Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light Source Development Job Penicuik area,Easter Howgate Scotland UK,Research/Development

Location: Easter Howgate

Role:Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light Source Development

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 Spine Point 28 (£37,694) per annum

FTE and working pattern: Full Time (1

FTE, 35hrs per week, Monday – Friday), Fixed Term for 12 months

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

Purpose of Role

The Edinburgh Mostly Quantum Lab seeks a talented and motivated scientist for developing quantum light sources for quantum communication field tests. The project is expected to lead to technological progress and high-impact scientific publications.

The work will be conducted within the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) under the supervision of Prof Alessandro Fedrizzi.

For more information, please send enquiry emails to Prof Alessandro Fedrizzi ().

We especially encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups in Physics.

Key

Duties & Responsibilities

The post holder is required to:

Design and develop quantum light sources

Conduct quantum communication field tests over deployed fibre links.

Carry out other general tasks involved in scientific research as analysis and interpretation of data, and daily oversight of the activities of postgraduate and undergraduate project students in the laboratory.

Carry out the research project to a high standard by:

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.

Collaborate with partners within the project and others as appropriate

The post holder will join the Edinburgh Mostly Quantum Lab 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).

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

Maintain and develop collaborations with internal and external partners in the field.

Attend group and project meetings, communicating progress on a regular basis. Deliver presentations to project collaborators and the wider research community. Regular short-term travels to visit collaborators and attend international conferences are thus expected and funding to cover caring costs are available.

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

Disseminate results of research in peer reviewed journals and conferences, and/or other appropriate media.

Essential & Desirable Criteria Essential

A PhD in physics, electrical engineering, or other relevant subjects. Candidates must have submitted their doctoral thesis before starting in post.

The ideal candidate will have a strong experimental background in one or more of the following fields: experimental quantum photonics, quantum communications.

A record of high-quality publications, relative to opportunity, in the above-mentioned fields.

Commitment to adopting principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace

Desirable

Previous experience with one or more of the following:

Entangled photon source development

Quantum communication experiments

Quantum communication field tests

Experience in leading the writing of scientific papers.

Evidence of ability, subject to opportunity, to guide other researchers, e.g. PhD students and undergraduate project students.

Capability to be self-directed and think innovatively.

Applications can be submitted up to midnight(UK time) on
30/09/2026

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.

Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-…