Research Fellow in Thermal Nanophotonics and Metasurfaces (ERC Advanced Grant)

About us

The Photonic Innovations Lab (pi-lab) at UCL's Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering is seeking an exceptional postdoctoral researcher to join a flagship ERC Advanced Grant project led by Prof. Ioannis Papakonstantinou. This is a rare opportunity to work at the frontier of thermal nanophotonics, a field poised to transform how humanity manages one of its most abundant yet underutilised energy resources: heat radiation.

Thermal radiation is ubiquitous, but its incoherent, broadband nature makes it extraordinarily difficult to control. Achieving independent, precise manipulation of its spectral, polarisation, phase, spatial and angular properties would unlock transformative advances in sustainability, renewable energy, infrared sensing and imaging, agriculture, biomedical devices and beyond. Our project sets out to do exactly that.

About the role

As a core member of our vibrant, multidisciplinary team, you will:

• Design next-generation infrared nanophotonic technologies and metasurfaces using UCL's state-of-the-art supercomputing facilities, employing advanced forward and inverse optimisation algorithms including machine learning.
• Fabricate optimised structures using world-class cleanroom facilities at the London Centre for Nanotechnology.
• Characterise and validate designs through rigorous optical and thermal experiments in our purpose built laboratories.
• Integrate developed structures into completed devices tailored to specific high-impact applications.

We understand that no candidate will tick every box, and we don't expect them to. What matters most to us is exceptional talent, intellectual curiosity, and the drive to push boundaries. If this opportunity excites you, we encourage you to apply.

The post is available for 24 months in the first instance. Further funding to support the post may be available.

About you

Applicants should have a PhD (awarded or imminent) in a relevant area of photonics, optics, or applied physics/engineering. Relevant areas include (but not limited to) metasurfaces/metamaterials, thermophotonics, radiative cooling, photonic crystals, plasmonics, disordered photonics, light scattering in turbid media, multilayer thin-films, topological photonics, vectorial optics, quantum photonics, or similar.

You should have a deep understanding of electromagnetic theory and light–matter interactions, as well as experience with forward and inverse photonic design optimisation, ideally incorporating machine learning. The successful candidate will be proficient in one or more photonic computational methods: FDTD, FEM, BEM, RCWA, T-matrix, Monte Carlo, or equivalent. They will have strong optical experimental characterisation skills (e.g. FTIR, spectroscopic ellipsometry, angularly/spatially/temporal resolved measurements).

Knowledge of heat transport and non-equilibrium radiative transfer phenomena is desirable, as well as cleanroom nanofabrication and nanostructure chracterisation experience (e-beam lithography, FIB, RIE, nanoimprint, two-photon polymerisation, SEM/TEM/AFM).

Why join us?

• Work on one of the most ambitious and well-funded thermophotonic programmes in Europe, backed by an ERC Advanced Grant.
• Access to world-class research infrastructure: UCL supercomputing, the London Centre for Nanotechnology cleanrooms, and advanced optical labs.
• Be part of a genuinely interdisciplinary team in one of the world's top universities, ranked consistently among the global top 10.
• A collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually stimulating environment with strong connections to industry and international partners.
• Clear pathways for career development, IP creation, and entrepreneurship.

Application details:

• Applications close on 11th August at 23:59
• A job description and person specification can be accessed at the application link, as well as contact details for enquiries about the post

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