Research Fellow

Location:  

Highfield Campus

Salary:  

£34,980 to £42,978
per annum

Full Time Fixed Term until 31/10/2025

Closing Date:  

Tuesday 26 December 2023

Interview Date:  

Reference:  

2535623PN

The Hollow Core Fibre Group at the University of Southampton, a leading research group in the field of optical fibre technology, is seeking a dynamic and highly motivated Research Fellow to join a ground-breaking project sponsored by Microsoft Azure. Our research group is renowned for its contributions to the development of cutting-edge optical fibre technologies, and this project represents a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of this field.

Project Overview: The successful candidate will investigate novel coupling techniques for data signal generation and interrogation in antiresonant hollow-core optical fibres. The goals of the project will be to create new strategies for light manipulation in micro-structured fibres while developing a testbed demonstrator to prove these concepts.  Through our collaboration with Microsoft, the knowledge created by your research will help form the next generation of advanced and secure telecommunications infrastructure.

Key Features of the Position:

• World-Class Research Environment: You will be based at the University of Southampton, a research-led institution ranked in the top 1% of world universities. The project will take place within the esteemed Optoelectronics Research Centre, where many of today’s specialty optical fibre technologies were first conceived.
• Cutting-Edge Technology: The candidate will work with a team at the forefront of optical fibre technology development, within a thriving research group with strong industry connections.
• Balanced Approach: This position offers a unique balance between experimental work and theoretical techniques and is thus ideal for candidates who wish to combine hands-on experimentation with advanced analytical and modelling approaches in their research.
• Industry Impact: This project has significant implications for our industrial sponsor, Microsoft Azure, providing an excellent opportunity to see your research put into practice for the future of telecommunications.

 Essential Skills & Experience:

• PhD* or equivalent qualification
• Experience designing and implementing complex experiments involving free-space optics, optical fibres, and fibre-optic devices 
• Expertise in the analysis and modelling of fibre-optic and free-space optical systems 
• Strong lab proficiency, preferably with demonstrated experience in test equipment control and automation 

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Hands-on experience with hollow core optical fibres, especially antiresonant fibres
• Experience in free-space beam coupling to/from optical fibres or other micro-optic devices
• Advanced knowledge of optical communications formats and signal processing
• Strong experience with one or more optical simulation environments (Lumerical, Comsol, Zemax, etc)

This role offers an exceptional opportunity for learning, pushing the boundaries of hollow core fibre technology, and contributing to the advancement of the field. If you are an ambitious and accomplished researcher with a passion for fibre-optics and the drive to make a tangible impact, we encourage you to apply.

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.  

* Applications will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification.  The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon completion of PhD.  Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given. 

To informally discuss this position, please contact Austin Taranta, [email protected]

Working at the University of Southampton:

Check out the staff benefits and why you should join us at The University of Southampton!

Further details:

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 midnight on the closing date. For assistance contact Recruitment on +44(0)2380 592750 or [email protected] quoting the job number.