Celebrating 21 years!
2022 marked our anniversary as the UK's longest running Applied Photonics Centre for Doctoral Training.
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2022/23 Annual Report
Read about the Centre's most recent achievements in our 2022/23 Annual Report
View Annual Report
SUSSP81 Summer School in Photonic Sensing & Metrology for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Stirling, Scotland, 7th-15th June 2025
Find out more and register your interest
Training for CDT Supervisors
Calling all CDT supervisors - come and join us for a half-day training workshop and lunch in April 2025
Find out more and register your interest
Join us!
Find out more about our fully-funded PhD and EngD studentships
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Use-Inspired Photonic Sensing and Metrology
Each of our collaborations is built around an EngD or PhD student, providing them with masters-level technical and business qualifications, along with an industrially-connected doctoral research project.
The CDT in Applied Photonics works with companies developing photonics-enabled products and services, from consumer technology and mobile computing devices to healthcare and security.
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Prospective Students

Our four year programme places our research students on industry inspired projects leading to award of PhD or EngD.  The EngD qualification is an alternative to a traditional PhD aimed at students seeking a career in industry, and reflects the innovative nature of industrial research.

Students spend around 75% of their time working directly with a company, in addition to receiving advanced-level training from a broad portfolio of technical and business courses.

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Academic & Industrial Partners

The research projects will offer benefits to your company by: 

  • Increasing the research portfolio in a cost-effective way

  • Providing access to University laboratories and facilities

  • Creating opportunities to make contacts with other sponsor companies
  • Aiding the retention of existing staff who wish to study for a doctorate degree and continue with their employment
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Available EngD & PhD Projects

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Novel laser sources in the mid-infrared spectral region for security and sensing applications

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Professor Alan Kemp
Project DescriptionThis project will address the urgent requirement for new photonics tools in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectral region to police stricter greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards and to progress imaging capabilities in poor visibility for security applications.The majority of the so-called “fingerprint” absorption bands for GHGs are in the mid-IR...
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Scattering-Mediated Integrated Sensing and Communication at Optical Frequencies 🌐

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: MBDA UK
University: University of Edinburgh
Supervisor: Professor Wasiu O. Popoola
Project DescriptionThis project is to investigate novel techniques for sensing and achieving efficient wireless communication. The study will explore the optical frequencies, particularly the ultra-violet spectrum, for simultaneous sensing and wireless communications. A specific objective is to explore the otherwise deleterious effect of photon scattering and random propagation for enhanced...
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Slotted photonic crystal waveguides as a platform for surface enhanced Raman detection of hydrogen🌐

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: AWE
University: University of St Andrews
Supervisor: Professor Andrea Di Falco
Project DescriptionThe detection of hydrogen gas is important in many industries (petrochemical, civil nuclear, transport etc) due to its highly flammable nature. This need is likely to grow in the near future as hydrogen is used as the fuel of choice in many applications to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Typically,...
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Ophthalmic imaging with time and spectral resolution

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Occuity Ltd
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr David Li
Project Description The project aims to develop a data processing analysis pipeline for retinal imaging ophthalmoscopes with spectral and time-resolved measurement capabilities, to detect signatures of severe diseases from ophthalmic data. This unique ophthalmic system is built around a single-photon avalanche photodiode (SPAD) line sensor array with single-photon time-resolved detection...
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High-performance ultrashort pulse laser sources for advanced applications in sensing, imaging, and precise timing

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Professor Alan Kemp
Project DescriptionThe Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (Fh-CAP) seeks for a post graduate student to fulfil an EngD research position in ultrafast solid-state laser technology. The Fh-CAP provides professional research and development services for industry and is part of the larger Fraunhofer network that is Europe’s largest application orientated not-for-profit...
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Next generation long range laser rangefinders based on single photon detectors and new laser technologies

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Thales
University: Heriot-Watt University
Supervisor: Professor Gerald Buller and Dr Aongus McCarthy
Project Description Laser Rangefinders are a key element of modern sensor systems and can range up to 20km with an accuracy of less than 1m. Thales UK produced the first in-service laser rangefinder in 1965, just a few years after the invention of the laser, and have been designing and...
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uLED-based lab-on-chip platform

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr Nicolas Laurand
Project DescriptionThe Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) has several vacancies for exciting, varied and challenging applied R and D studentships in photonics, lasers and optical systems. We welcome applications from all students with the relevant qualifications – a strong undergraduate degree in Physics or Engineering with possible photonics or...
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Beam steering systems for remote sensing applications

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: Heriot-Watt University
Supervisor: Professor Robert Thomson
Project DescriptionThis project seeks to investigate novel beam steering techniques for use in remote sensing applications.  Remote sensing covers a wide range of industrial applications, such as automotive Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), over-the-fence pollutant monitoring, stand-off chemical sensing, underwater imaging, and many more.  Free space optical communications also has...
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Laboratory-based physical emulation of long path atmospheric turbulence for imaging sensors

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Thales
University: University of Glasgow
Supervisor: Professor Martin Lavery
Project Description Advanced imaging systems, operating in the visible and thermal infrared bands, are critical for a wide range of defence and security applications. Thales Glasgow is a leader in the development of these types of imaging technologies, with many applications across land and maritime platforms. These imagers are used...
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Advance diversity techniques for underwater optical communication and sensing

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr Sujan Rajbhandari
Project Description The emergence of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), combined with the expansion of underwater infrastructure has led to a huge opportunity for underwater optical communication and sensing. Surveying and monitoring now create huge quantities of data and being able to wirelessly transfer them to...
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Nanoscopic retinal functional imaging of neural activity for early disease detection

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Optos
University: University of Dundee
Supervisor: Dr Tom Vettenburg
Project Description Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, characterized by the progressive degeneration of retinal neurons. Early detection is crucial for effective management and treatment, as it can significantly slow the progression of vision loss. The proposed research aims to extend the capabilities of opto-retinography (ORG) beyond the...
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Light source for fluorescence lifetime and Transient Absorption Spectroscopy

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Edinburgh Instruments Ltd
University: University of St Andrews
Supervisor: Professor Graham A Turnbull
Project DescriptionA wavelength-tunable supercontinuum laser is a source that combines a broad spectral range (which can span from the visible to the infrared) with the ability to control the output wavelength. Key applications include spectroscopy, imaging and fluorescence lifetime measurements.The Agile laser of Edinburgh Instruments (EI) is such a laser...
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Automation of the spectroscopic characterisation of OLED materials 🌐

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Edinburgh Instruments Ltd
University: University of St Andrews
Supervisor: Professor Eli Zysman-Colman
Project DescriptionAn OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) is a type of light-emitting diode where the light-emitting layer is made of organic compounds. These compounds emit light in response to an electric current and are widely used in digital displays such as TVs and smartphones.The efficiency of the device is inextricably linked...
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Hybrid manufacturing of photonic devices for advanced sensing applications

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: Heriot Watt University
Supervisor: Dr Richard Carter
Project DescriptionThis project will develop new hybrid photonic devices using two emerging rapid prototyping techniques to translate breakthrough optical sensing techniques to practical field portable sensing systems.  Ultrafast laser inscription exploits the incredibly high fields found when a train of femtosecond pulses is focused inside a transparent material to create...
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Remote, range-resolved ultra-violet Raman spectroscopy for safety in hydrogen fuel and nuclear industries

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr David Li
Project Description The detection and monitoring of substances from a distance is extremely important to several industrial production and safety processes. This project will be focused on remote gas sensing in air using Raman scattering for safety applications in nuclear and hydrogen fuel industries. The Raman scattering signal, albeit weak,...
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Fully-funded scholarships available

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Latest News

Winter Graduations

Congratulations to our amazing and inspiring EngD and PhD students, who are graduating at the Winter graduation ceremonies at our academic partners! It was great

December 6, 2024
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November Viva Successes

November has been a busy month for our students – Francesco Dalla Serra, Matthew Gil, Samuel Buck and Suki Yau have all had successful EngD

December 2, 2024

Welcome Event for New CDT Students

On Wednesday 11th September 2024, the CDT in Applied Photonics held an in-person Welcome Event at Heriot-Watt University for our new students.  Supervisors joined us

September 12, 2024
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Annual Report 2022/23

now available!
CDT-Report-2023