Postdoctoral Research Associate in Quantum Light and Matter, Physics Department

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 of our students.

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 Quantum Light and Matter group. The position is associated with a Frontier Research grant on “Quantum Simulation with Ultracold Polar Molecules'' funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The research builds upon our expertise in creating ultracold RbCs molecules in the rovibrational ground state and trapping them in rotationally magic traps. The post holder will work directly with Prof. Simon Cornish and other members of his research group within the Durham Quantum Light and Matter research section.

The goal of the research is to synthesise and study artificial quantum materials using ultracold RbCs molecules arranged in regular arrays to probe novel quantum phenomena in strongly interacting quantum systems. The use of molecules is motivated by their rich internal structure, combined with the existence of controllable long-range dipole-dipole interactions, long trap lifetimes and strong coupling to electric and microwave fields. The post holder will be expected to display the initiative and creativity, together with the appropriate skills and knowledge, required to work with Prof. Cornish to deliver the research goals. These include (1) the encoding synthetic dimensions in molecules confined in rotationally magic traps and (2) the creation of many-body quantum states of molecules in optical lattices for quantum simulation. The post holder is therefore expected to have experience and familiarity with the techniques used in the study of ultracold gases, including the operation of magneto-optical traps, the production of quantum degenerate gases, optical trapping and optical lattices. 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 and exchange visits to collaborators connected with the project. 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 post is for a fixed term of 24 months.

The post-holder is employed to work on 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 November 2024.

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