The Quantum Photonics Laboratory seeks a talented and motivated post-doctoral scientist to act as an Experimental Officer to establish and operate a novel Quantum Magnetometry Facility . This position combines the roles of supporting multiple research projects by different academic users (11 groups have already expressed interest in the facility) and pursuing independent research. Heriot-Watt offers open-ended contracts but with fixed funding for initially 36 months, with funding currently available to 48 months and substantial opportunities for career progression.

The facility comprises an NV centre (single-spin) quantum magnetometer (Attocube) in a dilution refrigerator with a superconducting vector magnet, including all required high-end electronics and microwave components for quantum sensing. The facility, unique in the UK and one of just three available worldwide, will operate down to mK temperatures, opening the way to unique studies of quantum-correlated electron systems.

Job description . The Experimental Officer is expected to strongly contribute to research using this unique facility, both in terms of leading own projects and to liaise with external users to apply quantum magnetometry to different types of materials systems. Examples of quantum materials and structures we are planning to investigate are: 2D moire heterostructures, unconventional superconductors, novel magnetic materials and heterostructures forming exotic spin textures, materials for spintronics, etc. The project is expected to lead to high-impact scientific publications and to technological developments related to complex quantum materials. The Experimental Officer is also expected to join the facility Management Board, to discuss the state/operation of the facility and prioritise access, and contribute to writing funding proposals to support the mission of the facility.

The Quantum Photonics Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University (HWU) is engaged in research covering solid-state photonics, engineering coherent light-matter interaction using quantum structures and devices, and exploiting such devices for quantum technologies. The group consists of about 20 members, including four academics: Prof. Brian Gerardot, Dr. Cristian Bonato, Dr Margherita Mazzera and Dr Mauro Brotons i Gisbert. The platforms used within the group include quantum sensing with defects in wide band-gap materials such as SiC or diamond, two-dimensional materials ‘beyond graphene’, quantum dots in III-V semiconductors, rare-earth quantum memories. The group has well-equipped laboratories for quantum optics and high-resolution laser spectroscopy of quantum emitters at room and cryogenic temperatures (8 cryostats and 2 room-temperature setups), radio-frequency control of electronic/nuclear spins as well the facilities for fabrication of novel optoelectronic and quantum devices. The group has recently been awarded a >£2M grant to establish a Quantum Magnetometry Facility operating down to the mK regime. See more of our team and facilities here: QPL website

If interested, please contact Dr Cristian Bonato (c.bonato@hw.ac.uk) as soon as possible and/or apply here.