Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light and Matter job with DURHAM UNIVERSITY | 262887 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Department of Physics

Grade 7: - 33,797 to 35,845 per annumFixed Term - Full TimeContract Duration: 36 monthContracted Hours per Week: 35Closing Date: 27-Aug-2021, 6:59:00 AM

Durham University

Durham University is one of the world's top universities with strengths across the Arts and Humanities, Sciences and Social Sciences. We are home to some of the most talented scholars and researchers from around the world who are tackling global issues and making a difference to people's lives.

The University sits in a beautiful historic city where it shares ownership of a UNESCO World Heritage Site with Durham Cathedral, the greatest Romanesque building in Western Europe. A collegiate University, Durham recruits outstanding students from across the world and offers an unmatched wider student experience.

Less than 3 hours north of London, and an hour and a half south of Edinburgh, County Durham is a region steeped in history and natural beauty. The Durham Dales, including the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, are home to breathtaking scenery and attractions. Durham offers an excellent choice of city, suburban and rural residential locations. The University provides a range of benefits including pension and childcare benefits and the Universitys Relocation Manager can assist with potential schooling requirements.

Durham University seeks to promote and maintain an inclusive and supportive environment for work and study that assists all members of our University community to reach their full potential. Diversity brings strength and we welcome applications from across the international, national and regional communities that we work with and serve.

The Department

The Department of Physics at Durham University is one of the leading UK Physics departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and employability.

The Department is committed to advancing equality and we aim to ensure that our culture is inclusive, and that our systems support flexible and family-friendly working, as recognized by our Juno Champion and Athena SWAN Silver awards.

We recognise and value the benefits of diversity throughout our staff and students.

The Role

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available to pursue experimental research in the field of atomic and laser physics within the Durham Atomic and Molecular Physics group. The position is associated with an existing experiment funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) focused on Quantum Optics using Rydberg atoms.

The post holder will be expected to display the initiative and creativity, together with the appropriate skills and knowledge, required to lead and develop the existing experiment to meet the project goals. The post holder will be expected to be familiar with the ultra-stable lasers, and have experience in atomic physics, quantum optics or laser cooling and trapping. The post holder is expected to be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a small research team. It is expected that the post holder will enhance the international contacts of the group through the presentation of work at international conferences. The post holder will also be expected to aid in the supervision of graduate students within the group as well as contributing to the undergraduate teaching within the Department.

The goal of the Rydberg project is to realise strong photon interactions with a high fidelity (preservation of properties of the incoming photons). The successful candidate will be required to take a lead role in all aspects of their project, contributing directly to the experiment and working closely with Prof Charles Adams, Prof Kevin Weatherill, project partners, and graduate students as well as other members of the research group and will be expected to undertake an active role in the laboratory activity

The Department of Physics is committed to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment. It is pledged to the Athena SWAN charter, where we hold a silver award, and has the status of IoP Juno Champion. We embrace equality and particularly welcome applications from women, black and minority ethnic candidates, and members of other groups that are under-represented in physics. Durham University provides a range of benefits including pension, flexible and/or part time working hours, shared parental leave policy and childcare provision.

Responsibilities

The post is for a fixed term of 36 months as it is associated with an existing experiment with fixed-term funding from the UK Engineering and Physical Science Researcher Council (EPSRC) focused on Quantum Optics using Ryberg atoms.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will ideally be in post by 1st October 2021.

How to Apply

For informal enquiries please contact Kevin Weatherill (K.j.weatherill@durham.ac.uk).All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The Joint Quantum Centre (JQC) is one of the UKs leading centres for atomic, molecular and optical physics research. Members of the JQC span the Physics and Chemistry Departments at Durham University and the Applied Mathematics Department at Newcastle University. Projects within the JQC investigate experimental and theoretical topics ranging from laser cooling and Bose-Einstein Condensation to nonlinear optics and Rydberg physics. The atomic and molecular physics group in the Department of Physics comprises 10 faculty, 11 post-doctoral researchers and 22 Ph.D. students. Further details of the research activities of the group can be found athttp://www.jqc.org.uk/

We prefer to receive applications online via the Durham University Vacancies Site.https://www.dur.ac.uk/jobs/. As part of the application process, you should provide details of 3 (preferably academic/research) referees and the details of your current line manager so that we may seek an employment reference.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and minority ethnic candidates, who are under-represented in academic posts in theUniversity.

What to Submit

All applicants are asked to submit:

Next Steps

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview and assessments.

The Requirements

Essential Criteria:

Desirable Criteria:

DBS Requirement:Not Applicable.

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Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light and Matter job with DURHAM UNIVERSITY | 262887 - Times Higher Education (THE)