Research Associate in “AI-Enhanced Spin- Quantum Experiments Job Edinburgh area,City of Edinburgh Scotland UK,Research/Development

Position: Research Associate in “AI-Enhanced Spin-Based Quantum Experiments“
Location: City of Edinburgh

Role:Research Associate in “AI-Enhanced Spin-Based Quantum Experiments “

Grade and Salary:Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

Contract Type:Full Time (1

FTE), Fixed Term for 24 months

Holiday Entitlement:33 days annual leaveplus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

About our Team

We offer a post-doctoral position related to the “Integrated Quantum Networks” (IQN), lead by Heriot-Watt University. As part of the UK Quantum Technology Programme, the hub will develop a multi-platform secure quantum networking. The position, supervised by Prof Cristian Bonato, is related to the application of machine learning and AI to improve the performance of nuclear spin quantum memories.

Detailed Description

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our team working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum sensing. The positions will focus on the development and deployment of real-time AI methods for the autonomous optimisation of spin qubits associated to solid-state defects.

We expect the candidate to supervise on-going work on an existing experimental setup, which enables feedback control on timescales one order of magnitude shorter than what available in the literature and has already led to high-quality publications (e.g. (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).).

Examples of recent advances from our group include the demonstration of real-time adaptive quantum sensing with NV centres in diamond (see e.g. Phys. Rev. Applied 21, 024026 (2024)) and the development of scalable Bayesian inference techniques for high-dimensional parameter estimation problems relevant to nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging (see e.g. PRX Quantum 7, 020360 (2026)).

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The key tasks of this project are to undertake research in the following areas:

Implement and demonstrate robust multi-parameter quantum sensing protocols based on reinforcement learning
Upgrade the existing experimental setup with state-of-the-art quantum control hardware
Intellectual property protection with a view to develop near and future market applications
General tasks involve scientific research; analysis and interpretation of data; daily oversight of the activities of postgraduate and undergraduate project students in the laboratory; communication with other investigators involved in this collaborative project; preparation of scientific papers; presentation of research at conferences.

To carry out the research project to a high standard;

Meeting planned milestones and deliverables.

Reporting progress regularly to supervisors, both verbally and in written reports

Keeping clear written records of work done, and storing data in accessible formats according to a system agreed with the project supervisor.

To collaborate with partners within the project and others as appropriate:

The post holder will join the Quantum Photonics Laboratory and will be expected to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a team environment; this involves shared use of laboratory equipment (therefore effective communication between group members is essential), and giving periodic presentations to group meetings.

Assist the development of student research skills, and be expected to contribute to the assessment of student knowledge in the context of teaching and supervision duties.

The post holder will be expected to maintain and develop collaborations with internal and external partners in the field.

Dissemination of results:

Attend group and project meetings, communicating progress on a regular basis. Deliver presentations to project collaborators and the wider research community

Write high-quality research papers in English for the scientific literature.

Disseminate results of research in peer…