Research Assistant; Cleanroom

Role

Title:

Research Assistant (Cleanroom)

Grade and Salary:Grade 6 - £31,236 - £36,636 per annum

FTE and working pattern:Full Time (1

FTE), Fixed Term for 4 months

Reward and Benefits:33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff.

The Single-Photon Group at Heriot-Watt have a long-standing track record in researching ground-breaking single photon detection and applications in quantum communications and single-photon imaging. With single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detectors, we initiated and led collaborations to produce the first custom-designed In Ga As /InP single-photon avalanche diode detector (2006), first strained SiGe SPAD (2002), and custom-designed Ge-on-Si SPAD (2013), and first planar Ge-on-Si SPAD (2018).

In quantum communications systems: work in the field led to a world-record transmission distance quantum key distribution system (2001); the first demonstration of a quantum key distribution system operating at GHz clock-rate over an optical fibre link (2004); the first experimental demonstrations of quantum digital signatures (including the first experimental demonstration of quantum digital signatures over installed optical fibre in the Tokyo network) (2015 and 2017), and several novel coherent state amplification experiments.

We have pioneered single-photon three-dimensional imaging since the 1990's and continue to innovate, for example being the first to make underwater single-photon imaging demonstrations (2015), first measurements through camouflage (2017), first measurements through fog (2018), and first single-photon full colour image reconstruction (2018).

Our group has five laboratories with a total floor area of more than 120 m2, including space within a collaborative facility leveraging the skills and technologies of local EPSRC Quantum Hub colleagues. The research group has direct ownership of world-leading state-of-the-art equipment with a total value in excess of £3.5 million.

Heriot-Watt University is leading a consortium of a further twelve universities and two national laboratories, supporting the formation of a new international research centre (Hub) funded by EPSRC for a 5-year research programme into Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN). The IQN Hub is supported by an initial £21.8M award from UKRI and additional industrial support, including 'in-kind' and direct financial support valued at approximately £20M.

Furthermore, we have a global network of fellow world-leading researchers, offering the possibility of exchanges and collaborations.

The individual will provide technical support in the cleanroom. The applicant will be processing and analysing samples and will require, as a minimum, a first degree (MSc desirable) in Engineering, and experience of working in a laboratory.

• Work with colleagues and line manager in the cleanroom
• Semiconductor sample preparation
• Device fabrication
• Manage the consumables in the cleanroom