Salary: Grade 7 - £32,236 to £39,609 p.a. (plus benefits)

Where: This is a three-year postdoctoral position in the Beyond Binary Quantum Information (BBQ) research group led by Dr Mehul Malik at the Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPAQS) at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. The BBQ research group is a small, vibrant team of researchers working at the interface of quantum information theory and experiment, with a specific focus on exploring high-dimensional quantum photonic systems and applying them for enhancing modern quantum technologies.

The BBQ Lab is situated in a custom-built, state-of-the-art photonics laboratory outfitted with a wide range of equipment including: femtosecond-pulsed and CW sources of entanglement, superconducting nanowire detectors, and telecom and visible light SLMs. We are funded by generous grants from the UK EPSRC and the European Commission/QuantERA, with substantial resources available for travel and career development. We have strong links to leadings group in the EU/North America, and additionally benefit from Heriot-Watt’s membership in the UK Quantum Communications and Imaging Hubs. 

What: You will be involved in cutting-edge research projects focusing on the study of quantum systems significantly beyond the qubit regime. Your research will aim at gaining exquisite control over the spatial and temporal structure of light, with the ultimate goal of pushing the information and noise limits of quantum information technologies. You will play an integral part in projects ranging from robust new tests of Quantum Mechanics to noise-resilient entanglement-based quantum communication, to name just a few. 

This is a role with a significant amount of responsibility. It will involve overseeing all aspects of our group’s research—from supervising the activities of junior group members, to contributing to the planning and writing of external grant proposals. There is plenty of flexibility for pursuing your own research agenda as long as it is aligned with lab activities. You will have a strong support network for the development your own career through independent grant/fellowship applications. A willingness and ability to travel globally would be an advantage.

Who: We are looking for a researcher who is extremely passionate about research and as excited about Quantum Mechanics as we are! You should hold (or have submitted) a PhD in Physics or subjects related to Quantum Information or Quantum Engineering, and have experience planning and leading experiments within an experimental photonics lab. A solid background in theoretical quantum information science is essential and experimental experience with photonic entanglement, spatial/temporal mode manipulation, and/or complex scattering media is preferred.

When: We are looking for candidates to start as soon as possible (Spring/Summer 2019). However, if you have a strong interest in the position but are only available at a later stage, please email us with an expression of interest.

How: Interested applicants should apply at the Heriot-Watt website. Informal enquiries may be made to Dr Mehul Malik at m.malik@hw.ac.uk. Applicants are asked to provide the following documents:

• CV containing a list of publications and the names of at least two professional references. 
• An original piece of their scientific writing (such as a first author manuscript or thesis).