Postdoctoral Research Associate in Free-Space Optics

5 May 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Established Researcher (R3)

Country

United Kingdom

Application Deadline

15 May 2023 - 00:00 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

The Department

The Department of Physics at Durham University is one of the leading UK Physics departments with an outstanding reputation for excellence in teaching, research and employability of our students.

The Department is committed to advancing equality and we aim to ensure that our culture is inclusive, and that our systems support flexible and family-friendly working, as recognized by our Juno Champion and Athena SWAN Silver awards. We recognise and value the benefits of diversity throughout our staff and students.

We embrace equality and particularly welcome applications from women, black and minority ethnic candidates, and members of other groups that are under-represented in physics. Durham University provides a range of benefits including pension, flexible and/or part time working hours, shared parental leave policy and childcare provision.

The Role

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Free-Space Optics. The research project is funded by a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship and is led by Dr James Osborn in the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI), Department of Physics. This is a fixed term position for 2 years with the possibility of an extension.

The CfAI is a world leading group with an exceptionally strong track record in optical instrumentation for astronomy, free-space optical communications, biophysics, remote sensing and fusion diagnostics. Current projects include the development of instrumentation to enhance the data bandwidth and reliability of laser-based optical communications links, and adaptive optics systems for the next generation of large ground-based telescopes such as the 39m diameter Extremely Large Telescope currently being built in Chile.

The successful applicant will join an active team developing new concepts for free-space optics. This includes techniques and technology for ground to satellite laser communications, optical satellite surveillance and tracking, or ground-based optical astronomy.

Turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere distorts light reducing the performance of free-space systems. In our group we focus on the optical propagation, developing technology to measure, model and mitigate this dynamic and complex phenomena. We have strong collaborations with universities, space agencies and astronomical observatories around the world and regularly travel to test our concepts in real-world environments.

The successful candidate will work as part of the team to conceive, design, develop and test novel instrumentation. This may include theoretical and computational modelling, opto-mechanical instrument design, data analysis, and/or software development. This may lead to both laboratory and field tests where the applicant will be expected to operate complex instrumentation and analyse and interpret data. There is also the possibility of travel as testing often takes place at major astronomical observatories around the world, where the CfAI own and operate adaptive optics instrumentation.

Requirements
Additional Information
Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

DURHAM UNIVERSITY

Country

United Kingdom

City

Durham, United Kingdom

Where to apply

Website

https://www.timeshighereducation.com/unijobs/listing/338794/postdoctoral-resear…

Contact

City

Durham, United Kingdom

STATUS: EXPIRED