Research Associate in Quantum Optics and Optical Spectroscopy -Dimensional Materials

Role

Research Associate in Quantum Optics and Optical Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Materials

Grade 7 (£37,694 - £47,389)

Full‑time (35 hours per week), Fixed Term for 3 years

33 days annual leave plus 9 bank holidays (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

The Quantum Photonics Laboratory (QPL) at Heriot‑Watt University is an internationally recognised research group working at the interface of quantum photonics, condensed matter physics, and two-dimensional materials. The group comprises approximately 25 researchers, including academic staff, postdoctoral researchers and PhD students, and conducts research spanning quantum light sources, strongly correlated quantum materials, van der Waals heterostructures, moiré materials and spin‑based quantum technologies.

The laboratory operates state‑of‑the‑art facilities for cryogenic optical spectroscopy, quantum optics, nanofabrication and automated assembly of complex two‑dimensional material heterostructures. Researchers within the group collaborate extensively with leading academic and industrial partners internationally, providing an exciting and highly interdisciplinary research environment.

The Quantum Photonics Laboratory seeks a highly motivated experimental physicist to undertake research on the optical and quantum‑optical properties of atomically thin semiconductors and van der Waals heterostructures.

The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary project exploring light‑matter interactions in two‑dimensional materials, with particular emphasis on excitons, spin‑valley physics, nonlinear optical phenomena, quantum light generation and emerging quantum photonic functionalities. The research will combine advanced optical spectroscopy techniques with the fabrication and characterisation of layered semiconductor heterostructures.

A major focus of the project will be the development and application of low‑temperature optical spectroscopy techniques—including photoluminescence, differential reflectance, Raman spectroscopy, magneto‑optical spectroscopy, time‑resolved spectroscopy, second‑harmonic generation and quantum optical measurements—to investigate excitonic, spin‑valley and many‑body phenomena in engineered van der Waals, twisted and moiré material systems. The project will also explore nonlinear optical processes and quantum light generation in layered materials, including spontaneous parametric down‑conversion and the characterisation of entangled photon states.

In addition, the project will investigate how layered materials can be integrated with nanophotonic and metasurface platforms to realise enhanced and programmable nonlinear optical functionalities.

The post holder will have access to a wide range of experimental facilities within the Quantum Photonics Laboratory, including cryogenic spectroscopy platforms, high magnetic field systems, single‑photon detection technologies, advanced nanofabrication facilities and automated systems for the assembly of two‑dimensional material heterostructures. The successful candidate will be expected to take a leading role in designing experiments, analysing data, publishing results in high‑impact journals and contributing to the supervision of junior researchers.

• Conduct world‑leading experimental research on the optical and quantum‑optical properties of two‑dimensional semiconductors and van der Waals heterostructures.
• Design, build and optimise advanced optical spectroscopy experiments, including low‑temperature and magnetic‑field‑dependent measurements.
• Perform linear and nonlinear optical characterisation of semiconductor heterostructures using techniques such as photoluminescence, differential reflectance, Raman spectroscopy, second‑harmonic generation and magneto‑optical spectroscopy.
• Investigate excitonic, spin‑valley, many‑body and quantum optical phenomena in atomically thin materials.
• Develop and perform experiments on quantum light generation in layered materials, including spontaneous parametric down‑conversion (SPDC).
• Characterise entangled photon states using coincidence measurements,…