Research Fellow (110836-0825)

About the Role

For informal enquiries, please contact Gavin Morley (Professor) at Gavin.morley@warwick.ac.uk.

We are seeking to appoint a Research Fellow to build an experiment with magnetically levitated diamonds towards testing the quantum nature of gravity. The appointment will be for two years with the possibility of extension as part of our five-year project supported by The Moore Foundation and the Sloan Foundation, in collaboration with Yale University, Northwestern University, UCL and Groningen University. You will work with Professor Gavin Morley and his team in Warwick. We have built magnetic levitation of micron-sized diamonds including centre-of-mass cooling, and separately, quantum control of single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) spins in non-levitated microdiamonds. The microdiamonds we have developed (with Oliver Williams’ group) have the longest quantum coherence times. You will combine these two experiments to control the spin of NV centres inside magnetically levitated microdiamonds. You will build this inside of a specially commissioned cryostat. The aim is to create a spatial superposition of the diamond towards testing fundamental physics including a test of the quantum nature of gravity. You would be the day-to-day supervisor for two PhD students on this levitated microdiamond project, as well as helping to supervise undergraduate project students.

Applications from underrepresented minorities are particularly encouraged.

Flexible Working
We will consider applications for employment on a part-time or other flexible working basis (e.g. job share), despite the position being advertised as full-time.

About You
We are looking for someone with a PhD in Physics or a related field, or someone who is very close to obtaining this.

You should have a background in building and/or running physics experiments, microwave/optical/electronic engineering, magnetic resonance, materials science, nanodiamonds, NV centres and/or quantum technology. You will be a good communicator capable of working effectively both independently and as part of a research team. You will have written up clear papers about your previous interesting research. You will possess good planning and time management skills to ensure your research objectives are achieved effectively.

PhD Status
If you are near submission of your PhD, or have not yet had it conferred, any offers of employment will be made at Research Assistant level, at the highest spinal point of pay grade 5 (£34,610 per annum).

Upon receipt of evidence confirming the successful award of your PhD, you will be promoted to Research Fellow, at the lowest spinal point of grade 6 (£35,608 per annum).

Full details of the duties and selection criteria for this role can be found in the vacancy advert on the University of Warwick's jobs pages. You will be routed to this when you click on the 'Apply' button.

CLOSING DEADLINE: Wednesday, 10th September 2025 at 23:55 (BST).

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