Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light and Matter

Working at Durham University  

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Find out more about the benefits of working at the University and what it is like to live and work in the Durham area on our Why Durham? information page.   

The Department

The Department of Physics at Durham University is one of the leading UK Physics departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students. 

The Department is committed to advancing equality and we aim to ensure that our culture is inclusive, and that our systems support flexible and family-friendly working, as recognized by our Juno Champion and Athena SWAN Silver awards. We recognise and value the benefits of diversity throughout our staff and students.

The Role

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available to pursue experimental research in the field of atomic and laser physics within the Durham Quantum Light and Matter group. The position is associated with a Frontier Research grant on “Quantum Simulation with Ultracold Polar Molecules” funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).  The research builds upon our expertise in creating ultracold RbCs molecules in the rovibrational ground state and trapping them in optical tweezers. The post holder will work directly with Prof. Simon Cornish and other members of his research group within the Durham Quantum Light and Matter research section.

The goal of the research is to synthesise and study artificial quantum materials using ultracold RbCs molecules arranged in regular arrays to probe novel quantum phenomena in strongly interacting quantum systems. The use of molecules is motivated by their rich internal structure, combined with the existence of controllable long-range dipole-dipole interactions, long trap lifetimes and strong coupling to electric and microwave fields. The post holder will be expected to display the initiative and creativity, together with the appropriate skills and knowledge, required to work with Prof. Cornish to deliver the research goals. These include (1) the encoding synthetic dimensions in molecules confined in rotationally magic tweezers and (2) the demonstration of entangling gates between pairs of molecules confined in separate optical tweezers. The post holder is therefore expected to have experience and familiarity with the techniques used in the study of individual particles confined in optical tweezers, including the operation of magneto-optical traps, the trapping of single atoms, the use of spatial light modulators to create arbitrary trap arrays and dynamic rearrangement of particles using programmable acousto-optic deflectors. The post holder is expected to be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a small research team. It is expected that the post holder will enhance the international contacts of the group through the presentation of work at international conferences and exchange visits to collaborators connected with the project. The post holder will also be expected to aid in the supervision of graduate students within the group as well as contributing to the undergraduate teaching within the Department.

Responsibilities:

• To understand and convey material of a specialist or highly technical nature to the team or group of people through presentations and discussions that leads to the presentation of research papers in conferences and publications.
• To prepare and deliver presentations on research outputs/activities to audiences which may include: research sponsors, academic and non-academic audiences.
• To publish high quality outputs, including papers for submission to peer reviewed journals and papers for presentation at conferences and workshops under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To assist with the development of research objectives and proposals.
• To conduct individual and collaborative research projects under the direction of the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder.
• To work with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and other colleagues in the research group, as appropriate, to identify areas for research, develop new research methods and extend the research portfolio.
• To deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines by discussing with the Principal Investigator or Grant-holder and offering creative or innovative solutions.
• To liaise with research colleagues and make internal and external contacts to develop knowledge and understanding to form relationships for future research collaboration.
• To plan and manage own research activity, research resources in collaboration with others and contribute to the planning of research projects.
• To deliver training in research techniques/approaches to peers, visitors and students as appropriate.
• To be involved in student supervision, as appropriate, and assist with the assessment of the knowledge of students.
• To contribute to fostering a collegial working environment which is inclusive and welcoming and where everyone is treated fairly with dignity and respect.
• To engage in citizenship to support the department and wider discipline.
• To engage in continuing professional development by participation in the undergraduate or postgraduate teaching programmes or by membership of departmental committees, etc. and by attending relevant training and development courses.   

The post is for a fixed term of 24 months.

The post-holder is employed to work on a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will ideally be in post by 13th May 2024.

The Requirements

Essential Criteria:

Qualifications

1. A good first degree in physics.

2. A PhD (or be close to submission) in atomic physics or a closely related area.

Experience

3. Experience in conducting high quality academic research. 

4. Demonstrable ability to write material of a quality commensurate with publication in highly-ranked journals.

5. Demonstrable ability to present research findings at meetings or conferences and to communicate complex information to specialists within the wider academic community.

6. To have experience in the experimental study of single atoms and/or molecules confined in optical tweezers.

Skills

7. Demonstrable ability to work cooperatively as part of a team, including participating in research meetings.

8. Ability to work independently on own initiative and to strict deadlines.

9. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 

10. Skills relevant to the trapping and manipulation of single atoms and/or molecules in optical tweezers. Examples include basic electronics, development of FPGA devices, the use of programmable waveform generators, laser frequency stabilisation and control, image analysis, data acquisition, optical design and Gaussian beam propagation.

Desirable Criteria:

Experience

11. Demonstrable ability to develop research proposals and designs in collaboration with other academics.

12. Experience of overseeing students with respect to the development of their practical/research skills e.g. acting as a demonstrator; supervising student projects/practicals.

13. Demonstrable ability to model experiments using a range of software packages, such as Python, Matlab or Mathematica.

14. Experience of experimental research in the field of ultracold molecules is highly desirable, especially the study of molecules formed by associating ultracold atoms. 

How to Apply

For informal enquiries please contact Prof. Simon Cornish (email [email protected]). All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. 

We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site. https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/. As part of the application process, you should provide details of 3 (preferably academic/research) referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in the University.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

• A CV and
• A covering letter that explains how you fulfil the essential requirements for the posts detailed above.

Next Steps

The assessment for the post will include a short presentation of your previous research and an interview. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview and assessment as soon as possible following the closing date.