Celebrating 21 years!
2022 marked our anniversary as the UK's longest running Applied Photonics Centre for Doctoral Training.
Find out more
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 UN's Sustainable Development Goals
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
Learn more
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.
previous arrow
next arrow
Slider

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.

Learn more

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
Learn more

Available EngD & PhD Projects

Loading...

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...
Read More

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,...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More
View all available projects

Fully-funded scholarships available

LEARN MORE

Latest News

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

CDT 2024 Conference

The CDT in Applied Photonics held its conference on 1st July 2024 at Heriot-Watt University, at which we formally launched our new ESPRC Doctoral Training

July 2, 2024

Supervisor Training Event

On Friday 3rd May 2024 the CDT in Applied Photonics held a half-day training workshop followed by lunch for academic and industrial supervisors of current

May 4, 2024
View All News

Annual Report 2022/23

now available!
CDT-Report-2023