Postdoctoral Research Associate (Technical Research) in Quantum Light and Matter in London

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.

The Postdoctoral Technical Research Officer position is available to provide high-level technical support to a range of experimental research projects in the field of atomic, molecular and optical physics within the Durham Quantum Light and Matter group. The position is associated with a new five-year Programme Grant on "Quantum Many-Body Physics with Ultracold Polar Molecules" funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The research builds upon our expertise in creating ultracold RbCs molecules in the rovibrational ground state and trapping them in rotationally magic traps across a variety of experimental platforms. The post holder will work directly with Prof. Simon Cornish and other members of his research group within the Durham Quantum Light and Matter research section.

The goal of the research is to synthesise and study artificial quantum materials using ultracold molecules arranged in regular arrays to probe novel quantum phenomena in strongly interacting quantum systems. The use of molecules is motivated by their rich internal structure, combined with the existence of controllable long-range dipole-dipole interactions, long trap lifetimes and strong coupling to electric and microwave fields.

The experiments are complex and highly technical. The post holder will be expected to display the initiative and creativity, together with the appropriate skills and knowledge, required to work with Prof. Cornish to provide high-level technical support to all the experiments and to assist in the training of other staff in state-of-the-art research techniques in the field.

The post holder is therefore expected to have experience and familiarity with the implementation of many techniques used in the study of ultracold gases, including the setup and alignment of magneto-optical traps, optical trapping and optical lattices, internal state control with RF and microwave fields and advanced data acquisition techniques. The post holder is expected to be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a small research team.

It is expected that the post holder will enhance the international contacts of the group through the presentation of technical developments at international conferences and exchange visits to collaborators connected with the project. The post holder will also be expected to aid in the training of graduate students within the group as well as contributing to the undergraduate teaching within the Department.

The post is for an initial fixed term of 24 months, but may be extended to up to 60 months. The post-holders will be employed to work on research projects which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holders will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

Successful applicants will ideally be in post by March 2026.