Research Associate (Fixed Term)

Location: West Cambridge

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position available initially for 2 years within a joint EPSRC-NSF funded grant on Nanoscale spin entanglement and chemistry, 'NanoSPINEC'. Using nanophotonic cavities, the NanoSPINEC project aims to achieve the first room-temperature measurements of spin states at the single-molecule level, leveraging them to track the formation and decay of quantum correlations in exciton singlet fission (SF) and to establish the first chemical Bell inequalities through optically-detected magnetic resonance (ODMR).

The candidate will join a dynamic and diverse team that values collaboration. The role holder will develop new experiments and analysis and drive the NanoSPINEC project. The candidate will be supported by an exciting new collaboration spanning three areas of the Cavendish Laboratories: the NanoPhotonics Centre (Dr Rakesh Arul), the Optoelectronics Group (Rao), and the AMOP group (Gangloff). For recent work see np.phy.cam.ac.uk, rao.oe.phy.cam.ac.uk, and qeg.phy.cam.ac.uk. The NSF partner on the US is the University of California San Diego (PI: Prof. Joel Yuen-Zhou), and the project will involve close collaboration and travel to theorist collaborators there. 

Candidates will have, or be close to obtaining, a strong physics or chemistry PhD or a related discipline, with experience in measuring optical dynamics on the nanoscale and/or optically-detected magnetic resonance. In addition to proven experimental skills the candidate should ideally have experience in working across disciplinary boundaries. They should expect to be involved in both construction of new optical spectroscopy rigs using lasers as well as some sample preparation. Experience in the field of plasmonics or metamaterials or molecular emitters would be helpful, as well as with quantum control of nanoscale systems. 

The UK NanoPhotonics Centre (http://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. 

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD. Those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD will initially be appointed as a Research Assistant moving to Research Associate (Grade 7) upon confirmation of your PhD award. 

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 2 years in the first instance.

To apply online for this vacancy and to view further information about the role, please click 'Apply' above.

Informal enquires may be addressed to Dr Rakesh Arul (ra554@cam.ac.uk, further project details in photonicsarul.github.io).

Please quote reference KA47296 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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