Unbreakable photonics-based encryption using hybrid electronic-optical systems

About the Project

Encryption is a cornerstone of modern communication systems, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data transmitted across networks. As digital communication becomes increasingly pervasive—spanning personal messaging, financial transactions, healthcare records, and national security—robust encryption mechanisms are essential to protect sensitive information from interception, tampering, and unauthorized access.

An emerging form of high-speed, secure encryption is based on unclonable photonic integrated circuit (PIC) hardware, where the complexity and manufacturing of the optical chips underpins their identity, and opens up new forms of point-to-point and physical identification encryption schemes. This project will develop a new class of PICs for these applications and programmable photonic operations, leveraging heterogeneous integration of micron-scale optoelectronic components with high-speed CMOS electronic drivers.

Making use of recent advances in photonics-based perfect secrecy cryptography, and state-of-the-art microfabrication and integration, the student will design and fabricate PICs that support dynamic spectral encoding and reconfigurable temporal modulation. These circuits will be integrated with custom CMOS driver electronics, using integration methods developed at the Institute of Photonics, enabling scalable control of thousands of photonic elements via FPGA interfaces.

The student will gain expertise in PIC design and simulation using Finite Difference Time Domain and Eigenmode methods, microfabrication of photonic chips in the University of Strathclyde’s Technology and Innovation Centre cleanroom, novel methods in heterogeneous integration using advanced transfer printing and flip-chip bonding tools and high-speed optical and electronic testing using state-of-the-art metrology equipment.

The student will be part of the Institute of Photonics (IoP), a centre of excellence in applications-oriented photonics research at the University of Strathclyde. Training will include professional development in research communication, project planning, and participation in technical seminars, journal clubs, and group activities.

Institute of Photonics: The Institute of Photonics (IoP), part of the Department of Physics, is a centre of excellence in applications-oriented research at the University of Strathclyde. The Institute’s key objective is to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial applications and development in the area of photonics. The IoP is located in the £100M Technology and Innovation Centre on Strathclyde’s Glasgow city centre campus, at the heart of Glasgow’s Innovation District, where it is co-located with the UK’s first Fraunhofer Research Centre. Researchers at the IoP are active in a broad range of photonics fields under the areas of Photonic Devices, Advanced Lasers and Neurophotonics, please see: http://www.strath.ac.uk/science/physics/instituteofphotonics/ourresearch/.

Strathclyde Physics is a member of SUPA, the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance.

The University of Strathclyde has been the recipient of the following awards: UK University of the Year 2026 (Daily Mail University Guide); Scottish University of the Year 2026 (The Times and Sunday times Good University Guide); The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education 1996, 2019, 2021 & 2023; University of the Year 2012 & 2019 (Times Higher Education).

Student eligibility: To enter our PhD programme applicants require an upper-second or first class BSc Honours degree, or a Masters qualification of equal or higher standard, in Physics, Engineering or a related discipline. Full funding, covering fees and stipend, is available for applicants who are UK Nationals (meeting residency requirements) or have settled status (meeting residency requirements), pre-settled status or otherwise have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

How to apply: Applicants should send an up-to-date CV to iop@strath.ac.uk

Funding Notes

The funding covers the full stipend and tuition fees at the home rate (not the international rate). To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have settled status, or
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter.