Research Associate in Fabrication and Optical Spectroscopy -Dimensional Heterostructure Devices

Role
:
Research Associate in Fabrication and Optical Spectroscopy of Two-Dimensional Heterostructure Devices

Grade and Salary
:

Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

FTE and working pattern
:

Full Time (1

FTE), Fixed Term for 4 months

Holiday Entitlement
:33 days annual leaveplus 9 buildings closed days (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 optical and quantum-optical spectroscopy, cryogenic measurements, nanofabrication, and the 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 for a fixed-term Research Associate position of four months. The successful candidate will contribute to research on the optical, nonlinear-optical, and quantum-optical properties of two-dimensional materials and van der Waals heterostructures.

The successful candidate will work across complementary research activities in two-dimensional materials and quantum photonics. These include nonlinear and quantum optical studies of layered ferroelectric materials, including NbOBr2 and related systems, together with ultrafast optical spectroscopy of semiconductor moiré heterostructures undertaken in collaboration with external partners. The precise balance of activities will depend on project progress and the expertise of the successful candidate.

The post holder will have access to a wide range of experimental facilities within the Quantum Photonics Laboratory, including cryogenic spectroscopy platforms, single-photon detection technologies, advanced nanofabrication facilities, and automated systems for the assembly of two-dimensional material heterostructures. The successful candidate will work closely with researchers at Heriot-Watt and external collaborators and may participate in a short research visit to a collaborating ultrafast-laser facility.

Given the short duration of the appointment, the post holder will be expected to make rapid experimental progress and contribute effectively to ongoing team projects.

• Fabricate and characterise novel van der Waals heterostructures using all-dry assembly and atomic force microscopy techniques.
• Conduct high-quality experimental research on the optical, nonlinear-optical, and quantum-optical properties of two-dimensional materials and van der Waals heterostructures.
• Design, build, optimise, and operate advanced optical spectroscopy experiments using techniques appropriate to the research programme.
• Perform linear, nonlinear, and time-resolved optical characterisation of semiconductor and layered-material heterostructures using techniques such as photoluminescence, reflectance, Raman spectroscopy, second-harmonic generation, and pump-probe spectroscopy.
• Investigate excitonic, many-body, nonlinear-optical, and quantum-optical phenomena in atomically thin materials and engineered van der Waals structures.
• Contribute to experiments on nonlinear frequency conversion and quantum light generation…