PDRA in Superconducting Detectors

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position in the Superconducting Quantum Detectors group in Durham. The role will be focused on the development of a Kinetic Inductance Detector (KID) based hyperspectral pyramid wave-front sensor for extreme adaptive optics. This project is initially funded as part of a UKRI Infrastructure Fund activity towards early R&D for the ELT-PCS instrument. ELT-PCS is the planetary camera and spectrograph for ESO’s 39-m Extremely Large Telescope.

The Superconducting Quantum Detectors group in Durham are a leading group in the application of visible/NIR KIDs for astronomy. We are building a test-bench to demonstrate a novel hyperspectral WFS based on a pyramid WFS in combination with a visible/NIR KID. KIDs are energy resolving detectors which, when combined with a Pyramid WFS can enable radically different approaches to wave-front sensing. You will be expected to contribute to the design and development of the test-bench, with a particular emphasis on the detector aspects of the project. This might include mounting and characterising new KID arrays, developing tools for their use, analysing the data taken with them for input into the AO control system and working with our partners on device specification and development. You will join an experienced group of scientists and engineers based here in Durham, who will work with you on this exciting n ew R&D program.

Through this position you will be making a crucial contribution to the development of this research programme. This role will suit someone who wishes to gain practical experience of taking novel research outputs and developing technologies from them to the level where they can be incorporated into cutting edge scientific instruments. You will be expected to work in close collaboration with other members of CfAI as well as our international partners who have a wide range of scientific and engineering backgrounds.

This post is fixed term to coincide with the duration of our existing funding, which will end on 31st March 2026. There is the possibility for extension beyond this period if additional funding can be secured.

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