Research Associate in NanoPhotonics

Applications are invited for an experimental researcher post available from September 2024 for 12 months within the ERC funded PICOFORCE project on extreme light confinement.

You will be part of the NanoPhotonics group, which looks at nanoscale assembly and nanophotonics interactions. You will develop novel ultrafast NIR and MIR spectroscopy on self-assembled plasmonic nanocavities to study vibrational interactions and the optomechanics of single/few molecules for quantum technologies. For recent work, please see www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk.

Project: Ultrafast and plasmonic spectroscopies This project aims to develop investigations into the dynamics of interacting vibrating molecules and layered materials. This will continue our work building nanoscale assembly with molecular layers and plasmonic confinement from colloidal-assembly nanoparticle gaps. This research will require strong knowledge and experience of ultrafast spectroscopy, plasmonic spectroscopies, and nano-optics. We therefore welcome applications with aligned scientific backgrounds. Some experience in Raman scattering, self-assembled monolayers and attachment, plasmonic self-assembly, and/or electrochemistry would be advantageous.

Job requirements:

You will have a strong physics or chemistry PhD background or a related discipline, with experience in measuring optical dynamics on the nanoscale and/or mid-infrared spectroscopy. In addition to proven experimental skills, you should ideally have experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. You should expect to be involved in both construction of new optical spectroscopy rigs using lasers as well as a variety of chemical sample preparations or synthesis. Experience in the field of plasmonics or metamaterials or soft materials would be helpful, as well as with surface-enhanced Raman scattering and chemistry of nano-assembly and nano-systems.

The UK NanoPhotonics Centre (www.np.phy.cam.ac.uk) collaborates widely across the University of Cambridge including the Departments of Chemistry, Engineering, Physics of Medicine, Cancer Research UK, Chemical Engineering, Materials as well as many international partners, industry, with several major EU programmes.

Recent publications can be seen on our website (above). Prof JJ Baumberg, FRS, is an acknowledged leader in discovering and assembling nanomaterials for novel photonics.

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 12 months in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please visit: www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/47545.

Informal enquiries are welcome and should be addressed to Prof Jeremy Baumberg (jjb12@cam.ac.uk)

Please quote reference KA42590 on your application and in any correspondence about this vacancy.

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.

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