Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light and Matter

Durham University; Barnard Castle; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham University is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to pursue experimental research in atomic and laser physics. The role involves leading projects, conducting experiments, and contributing to a collaborative research environment while supporting the teaching of undergraduate students. This position is pivotal for advancing techniques in optical atomic clocks within a diverse and inclusive department.

Benefits

Pension

Flexible working hours

Childcare provision

Shared parental leave policy

Qualifications

• Experience with narrowband and tunable scientific lasers.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Contribute to supervision of graduate students and undergraduate teaching.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop experiments to meet project goals.
• Contribute to the development of techniques for trapping and manipulating atoms.
• Enhance international contacts through presentations at conferences.

Skills

Initiative

Creativity

Knowledge of atomic physics

Experience in quantum optics

Laser cooling and trapping

Job description

The Role

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available to pursue experimental research in the field of atomic and laser physics within the Durham Quantum Light and Matter group. The position is associated with a project funded by the EURAMET - the metrology component of the European Union Horizon 2020 Programme.

The post holder will be expected to display the initiative and creativity, together with the appropriate skills and knowledge, required to lead and develop experiments to meet the project goals. The post holder will be expected to be familiar with narrowband and tunable scientific lasers, and have experience in atomic physics, quantum optics or laser cooling and trapping. The post holder is expected to be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a small research team. It is expected that the post holder will enhance the international contacts of the group through the presentation of work at international conferences. The post holder will also be expected to aid in the supervision of graduate students within the group as well as contributing to the undergraduate teaching within the Department.

The aim is to explore the use of reconfigurable arrays of trapped ultra-cold atoms in next generation optical atomic clocks. This post is part of the CoCoRiCo consortium, which consists of 4 National Metrology Institutes and 5 university research groups from across Europe. Your role will be to contribute to the development new techniques for trapping and manipulating atoms, as well as studies of systematic errors in tweezer array atomic clocks.

The successful candidate will be required to take a lead role in all aspects of the project, contributing directly to the experiment and working closely with Prof Matthew Jones, collaborators within the CoCoRiCo consortium and outside, as well as graduate students and other members of the research group. You will be expected to undertake an active role in the laboratory activity.

The Department of Physics is committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment. It is pledged to the Athena SWAN charter, where we hold a silver award, and has the status of IoP Juno Champion. We embrace equality and particularly welcome applications from women, black and minority ethnic candidates, and members of other groups that are under-represented in physics. Durham University provides a range of benefits including pension, flexible and/or part time working hours, shared parental leave policy and childcare provision.

The post is for a fixed term of 23 months.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will ideally be in post August 2025.

How to Apply

For informal enquiries please contact Matthew Jones (m.p.). All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.