protein model system for studying photochemistry, proton-pumping, and the visual process.

About you

The successful applicant will be able to develop research objectives, projects and proposals; identify sources of research funding and contribute to the process of securing funds and make presentations at conferences and other events.

Applicants will possess a relevant PhD (or nearing completion for PDRA) or equivalent qualification/experience in a related field of study. The successful applicant will be a nationally recognised authority in optical sensing using entangled or squeezed light and possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the discipline to develop research programmes and methodologies. The successful applicant will also be able to work collaboratively, supervise the work of others and act as team leader as required. Applicants will be able to complete setting up a PPKTP crystal, enclosed in an optical cavity for producing spectrally narrow (~10 MHz) and tunable entangled photons and squeezed light. The applicant will carry out single molecule sensing on WGM sensors probed with the entangled photons/squeezed light.

Please ensure you read the Job Description and Person Specification for full details of this role.

What we can offer you

Freedom (and the support) to pursue your intellectual interests and to work creatively across disciplines to produce internationally exciting research;

Support teams that understand the University wide research and teaching goals and partner with our academics accordingly

An Innovation, Impact and Business directorate that works closely with our academics providing specialist support for external engagement and development

Our Exeter Academic initiative supporting high performing academics to achieve their potential and develop their career

A multitude of staff benefits including sector leading benefits around maternity, adoption and shared parental leave (up to 26 weeks full pay), Paternity leave (up to 6 weeks full pay), and a Fertility Treatment Policy

A beautiful campus set in the heart of stunning Devon.

The University of Exeter

We are a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities and in the top 200 universities in the world (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024 and QS World University Ranking 2024).  We combine world-class teaching with world-class research, achieving a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework Award 2023, underpinned by Gold ratings for Student Experience and Student Outcomes.

Our world-leading research impact has grown more than any other Russell Group university in recent years, and we are home to some of the world’s most influential researchers, seeking to answer some of the most fundamental issues facing humankind today.  More than 99 percent of our research is of international quality and 47 percent is world-leading (2021 Research Excellence Framework).

 Further information

For further information please contact Prof Frank Vollmer, e-mail f.vollmer@exeter.ac.uk or telephone (01392) 724711.

The closing date for completed applications is 14 August 2024.  Interviews are expected to take place immediately afterwards.