Opportunities

Supervisory Team: Prof Jayanta Sahu and Prof Johan Nilsson

Visible lasers are indispensable for applications such as display, underwater communication, microscopy, bio-photonics, optical storage, and materials processing. Often, high laser power is required. So far, the mainstream of high-power visible laser development has relied on frequency conversion techniques. However, often such systems are complex and require incorporation of bulk elements into the cavity, and thus are not suitable for robust, monolithic, devices. On the other hand, most rare earth (RE) ions exhibit absorption lines in the blue spectral region and fluorescence in the visible region. The progress in GaN-laser diodes (GaN-LD) covering wavelengths between 390 and 460 nm makes them promising pump sources for RE-doped solid-state lasers with direct emissions in the visible. To date, visible lasers utilising RE-doped fibres have been reported in fluoride glasses (such as ZBLAN) due to lower phonon energy than in oxide glasses, notably silica. However, fluoride glass fibres are known for their poor chemical durability, weak mechanical properties, higher background loss than silica fibres. Critically, they are also difficult to splice with silica fibre components. This makes it near-impossible to develop an all-fibre laser system and is a critical bottleneck to improved performance and commercial breakthrough.

This PhD project aims to investigate a route to high-power visible sources through cladding pumping of RE-doped silica fibres using GaN-LDs. The student will be involved in the design and fabrication of fibres doped with RE (such as Pr3+, Dy3+ and Tb3+) in modified silica glass hosts offering low phonon energy while maintaining the desirable characteristics of silica fibres. Additionally, the student will perform a detailed spectroscopic characterization of the fabricated fibres and can take part in the design and evaluation of high power visible fibre lasers.

 We are seeking PhD applicants with a background in physics/chemistry/engineering/materials science and with a strong interest in experimental work on optical fibre and/or laser technology for this ambitious project. Throughout the PhD, the candidate will have access to state-of-the-art fibre fabrication facilities and laboratories at the ORC.

 At the end of the PhD project, the student will have developed knowledge and skills in fibre fabrication, characterisation of doped optical fibres, and high-power fibre lasers.

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/projects/high-power-fibre-lasers-for-visible-wavelengths

Supervisor: Prof Jayanta Sahu

We are looking for PhD applicants with a background in physics, material sciences, chemistry, and engineering to work on a PhD project that is aiming to develop a new class of optical fibres for the next generation of high-power lasers. This project will be carried out in close collaboration with an industrial partner, a leading manufacturer of specialty optical fibres. The successful candidate will be part of a world-leading research team working on fibre fabrication and fibre lasers and amplifiers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC). The student will also have the opportunity to spend a period of time with the industrial partner.

Fibre lasers that are increasingly becoming the light source of choice for a wide range of industrial and scientific applications, have spurred the development of new types of rare-earth (i.e., Yb, Er, Tm, and Ho) doped fibres, each with a unique set of properties to match with the specific applications. Since the fibre design and material properties of the fibre core have become critical to the performance of the fibre laser, a more powerful fibre fabrication process is required than the current industry standard process, which is MCVD (Modified Chemical Vapour Deposition) - solution doping technique.

In this PhD project, we will develop novel optical fibre materials and fabrication techniques for the realisation of advanced rare-earth doped fibres with tailored dopant profiles and a large core, as required for the next generation of high power fibre lasers and amplifiers.

Throughout the PhD, the candidate will have access to state-of-the-art fibre fabrication facilitiesand laboratories at the ORC.The project is also required a significant element of high power laser work. At the end of this PhD project, the student will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills, including the specialty optical fibre fabrication and characterization of rare-earth doped optical fibres, while also acquiring knowledge on high power fibre devices.

Supervisory Team: Dr Peter Horak, Prof Michalis Zervas

We are looking for a PhD student to work on the design and numerical simulation of the next generation of high-power fibre lasers. The project is part of a major new initiative funded by the UK Research Council at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton, that will combine new fibre technology with state-of-the-art control mechanisms, including machine learning, to reach unprecedented laser powers with full control over the beam shape.

As fibre lasers get more and more powerful, the fibre core size must increase to minimise optical nonlinearities and avoid material damage. This adds spatial degrees of freedom to the laser beam that have to be controlled in order to obtain a clean, well-behaved laser output. This project will exploit computer simulations to investigate the dynamics of the generation of light in such large, few-mode or multimode, optical fibres. 

We will analyse the dynamics of the spatial light profile and its dependence on the gain medium, fibre losses, optical nonlinearities, chromatic dispersion, and thermal and acoustic effects. These numerical and theoretical investigations will be performed in close collaboration with corresponding high-power laser experiments in our labs and at our industrial partners.

If you have an interest in computational physics and research in the exciting area of high-power lasers, you would be highly suitable for this project. You will benefit from our world-leading expertise in these fields and exploit state-of-the-art computer hardware for your research on a PhD project which is highly relevant for the future development of the next generation of fibre lasers and their applications in, for example, advanced digital manufacturing and medical surgery.

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/projects/spatial-effects-in-high-power-fibre-lasers-amplifiers

Supervisory Team: Dr Yongmin Jung, Dr Sijing Liang

Embark on a transformative journey at the forefront of laser technology with our ground-breaking PhD opportunity, titled “Revolutionizing laser technology through multicore fibre innovation”. In an era where technological boundaries are continually redefined, fibre lasers stand out as the epitome of innovation, offering unparallel advantages with no moving parts or mirrors in the light-generating source.

