Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow: Time Crystals and Timetronics

University of South Hampton; Southampton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in the UK is looking for a Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow to investigate time crystals and their application in timetronics. This full-time position offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and management experience. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD in Physics or a related field and have substantial research experience. This role supports inclusion and flexibility, affirming the university's commitment to a positive working environment.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance

Flexible working approach

University closure days

Qualifications

• Strong educational background in a relevant field.
• Demonstrable record of research achievement and dissemination.
• Experience in nanofabrication and computational multi-physics.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to a project on time crystals and timetronics.
• Investigate fundamental physics of photonic time crystals.
• Join interdisciplinary research group led by Professor N. Zheludev.

Skills

Research achievement

Nanofabrication

Electromagnetics modelling

Education

PhD in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or related

Job description

Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow: Time Crystals and Timetronics

A crystal in space represents a distinct state of matter, with spatial periodicity in its lattice structure underpinning its band structure and optical properties. This project concerns time crystals, whose properties exhibit periodic oscillations in time. Photonics offers a promising route for advancing time crystals into the emerging domain of timetronics — an information and data technology founded on the distinctive functionalities of this novel state of matter (see, for example, Nature Photonics, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41566-024-01557-1 ).

We are seeking a creative and capable researcher with a strong educational background to contribute to a project sponsored by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The project aims to investigate the fundamental physics of photonic time crystals on a nanomechanical platform and to establish the conceptual and experimental basis of timetronics.

Applicants should hold, or be close to completing, a PhD or equivalent qualification in Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline relevant to nanophotonics and/or nanomechanics. A demonstrable record of research achievement and dissemination in these areas of research is required. Experience in nanofabrication and computational multi-physics or electromagnetics modelling would be advantageous.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary nanophotonics research group within the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), led by Professor N. Zheludev FRS, NAE (USA), see http://www.nanophotonics.org.uk/ .

This is a full-time fixed-term position for 2 years from early 2026.

The post is available at the level of Research Fellow or Senior Research Fellow, depending on experience. For consideration as a Senior Research Fellow, it is essential that you have substantial experience encompassing, for example, project/resource/laboratory management, supervision of other research team members, contribution to research funding proposals.

As a university we aim to create an environment where everyone can thrive and are proactive in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect and equality of opportunity. We believe that we can only truly meet our objectives if we are reflective of society, so we are passionate about creating a working environment in which you are free to bring your whole self to work. With a generous holiday allowance as well as additional university closure days we are committed to supporting our staff and students and open to a flexible working approach.

Apply by 11.59 pm GMT on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on [phone] or [e-mail] quoting the job number.