Purpose of Role
The project is expected to lead to significant technological progress and high-impact scientific publications in the areas of ultrafast and nonlinear optics. The work will be conducted in a special environment combining the academic freedom and creativity at a university with a stimulating and demanding interaction with Europe’s leading technology company.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
The post holder is required to:
- Design and perform rigorous and systematic experiments to explore new ultrafast nonlinear optics phenomena in gas-filled hollow-core optical fibres.
- Work with ultrafast optical setups, including management of advanced laser systems, the design and construction of pulse compression systems, performing ultrafast laser experiments, and building and operating optical characterization devices.
- Run existing simulation codes and process their results. Helping to develop new models and algorithms to simulate pulse propagation, the material response, and other aspects of our experiments. Coding in Julia and python.
- Take a prominent role in discussions and knowledge transfer with our industrial collaborators, including writing detailed progress reports.
- Writing, editing and publishing scientific articles in leading journals, and presenting results at international conferences.
- Assisting with the filing of intellectual property and technology transfer.
- Supervising the activities of junior group members and mentoring PhD students.
- Assisting in the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities, liaising with companies and external collaborators.
- 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.
- The post holder will join the Laboratory of Ultrafast Physics and Optics 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).
Essential & Desirable Criteria
Essential
A PhD in physics or engineering with a specialisation in ultrafast laser systems, ultrafast nonlinear optics, or extensive additional experience in these areas. Candidates must have submitted their doctoral thesis before starting in post.
Direct experience of experimental work on ultrafast lasers or ultrafast nonlinear optics.
A record of high-quality publications, and evidence of contribution to the writing of these publications proportionate to opportunity.
The ability to articulate research work, both in technical reports/papers and by oral presentation.
A strong theoretical understanding and thorough grounding in experimental techniques relevant to the project.
The ability to work as part of a team on the experiments at Heriot-Watt and more widely with collaborators at other institutions.
Desirable
- Evidence of ability, subject to opportunity, to guide other researchers, e.g. PhD students and undergraduate project students.
- Evidence of ability to present work effectively in person, e.g. at conferences and seminars.
- Experience with gas-filled hollow-fibre setups, including the design and use of gas systems, beam stabilisation systems and vacuum systems.
- Experience of programming for data acquisition and analysis (preferably in Python).
- Experience of computer aided design (CAD) of components and devices.
- Experience in writing numerical pulse propagation codes.