Project Vacancies

The CDT in Applied Photonics welcomes applications from all suitably-qualified candidates. We particularly encourage applications from people who are currently under-represented in our CDT.

We are now accepting applications for our September 2026 cohort. The deadline for applications is 31st March 2026. 

International applicants can only apply for projects displaying the 🌐 symbol. Unfortunately, there are currently no projects with international funding available for September 2026 entry. 

Please note that applications are reviewed as they are submitted and, therefore, projects can fill before the deadline. 

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Nanofabrication two-dimensional semiconductor devices for extreme tuning and manipulation

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Razorbill Instruments Ltd
University: Heriot-Watt University
Supervisor: Professor Brian Gerardot
Project Description Semiconductor heterostructures underpin modern optoelectronic technologies. A transformative approach to engineer devices with unprecedented properties is create semiconductor heterostructures from single sheets of atoms. Uniquely, one can stretch, compress, or twist the individual atomic layers of these ‘2D’ devices, thereby altering their electronic and optical behaviour—turning insulators into...
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Fourier Ptychographic Microscopy for High-Speed Semiconductor Wafer Inspection

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: CoolLED Ltd
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Professor Gail McConnell
Project DescriptionSemiconductor manufacturing requires ever-increasing inspection speeds and resolution as device complexity grows. Current automated optical inspection (AOI) systems often rely on high-magnification, high numerical aperture objectives to achieve the necessary defect detection performance, however, this imposes limits on field of view (FOV) and therefore limits throughput. At the same...
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Parallelisation of Ultrafast Lasers for High Throughput Sensing

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Coherent Scotland Ltd
University: Heriot-Watt University
Supervisor: Professor Derryck Reid
Project Description The project will explore new approaches to parallelisation in ultrafast laser systems to increase throughput and operational efficiency for advanced photonic applications. Conventional ultrafast laser sources such as optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers can be limited in pulse energy, repetition rate, or complexity when scaled for multiple experimental...
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Photonics-enabled integrated optical wireless communication, sensing and localization for future networks

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer UK
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr Sujan Rajbhandari
Project DescriptionAs indoor environments generate over 80% of global data traffic, next-generation networks urgently require high-capacity, ultra-reliable indoor connectivity. Optical wireless communication (OWC) and LiFi offers vast optical bandwidth for 6G applications but remains constrained by limited device bandwidth, power, and non-ideal channel conditions; challenges amplified in multi-user systems where...
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Hollow-core fibre Raman Spectroscopy for Advanced Molecular Sensing

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Professor Karen Faulds
Project DescriptionThe successful candidate will join Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (CAP) — the UK’s leading applied photonics research organisation — and pursue development of next-generation Raman Spectroscopic instrumentation with a particular emphasis on its utility within the UK’s world-class emerging fusion energy sector.Raman spectroscopy provides unique molecular “fingerprints” for...
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Sculpting Light: Femtosecond Laser Inscription and Chemical Etching of Laser Gain Media

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Professor Alan Kemp
Project DescriptionWhat the project offers:This EngD offers the chance to explore how light itself can be used as a precision tool for materials engineering. You will investigate the combined use of femtosecond laser inscription and chemical etching to create three-dimensional structures from laser gain media; and demonstrate the construction of...
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Engineering robust optical fibre position sensor for size and space limited aerospace applications

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: AWE
University: Heriot Watt University
Supervisor: Dr Bill MacPherson
Project DescriptionThere are a variety of advanced engineering applications where precise measurement of axial rotation of components is required with examples including monitoring of component orientation, satellite solar array orientation mechanisms, and remote robotic manipulators. Solutions to this requirement are made more complicated due to strict SWaP (Size, Weight and...
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Next-Generation Underwater Optical Wireless Communication (UOWC) and Sensing

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr Sujan Rajbhandari
Project DescriptionJoin the next revolution in global communications — connecting the seabed to space through emerging 6G and beyond technologies. This EngD offers the opportunity to develop innovative underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) systems that enable high-speed, real-time data transfer for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), and...
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High Stability, High Sensitivity Diagnostic Spectroscopy for use in Materials Ageing Trials

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: AWE
University: Heriot Watt University
Supervisor: Professor Derryck Reid
Project DescriptionInfrared (IR) sensing of gases has widespread applications in Industry, Medicine and Atmospheric monitoring. Due to its non-invasive nature and the distinct absorption ‘fingerprint’ each molecule has, the obtained in situ measurements are a reliable and sensitive method of detecting chemical species. Pair this with the use of optical...
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Benchtop super-resolution microscopy with background rejection

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Northern Light Microscopy Ltd
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr Ralf Bauer
Project DescriptionThe successful EngD candidate will join Northern Light Microscopy (NLM) - a dynamic recent spin-out company from the University of Strathclyde who lead in the development of advanced microscopy systems for direct use on life-sciences lab benches – and lead research on developing multi-modal super-resolution microscopy technology with capabilities...
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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 DescriptionThere is an immediate need for new hybrid photonic devices to translate breakthrough optical sensing techniques into practical field portable sensing systems. You will investigate and utilise the synergies between two emerging rapid prototyping techniques: Ultrafast laser inscription (ULI) and precision CNC milling to achieve this important advance. ULI...
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Quantum-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy for Advanced Molecular Sensing

  • PhD
  • EngD
Company: Fraunhofer
University: University of Strathclyde
Supervisor: Dr David Li
Project Description The successful candidate will join Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics (Fraunhofer CAP) — the UK’s leading applied photonics research organisation — and pursue development of next generation Quantum Raman Spectroscopy. Raman spectroscopy provides unique molecular “fingerprints” for chemical and biological sensing, but its inherently weak signal limits sensitivity...
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