Doctoral Prize Fellowship in Applied Optics and Photonics

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Job Title:  EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship – Applied Optics and Photonics 

Directorate: School of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Grade: Grade 7 (£37,174 - £46,735)

Contract Type: Full Time (1FTE), Fixed Term (12 Months)

Rewards and Benefits: 33 days annual leave, plus 9 buildings closed days (and Christmas Eve when it falls on a weekday) for all full time staff. Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University 

Detailed Description

EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship roles are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of Heriot-Watt University’s Doctoral Training Partnership award. 

The EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship scheme is intended to help universities recruit and retain the very best newly qualified doctoral (e,g PhD, EngD) students, and help them launch careers in research. The Fellowships target the top 10-15% of EPSRC-funded students. 

The successful applicant for this particular post will be expected to undertake research as part of the Applied Optics and Photonics Group, under the guidance of Prof Duncan Hand.  A mentor will also be appointed, to provide guidance and support for career development. 

The purpose of the fellowship is to demonstrate the feasibility of a new research area that can be used as the basis of applying for longer term project funding.

An outline of eligibility requirements, the application process and deadlines is detailed below. 

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• We are looking for a creative and highly motivated researcher keen to develop their research career and willing to work as part of a team. Good communication skills and an appropriate publication record are essential.  
• General tasks will involve scientific research; analysis and interpretation of data; daily oversight of the activities of postgraduate and undergraduate project students in the laboratory; communication with other investigators involved in this collaborative project; preparation of scientific papers; presentation of research at partnership workshops and meetings, as well as national and international conferences, whilst also supervising the activities of junior group members and PhD students.  
• The successful candidate will be expected to take the lead on the design and implementation of the project concept, supported by experienced colleagues in the AOP group. 
• Responsibilities will also include assistance in the day-to-day maintenance of the experimental facilities, liaising with external collaborators; assisting in the development of student research skills, and contributing to teaching (lab and tutorial demonstrations) in relevant taught courses within Physics and Engineering.  

Education, Qualifications & Experience

The Fellowships are funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of Heriot-Watt University’s Doctoral Training Partnership Award. The criteria below is that specified by EPSRC in their award terms.  

Essential

• Experience in photonics and its applications 

• Excellent practical problem solving and experimental skills 

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, including complex concepts to non-specialists 

• The fellowship must commence before 30th June 2025 and should be 12 months.   

• Applicants must have received EPSRC studentship funding and have submitted their doctoral thesis on or after 1st October 2022.  

• The Fellow must have submitted their thesis for examination prior to the start of the award and no earlier than 1st October 2022. Candidates who have not yet submitted their thesis at the time of application are still eligible, but they must have submitted their thesis prior to the Fellowship start date, and the supervisor’s letter of support must clearly state the expected submission date. Where the viva exam has not taken place before the start of the Fellowship, the outcome must be an outright pass or pass with minor corrections otherwise the Fellowship will be withdrawn. If minor corrections are required, they must be done outside of the time allocated for the Fellowship 

• Applications will be accepted from any person that received EPSRC doctoral funding at a UK institution (fees and/or stipend). This includes doctoral students funded by: Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT), Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTP), National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) and Industrial CASE studentships (I-CASE). Those who received funding via another of the Research Councils within UKRI are NOT eligible to apply for the EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship. 

Salary 

As newly qualified Postdoctoral Researchers, the Fellow will be appointed to Grade 7 point 28 on the Heriot-Watt salary scale. A summary of the reward and benefits package can be found HERE  

About our Team  

The Applied Optics and Photonics Group (AOP: http://www.aop.hw.ac.uk/ ) at Heriot-Watt University has a wide range of research in photonic sensing, laser-based manufacturing, and in surgical applications of lasers.  The group works extensively with a wide range of industrial and clinical partners. Prof Duncan Hand is also Director of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre, a 5-university centre that serves to assist Scottish companies with the manufacturing processes of new medical devices and related testing. 

Location 

The post is located on the Heriot-Watt Edinburgh Campus.  The expectation is that the Fellow will work full-time on campus. 

Travel  

Local travel to technical and review meetings with our partner at the University of Dundee.  National and international conference attendance will also be encouraged. 

About Heriot-Watt  

Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.  

Nearly 30,000 students study with Heriot-Watt across business, engineering, design and the social, physical, biological and sports sciences. Our student body is roughly split evenly between the UK, our two campuses in Dubai and Malaysia, and online, with the latter being distributed across almost all the countries of the world. We also have many partnerships with other institutions world-wide who award Heriot-Watt degrees.  

The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has an international research reputation and close connection with the professional and industrial world of science, engineering and technology.  Our research ranges from fundamental sciences through to engineering applications, all of which are supported by strong external funding.  We have around 150 full-time academic staff who drive this research activity and are based in 5 research institutes:  the Institute of Chemical Sciences, the Institute of Photonics & Quantum Sciences, the Institute of Mechanical, Process & Energy Engineering, the Institute of Sensors, Signals & Systems and the Institute of Biological Chemistry, BioPhysics & BioEngineering. REF2014 named Heriot-Watt in the top 25% of UK universities, with 82% of our research ranked as world-leading or internationally excellent. Heriot-Watt ranked 9th university in the UK and 1st in Scotland for research impact.  

The School of Engineering & Physical Sciences has received the Bronze Award from the Athena SWAN Charter recognising excellence in championing employment of women in the fields of science and technology, engineering and mathematics.   

In addition, we deliver teaching across 6 undergraduate and post-graduate programmes: Chemistry; Physics; Electrical, Electronic & Computer Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Brewing & Distilling. In the 2019 National Student Survey Heriot-Watt University was ranked 35th in the UK. 90% of our students were satisfied overall with their course in over half of the University's subject areas. At subject area level the School ranked in the top 10 UK universities for Physics and we were 3rd in Scotland for Chemistry and 2nd for Mechanical Engineering and 1st in Scotland for Chemical Engineering.  

How to Apply

Applications should be made using the Heriot-Watt University online recruitment system, and should include: (1) Cover letter indicating your interest and suitability for the post; (2) Up to date CV (3) Doctoral Prize Fellowship Application Form (4) Academic Referee Form completed by the applicant’s primary doctoral supervisor and uploaded by the applicant (5) Name of another academic who can be approached for a reference 

Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on Friday 7th March 2025.

Shortlisting aims to be complete by 14th March. Interviews will commence from 21st March.

Fellowships are generally expected to be undertaken on a full-time basis without breaks, though part-time may be considered in exceptional circumstances. 

Enquiries can be directed to Prof Duncan Hand, D.P.Hand@hw.ac.uk   

 

 

At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community. 

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.  Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all. 

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm  and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/  . 

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.