Research Fellow in Free Space Optical Communications

About us

The Photonics Group of the UCL Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering wishes to appoint a Research Fellow to work in the field of free-space optical communications as part of the Hub in All-Spectrum Connectivity (HASC), a growing consortium of UK universities led by Professor Dominic O’Brien of University of Oxford.

Understanding how best to use established and emerging frequency bands across the wireless and wired spectrum from RF to optical frequencies is a key challenge for future communications systems. HASC brings together a network of researchers and institutions with world-leading capabilities and facilities to answer this question and deliver innovation in the use and exploitation of future wired and wireless spectrum.

About the role

The UCL Photonics Group is contributing expertise and experimental facilities in FSO communications to HASC. The holder of this post will carry out experiments and computer modelling into these areas in support of the wider HASC goals.

This will involve extending existing experimental work carried out at UCL on a lab-based FSO system emulating the effect of atmospheric turbulence on ground-to-satellite coherent optical links, with the emphasis on understanding the performance and behaviour of the coherent optical receiver in this scenario.

One of the major ambitions of HASC is to develop a comprehensive modelling capability spanning all frequencies from RF to optical. The post holder will provide inputs to this activity on long-distance FSO communications, including component and sub-system characteristics (e.g. for the coherent optical receiver), link budget calculations, etc., helping to develop accurate models for FSO communications.

The post holder will be expected to develop the research proposals already submitted to HASC and to devise new experiments and tasks relevant to the HASC goals. They will be encouraged to design and execute collaborative experiments with researchers working at the other HASC partner institutions.

The post is available until 31st August 2025 in the first instance. Further funding to support the post may be available.

About you

Candidates should have a PhD (or about to submit) in Photonics, Electronic / Electrical Engineering or a closely related field (e.g. Physics, Computer Science). They should have a track record of high-level research in photonics and/or physical layer wireless communication systems, and an in-depth understanding of the principles of wireless and/or optical communication systems.

Practical experience of fibre or free-space optical communication systems is desirable.

Application details:

• To apply for the role, click the 'Apply' button
• Applications close on 11th July 2024 at 23:59
• A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page, as well as contact details for queries about the post

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits.

Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.

Our department holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. 

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