Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Quantum Sensing

We are looking for an excellent post-doctoral candidate with a PhD degree (or near completion) in quantum optics, solid state quantum physics, 2D materials science, magnetic resonance or related areas. The successful candidate will be part of our research team and involved in designing and implementing experiments, disseminating our work via writing research articles and giving oral presentations at conferences and participating in the training and management of PhD students.

This postdoctoral research associate position is for 1 year, based in the Department of Materials, University of Oxford which is located in central Oxford. Solid-state spin photon interfaces are central to emerging quantum technologies, such as optical quantum networks and quantum sensors. Point defects in wide-bandgap solids are an example, where the deterministic interaction between emitted photons and electronic and nuclear spins enables photon mediated entanglement of spins for distributed quantum networks. Optical readout of electronic and nuclear spins on the single spin level can give rise to nanoscale sensors of magnetic field, temperature and pressure.

We have recently discovered that two dimensional materials, namely hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), can host bright point defects with quantum coherent spins at room temperature. We have also discovered that these spin triplet defects show potential for nanoscale quantum sensing, for example vectorial nanoscale magnetometry. This project is to build an optical setup to enable the development of an hBN scanning probe which is then to be characterised and benchmarked for sensing.

The successful candidate will be expected to work with (including designing, aligning and operating) quantum optical and magnetic resonance setups, as well as material characterisation and fabrication instrumentation.

All applications must be made online using the Oxford University E-Recruitment system, no later than 12 noon on Monday 7 April 2025. You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application.  Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

Interviews are scheduled to take place at the Department of Materials on the week commencing Monday 21 April 2025 and you must be available on this date, either by Teams, Zoom or in person.

Please let me know if you need any further information.

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