Research Fellow - Fibre & Systems Group

You will join our growing team working on next generation optical fibres which guide light in an air core and have the potential to surpass the performance of conventional optical fibres in a range of exciting applications. Your role will mainly focus on activities related to hollow core fibre characterisation and applications, with possible opportunities to develop fibre fabrication skills depending on how the project progresses.

This research is partly funded by the EPSRC Future Photonics Hub ( http://photonicshubuk.org / ) which enables us to link our fundamental research with exciting applications by engaging our academic innovation with the needs of a range of industrial partners. This project is well aligned with other hollow core fibre based programmes at the ORC which will provide further opportunities to collaborate both internally and externally. You will be joining a welcoming and successful team within our world-renowned photonics research centre and you will have access to the excellent facilities and dedicated researchers that this provides.

To be successful, you must hold a PhD* or equivalent professional qualifications and experience related to fibre optics or photonics. In addition, you will have excellent skills in the critical evaluation and interpretation of data and experience of working as part of a collaborative research team. Along with hands-on experience of working with optical fibres which should include fibre handling, cleaving and free space beam coupling as well as background knowledge and understanding of optical fibres. Experience of hollow core fibre fabrication, characterisation and interconnection will also be advantageous.

Equality, diversity and Inclusion is central to the ethos in the Zepler Institute. We particularly encourage women, Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME), LGBT and disabled applicants to apply for this position. We value diversity and inclusion at the University and aspire for our staff population to be broadly representative of our community. In recognition of our continued commitment to improving equality for women in science, we were awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze. We give full consideration to applicants that wish to work flexibly including part-time and due consideration will be given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy**, onsite childcare facilities along with other benefits such as the cycle to work scheme.

The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK's research-intensive universities. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. Our vision is to embed the principles of sustainability into all aspects of our individual and collective work, integrating sustainable development into our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities. This commits all of our staff and students to take responsibility for managing their activities to minimise harm to the environment, whether this through switching off non-essential electrical equipment or using the recycling facilities.

This position is initially funded for a period of 2 years and with a start date in September 2021 or shortly thereafter.

If you have any questions or would like to have an informal discussion about this position, please contact Dr Natalie Wheeler, n.v.wheeler@soton.ac.uk

* Applications for Research Fellow positions will be considered from candidates who are working towards or nearing completion of a relevant PhD qualification. The title of Research Fellow will be applied upon successful completion of the PhD. Prior to the qualification being awarded the title of Senior Research Assistant will be given.

** subject to qualifying criteria

You should submit your completed online application form at https://jobs.soton.ac.uk. The application deadline will be midnight on the closing date stated above. If you need any assistance, please call Hannah Nash (Recruitment Team) on +44 (0) 23 8059 2750, or email recruitment@soton.ac.uk . Please quote reference 1387321PN on all correspondence.

We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Please note that applications from agencies will not be accepted unless indicated in the job advert.
We aim to be an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.