3521426FP - Research Fellow- Horizon Europe Pathfinder project- FAST


Company:	University of Southampton
Salary:	£36,636 to £44,746 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Southampton, SO17 1BJ
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Contract
Posting date:	7 Oct 2026
Closing date:	4 Nov 2026

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Summary

The University of Southampton is committed to excellence in all we do, applying our insights and inventiveness to solve the most complex societal and environmental challenges. As a world-leading, research-intensive university, with a strong and high-quality educational offering, we are renowned for our innovation and enterprise and are within the top 1% of universities worldwide.

Apply to be part of a Horizon Europe Pathfinder science-to-technology breakthrough, targeting a paradigm shift in fabricating a novel optically active crystal – rare-earth (RE) doped sapphire (REDS). The EIC-funded project’s objective is to enhance laser technology performance through creating functionalised REDS thin-disks as new optical components for innovative-lasers applications. We’re looking for an enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow to be part of our team to advance our electron-beam lithography and plasma etch technology, ultimately develop a layer of amplified spontaneous emission mitigation (ASE) nanostructures on a new class of active mirror to underpin the next generation of thin-disk lasers.

What You’ll Do:

innovate: develop scalable electron-beam lithography processes to fabricate ASE mitigation photonic nanostructures on sapphire or equivalent substrates

collaborate: work with a dynamic team and engage in interdisciplinary research

experiment: gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge electron-beam lithography and plasma etch fabrication techniques, laser characterisations, and honing your practical skills

explore: help develop a deeper understanding of how to produce high-quality ASE mitigation nanostructures integrated to REDS crystals and scale to practical dimensions.

We’re seeking a capable and resourceful postdoctoral candidate eager to dive into laboratory work to develop high-resolution pattern transfer and microfabrication methods to create these novel optically active sapphire elements. You’ll have a solid grounding in physical sciences with an eagerness to understand and solve key challenges. You are a self-starter, able to organise own research activities effectively who is able to plan and justify focus on extensive research that will result in impactful outputs. The successful candidate will have an ability to clearly document and communicate research results.

You must be able to work effectively in a team and organise time, tasks and responsibilities with other team members. Experience in project management will be an advantage.

In this project you’ll have access to:

state-of-the-art facilities: access to top-tier resources, cleanrooms, and materials-characterisation suites

interdisciplinary research: collaborate with experts within the university and beyond

international collaboration: work closely with consortium partners across Europe towards ambitious project goals.

For informal enquiries, please write to Professor Harold Chong (hmhc@ecs.soton.ac.uk) or Dr Jacob Mackenzie (jim@orc.soton.ac.uk).

Further details can be found on the European Commission Fact Sheet: FAST

The post will be held in the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) (http://ecs.soton.ac.uk) in collaboration with the Optoelectronics Research Centre (http://orc.soton.ac.uk).

Electronics and Computer Science provides a unique, friendly and supportive environment that facilitates use-inspired and multi-disciplinary research, education, training and outreach.

ECS holds an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of its’ continued commitment to improving equality for women in science and engineering. ECS provides a unique, friendly and supportive environment. We have a range of staff development programmes and a unique mentoring and wellbeing scheme.

To find out more about working at ECS, visit: https://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/workinghere

The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university and has recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.

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