Section: Photonic Systems Circuits & Sensors Group
Location: Highfield Campus
Salary: £36,130 to £44,128 per annum
Full-time, Fixed-term until 31/07/2028
Closing Date: Friday 08 August 2025
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Reference: 3161925BA

We invite applications for a Research Fellow to join our welcoming and collaborative team of world-leading researchers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton. With over 300 staff and students, the ORC is an internationally recognised hub for cutting-edge research, delivering real-world impact across manufacturing, communication technologies, augmented reality, healthcare, renewable energy, and environmental solutions.

About the Role

As a valued member of our team, you will play a key role in developing and producing advanced optoelectronic devices for applications such as quantum technologies, integrated optical sensors, and laser optics. In this EPSRC-funded project, you will lead a wide range of optical fabrication and characterisation activities, working side-by-side with researchers to develop the world's lowest-loss on-chip optical resonators. A core part of this role will involve close collaboration with the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and inter-institute visits to drive the project forward and translate our research into tangible innovations for the UK’s growing photonics sector.

Your Responsibilities

As part of the role, you will be required to operate and maintain state-of-the-art fabrication and characterisation equipment, liaise with our project partner, Caltech, develop innovative solutions, create new devices, publish results in leading journals, and investigate the potential to commercialise your outputs. Your attention to detail and commitment to excellence will help us create high-performance optical components that advance our research goals and commercial partnerships.

Who We’re Looking For

We seek a talented research fellow with skills and knowledge to complement our team. In this role, you will work with others to create glass layers via processes such as flame hydrolysis deposition and various microelectronics and optical fibre fabrication techniques to form the world's lowest loss integrated ring resonators. This role will focus on the fabrication and material characterisation of the waveguides, but will also involve waveguide design, optical characterisation, and integration with wider system-level components to demonstrate the potential applications of these devices.

Applications are encouraged from those with a strong background in optical material sciences, optical fibre or cleanroom fabrication, optics, lasers & photonics. We are looking for a self-motivated researcher with good experimental skills who is willing to conduct research independently and collaboratively, and who values contributing to a supportive team environment. You will also help train and support researchers and PhD students in this role, so strong communication and mentoring skills will be a plus. A PhD or equivalent professional qualification is essential. Due to the topic of the work, candidates would need to be exempt or eligible for an ATAS certificate; more details on ATAS can be found on the gov website. 

The appointment is for 36 months, starting as soon as possible.

Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Prof James Gates gates@southampton.ac.uk

Applications for Research Fellow positions 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 successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

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 +44(0)2380 592750 or recruitment@soton.ac.uk quoting the job number.

Closing Date: Friday 08 August 2025

Interview Date: To be confirmed