Postdoctoral Research Associate in Novel Optical Sources Based on Gas-Filled Hollow-Fibers

Role:Research Associate inNovel OpticalSourcesBased on Gas-Filled Hollow-Fibers

Grade and Salary: Grade 7 37694 - 47389 per annum

FTE and working pattern: 1FTE 35hrs per week Monday Friday

Contract: 24 Months FTC

Holiday Entitlement: 33 days annual leaveplus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday)

Purpose of Role

ThisResearch Associate positionwill supporttheresearch anddevelopment of a newgeneration oflight source based ongas-filled the rise of novel nonlinear materials the generationcontrolandapplication oflight sources in the ultraviolet spectral regionhasproven to be along standingchallenge. The goal of thisscientific researchproject is todemonstratethebest in classlight sourcein the deep UV by exploiting the broadband guidancehandling capabilities of modern hollowfibersfilled with gases. Suchlightsource will allow exquisite control of key light parameters such as pulsedurations emission wavelengths and repetition rates and it will open new spectroscopyindustrial and healthcare applications.

The projectmain focuswill be on experimentscarried outat the LUPO laboratories at Heriot-Watt will provide plenty of opportunities to masterstate of the artresearch-gradelasers anddevelopapplied optics skills instrument control numerical modelling anddemonstratefundamentalphysics conundrums.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

• Use of CADdesignsoftwareandwaveguide FEM solver
• Workingwithandtestinganti-resonantcapillaryand solid-statefibers
• Building and troubleshooting gas-filling system for hollow-corefibers
• Building optical setup fortemporal characterization of ultrashort pulses in ultraviolet visible andnear-infrared
• Working with ultrafast optical setupsand laserswith high-average and high-peak power
• Building ofoptical cavities
• Running existing simulation codesin Juliaand processing their to develop new models and algorithms to simulate pulse propagation the material response and other aspects of our
• Assistingwith the filingand generationof intellectual property and technology transfer
• Assistingin the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities liaising with companies and external collaborators
• Assistingwith engagement withindustrial partnersand preparation of experimental demonstrationsand writing of detailedtechnicalreports

Essential & Desirable Criteria

Essential

1. APhD inphysicsor engineeringwith a specialisation inopticsorequallyaPhDthesissubmittedin same subject area
2. Experienceinnonlinearfiberopticsandexperiments with gas-filled hollow-corefibers
3. Experience inhandlingdesigningandtesting of anti-resonantcapillaryand solid-statefibers
4. Experiencein writing technical research reports for industrial engagement
5. Experience withhigh-pressure and high-vacuumgas-filling systemsfor optical experiments
6. Experience with high-power lasers opticalcavitiesand noise performance
7. The ability to formulate and progress work on their own initiative
8. The abilityto work as part of a team on the experiments at Heriot-Watt and more widely withscientific and industrialcollaborators at otherinstitutions

Desirable

1. Demonstrablehands-onexperienceworking with lasers in an optical laboratoryspeciallyconstructingand optimisingoptical setups
2. Familiaritywith computer-aideddesign (CAD)and FEM solvers of optical systems
3. Experience in the optical and mechanical design of optical devices or lasers
4. Experience withconstruction and testing of optical cavities
5. Experiencewriting numerical codes to control laboratory instruments and collecting and analysingexperimental and numerical datasets
6. Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary scientific teams including those outside the group in which you work

How to Apply

Applications can be submitted up to midnight(UK time)onTuesday 27th January 2026.

Pleasesubmit your CV & covering letter via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment.

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

Heriot-WattUniversity 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-WattUniversity 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 also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers our total rewards calculator: see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.

About the Team

The laboratory of ultrafast physics and optics (LUPO)usesnonlinear optics to create new light sources with tailored and extremespectraland temporal include the generation ofhigh-energysingle-cycle pulses in both 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. Weusedifferentmaterials laser beamgeometriesand nonlinear effectsto create new light sources for a multitude of scientific and industrial applications. Our favouritenonlinearsystem is hollow waveguides (such as photonic crystal fibres and capillaries) filled with gases liquids and plasmas.

Our interests in fundamental Science include the physics of nonlinear optics ultrafast light-gas interactions new ways of driving strong-field physics and advanced spectroscopy. Industrial applications include healthcare advanced manufacturingand the semiconductor industry.

Please see further details.

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.