Job Description

Role PDRA in Ultrafast Nonlinear Optics in Gas-Filled Fibres

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 - £37,694 - £47,389 per annum

Contract Type: Full Time, Fixed Term until end December 2027

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full time staff.

Purpose of Role

The Laboratory of Ultrafast Physics and Optics (LUPO, https://lupo-lab.com) seeks a talented and motivated scientist to carry out a research programme focused on developing novel ultrafast light-source technologies in gas-filled hollow-core anti-resonant fibres. The role will involve working in close collaboration with our industry partner ASML—the major player in the semiconductor lithography sector—to harness new techniques in nonlinear optics in gas-filled fibres to develop light sources with unique properties.

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

1. Evidence of ability, subject to opportunity, to guide other researchers, e.g. PhD students and undergraduate project students.
2. Evidence of ability to present work effectively in person, e.g. at conferences and seminars.
3. Experience with gas-filled hollow-fibre setups, including the design and use of gas systems, beam stabilisation systems and vacuum systems.
4. Experience of programming for data acquisition and analysis (preferably in Python).
5. Experience of computer aided design (CAD) of components and devices.
6. Experience in writing numerical pulse propagation codes.

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight  (UK time)  on Monday 10th August 2026.

The application requires a CV and a cover letter explaining your motivation/interest in this project to be submitted through the university portal. Candidates are requested to specifically highlight in their applications how they fulfil the essential criteria for the post.

We especially encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups in Physics.

For more information, please send enquiry emails to Prof John Travers (j.travers@hw.ac.uk).

We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g., part-time working and job share options.

Heriot-Watt  University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt  University values diversity across our university community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website  https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm  and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers  https://disc.hw.ac.uk/  

Use our total rewards calculator:  https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About the Team

The laboratory of ultrafast physics and optics (LUPO) uses nonlinear optics to create new light sources with tailored, and extreme, spectral and temporal properties. Examples include the generation of high-energy single-cycle pulses in the ultraviolet, new techniques for broadband white-light supercontinuum generation, and the design and construction of high-energy few-cycle ultrafast fibre lasers.

Our work is a mix of experimentation and numerical modelling. We make use of nature’s full landscape of materials, laser beam geometries and nonlinear effects, but our favourite system is hollow waveguides (such as photonic crystal fibres and capillaries) filled with gases, liquids, and plasmas.

We use these light sources for both fundamental science (such as the physics of nonlinear optics, ultrafast light-gas interactions, new ways of driving strong-field physics, advanced spectroscopy), and for applications in healthcare, advanced manufacturing and the semiconductor industry.

Please see https://lupo-lab.com/for further details of our group.

Our group is part of the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Science (IPaQS), which is one of the UK's largest research clusters in Photonics. IPaQS has a strong culture of collaborative research, which is built on the regular exchange of ideas between our experimental and theory groups. We are a tight-knit community of academics that support each other’s career development. We have a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, and hold regular events that celebrate our diversity and raise awareness about issues affecting the IPaQS community. We have world-class research facilities, including a 275m2  cleanroom and 2175m2  of high specification optics and laser laboratories, providing the infrastructure needed to conduct internationally leading research in photonics and quantum sciences. The UK Research and Excellence Framework (REF2021) saw Heriot-Watt Physics ranked first in Scotland and 4th in the UK for world-leading research.

About Heriot-Watt University

At Heriot-Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.