Research Associate in Optical Metasurfaces

Role: Research Associate in Optical Metasurfaces

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

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term for 36 months

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days for all full-time staff

About our Team

The Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS) at Heriot-Watt University is a centre of excellence in photonics consisting of 150 researchers working across photonic physics, engineering photonics and quantum sciences, with extensive photonics laboratory, cleanroom and analytical facilities. Within IPaQS, this project will be based in the Nanophotonics group that drive metasurface-based nanophotonics research. 

This post is in the Prof. Xianzhong Chen’s Experimental Nanophotonics group. We have a suite of clean-room laboratories that support research and development of new nanophotonic devices in the visible and NIR regimes. Atomically thin materials can be stacked to form widely configurable heterostructures with unique nonlinear optical properties. Our research is driven by the curiosity of demonstrating and exploiting new metasurface devices based on these materials for new applications.  

Detailed Description 

The successful candidate will investigate atomically thin heterostructures for the development of novel nonlinear flat-optical devices capable of generating polarisation structures, complex vortex beams, and entangled photon pairs. Flat optics, based on planar nanostructured interfaces, has recently been extended into the nonlinear regime, offering opportunities for miniaturised and multifunctional optical systems. However, conventional bulk nonlinear materials often exhibit limited nonlinear interaction efficiencies when reduced to ultrathin dimensions, presenting a significant challenge for the development of practical nanoscale devices. 

Two-dimensional (2D) materials provide a promising platform for overcoming this limitation because of their strong optical nonlinearities, atomic-scale thickness, and compatibility with engineered heterostructures. By stacking atomically thin materials into designer heterostructures, this project will explore new approaches to controlling nonlinear light–matter interactions and translating them into compact flat-optical devices. 

The project will focus on developing ultrathin nonlinear optical devices for the generation and control of engineered polarisation structures and complex vortex beams, and compact entangled photon-pair sources. Such devices could provide new opportunities for applications in imaging, optical communications, encryption, security, and information processing. By bringing together concepts from nonlinear optics, 2D materials, nanophotonics, and quantum optics, the research aims to establish new design strategies for next-generation nonlinear flat optics and broaden the functionality of ultrathin optical platforms. 

This project is a synergetic integration of fundamental science (e.g., nonlinear optics and nanophotonics), nanostructure design, and prototype device development. The successful candidate will work directly with Prof. Xianzhong Chen in this project. It is likely that one PhD candidate will also be recruited to work in an area of direct relevance to this project, with an opportunity for the post holder to gain supervisory experience of a PhD project. 

Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof. Xianzhong Chen, email [email protected]. 

The post holder is required to: 

• Be an integral part of the project team that aim to develop and demonstrate novel metasurface devices for generating structured beams. 
• Develop metasurfaces devices with unusual functionalities.  
• Take the lead in the innovative design of metasurfaces and nanophotonic systems. 
• Be responsible for the experimental development and successful demonstration of these prototype devices, as defined by the project goals. 
• Compile design reports and collaborate with research team members. 
• Contribute to, and where appropriate, take the lead in writing research reports and papers, present at international conferences and publish in leading academic journals. 
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research with the assistance of a mentor, and where appropriate, take the lead in writing proposals for funding bodies and industrial partners. 
• Assist the development of student research skills and be expected to contribute to the assessment of student knowledge in the context of teaching and supervision duties. Could be expected to contribute to specialist student courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. 

The ideal candidate will have a strong theoretical understanding and practical experience in one or more of the following fields: 

• Physics and engineering of optical devices, with particular focus on metasurfaces, metamaterials, plasmonics or closely related areas. 
• Optical device design and system development, with a particular focus on optical nanodevices and integrated systems. 
• New theoretical model development and technology demonstrators, with relevant research lab experience. 
• Knowledge of the international trends and development of metasurface devices and their applications. 
• Good communication skills and an appropriate publication record are essential. 

A working knowledge of the following is desirable: 

• Engineering design packages (e.g. SolidWorks or similar). 
• Simulation and modelling packages (e.g. COMSOL Multiphysics, CST Microwave Studio and MATLAB). 
• Hardware control and analysis packages (e.g. LabVIEW). 

General tasks will involve: 

• Scientific research; analysis and interpretation of data; daily oversight of the activities of postgraduate and undergraduate project students in the laboratory; communication with other investigators involved in this project; preparation of scientific papers; presentation of research at conferences. 
• The successful candidate will be expected to conduct and lead their own experiments whilst also supervising the activities of junior group members and PhD students. 
• Responsibilities will also include assistance in the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities, liaising with companies and external collaborators. 
• The successful candidate is also expected to be involved in our outreach activities, with roles that can be tuned to the specific preferences of the candidate but will involve for example talks for the general public. 

 Essential Criteria 

1. Applicants should hold (or about to hold) a PhD in a relevant area of physics. 
2. Possess and maintain sufficient breadth or depth of specialist discipline knowledge and research methods and techniques to work in the area of optical device design, engineering and implementation. 
3. Experience of working in metasurface research and development laboratory or a similar environment. 
4. Strong track record of high-profile publications and conference presentations; and evidence of contribution to the writing and presentation of these. 
5. Demonstrate the capability of working as part of a team, but also to take the lead on aspects of novel optical device development. 
6. Be present and capable to contribute to the multi-disciplinary research team at Heriot-Watt University, and more widely with the collaborators and industrial partners. 
7. Must have a strong theoretical understanding and practical experience in several of the following: 

• Nanostructure design for multifunctional metalenses  
• Metasurface for generation and manipulation of structured beams 
• Metasurface devices with tailored functionalities 
• Optical system design and development which is applicable to nanophotonic systems. 

 Desirable Criteria 

1. A strong theoretical understanding and practical experience in physics and engineering of optical nanodevices, with particular focus on the advancement of novel metasurface devices. 
2. A record of lead authorship of high-quality publications and international conference presentations. 
3. Hands-on advanced research lab (or similar) experience with a focus on optical device development and technology demonstration. 
4. Knowledge and experience of the international trends and development of metasurface devices and experience with their applications. 
5. Experience in research-student supervision. 
6. A working knowledge of the following: 

• Simulation and modelling packages (e.g. COMSOL Multiphysics and MATLAB). 
• Engineering design packages (e.g. SolidWorks or similar). 
• Hardware control and analysis packages (e.g. LabVIEW). 

Travel 

Travel to national and international conferences is required. 

National travel to industrial partners may be required. 

How to Apply 

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

Applications can be submitted until midnight on Wednesday 26th August 2026.

Interviews will take place during the week commencing 31 August 2026. 

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. 

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/ . 

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

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