PhD Studentship with Industrial placement in Nanophotonics and Metamaterials: Design and Fabrication of Infrared Metasurfaces

Supervisory Team: Prof. Otto Muskens and Dr Kai Sun

The project will explore the design and fabrication of optical metasurfaces for infrared applications using state of the art cleanroom nanofabrication and nanophotonics experiments. The project involves a placement at QinetiQ and comes with a substantial personal research and travel budget.

Infrared technologies are of increasing vital for a range of applications including autonomous vehicles, environmental and industrial monitoring, (aero)space and defence & security. The scope of this PhD is to advance the fundamental physics and technology of metasurfaces in the infrared domain with an emphasis on achieving both spatial variation (i.e. pixelated metasurfaces) and active control using electrical or optical actuation.

The project will explore the design of metasurfaces through both commercial and custom-built (e.g. deep learning) software. Experimentally, we will fabricate metasurface optics using advanced full-wafer fabrication tools such as Southampton’s Deep-UV lithography (the only such system available in the UK’s academic research community) and our new 200 kV electron beam lithography system (the only such system currently installed in UK and Europe). During the PhD research the student will receive training and will develop strong expertise in fabrication of devices using one of the leading research cleanroom facilities in the UK and worldwide.

This Collaborative PhD studentship involves a joint partnership with QinetiQ, who are a multinational technology company providing advanced technology solutions for a range of application areas. The student for this PhD research will periodically visit QinetiQ at their Farnborough site (based in Hampshire and convenient for travel to and from Southampton), in person where their activities will focus on, but not limited to, training, knowledge transfer, specification requirements, characterisation, system assembly, and testing. In addition to in-person visits, QinetiQ plans regular contact with the student to provide mentorship and direction from the industrial perspective. 

Applications are invited for a postgraduate researcher to join this new activity taking place in the Quantum, Light and Matter group at the University of Southampton and involving visits to QinetiQ’s research facility in Farnborough, Hampshire. We are looking for highly motivated applicants with interest in the topic of metasurfaces and an affinity for experimental optics research, involving numerical design, nanofabrication using the University’s cleanroom facilities, and optical studies. A substantial personal research budget for cleanroom use, travel (both collaboration and conference visits), industrial placement, and consumables is associated with this project.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 20 July 2025. Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified.

Funding: We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students, including Bursaries and Scholarships. For more information please visit PhD Scholarships hiringnearme.org Doctoral College hiringnearme.org University of Southampton Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.

How To Apply

Apply online:  Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk) Select programme type (Research), 2025/26, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Physics (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor NAME

Applications should include:

Research Proposal

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: [email protected]

The School of Physics is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.