Project overview

The primary objective of this project is to redefine the limits of laser technology by pioneering novel fibre lasers grounded in multicore fibre technology. Imagine a single optical fibre housing multiple independent laser channels, unlocking the potential for lasers with multiple outputs or operation at various wavelengths. This venture promises to explore unchartered territories in both continuous wave and ultrashort pulsed operations (fs or ps), opening doors to a myriad of possibilities.

The research will delve into spatial beam shaping approaches, studying and combining several methods to achieve unprecedented results. Moreover, the project aims to investigate coherent beam combination approaches based on multicore technology for high-power laser applications. This endeavour seeks to surpass the current performance limits of single-mode, single-core fibre lasers, presenting significant opportunities for the laser industry to optimize performance for specific light-matter interactions, such as maximizing the efficiency of each pulse in laser-based material processing.

Research Environment

By joining the Pulsed Fibre Laser Group, comprising of ~15 researchers, at the renowned Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), you will be become part of a dynamic community dedicated to advancing the frontiers of laser technology. Your work will be conducted in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners, ensuring a rich and diverse research environment. Together, we aim to demonstrate the vast potential and real-world applications of this innovative laser technology, particularly in laser material processing and medical imaging.

Opportunity Awaits

Seize this opportunity to be at the forefront of laser innovation, contributing to ground-breaking advancements that have the potential to shape the future of laser technology and its applications. Join us on this extraordinary journey of discovery and impact, where your contributions will play a pivotal role in revolutionizing the field. Don’t miss the chance to be a driving force behind the next wave of laser technology breakthroughs.

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/projects/revolutionizing-laser-technology-through-multicore-fibre

Supervisory Team: Prof Andy Clarkson, Dr Jacob Mackenzie

Two-micron fibre laser technology has the potential to yield a wealth of new applications in areas such as industrial laser processing, medicine, optical communications and laser weeding. Moreover, significant power scaling advantages can be gained by moving from traditional ytterbium-doped fibre lasers operating in the one-micron band to the two-micron band. The main focus of this project will be to create a world leading power-scalable two-micron fibre laser platform based on thulium doped fibres for operation in continuous-wave and long-pulsed regimes. The research programme will study the physics of thulium doped fibre gain media to formulate new strategies for scaling laser output power whilst simultaneously achieving high efficiency and good beam quality. Thulium doped glasses offer access to a wide range of wavelengths in the two-micron band, so an important aspect of the programme will be to develop lasers with flexibility in operating wavelength driven by the needs of emerging applications in areas such as medicine, organic materials processing and laser weeding.

The project will involve a detailed study into the physics of two-micron fibre lasers operated at high average power levels to establish a power scaling strategy and the fundamental limits. This research will be supported by an EPSRC Studentship and as such will involve close collaboration with one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fibre lasers (Trumpf Laser UK Ltd). The studentship comes with a stipend (including an additional industrial bursary) of £23,600 (tax-free) p.a. and with fees paid, and very generous funding to support travel to international conferences. Applicants should have a first class or a good upper-second class degree (or the equivalent) in physics, engineering or a related discipline.

The ORC is one of the world’s leading research institutes in laser science and photonics. Its researchers have made pioneering advances in the area of high power fibre lasers and solid-state lasers that currently have widespread industrial applications. A PhD here has enabled our past graduates to make successful careers in academia, in national scientific laboratories, and as scientists or business leaders in industry. Further information can be obtained from Professor Andy Clarkson at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton (email: wac@orc.soton.ac.uk).

Entry Requirements:

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: Applications should be received no later than 31 December 2024 for standard admissions, but later applications may be considered depending on the funds remaining in place.

Funding: For UK students, Tuition Fees and a stipend of £23,600 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years.

Contact: Please contact Prof. Andy Clarkson (email: wac@orc.soton.ac.uk) for further details.

Supervisory Team: Prof Johan Nilsson, Dr William Kerridge-Johns

This project combines state of the art optical fibre laser amplifiers with machine learning control to produce next-generation lasers for beam control such as beam shaping. These “smart” phased-array lasers promise to revolutionise materials processing and other important near-term and futuristic laser applications, including even starship propulsion! This modular and scalable approach offers rapid and flexible, unsurpassed, control of the beam shape and polarisation. Adding to this, computer control through neural networks and machine learning is now emerging as a means both to implement and to optimise the control offering a new range of capabilities in this rapidly developing field.

The Smart Fibre Optics High-Power Photonics (HiPPo) programme is a £6 million EPSRC funded 5-year programme pursuing fibre-based phased-array lasers at the Optoelectronics Research Centre, University of Southampton gow.epsrc.ukri.org/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/W028786/1, www.orc.soton.ac.uk/news/7058. We are now seeking a PhD student to research advanced fibre amplifiers and beam combination concepts within this ground-breaking programme at the interface of physics and engineering. The general research area is laser physics & engineering, and specifically the building blocks and control needed for a phased-array laser. This involves fibre amplifiers with reduced noise, phase & polarisation control, as well as fibre nonlinearities and their mitigation in fibre laser systems at high intensities in the continuous-wave and/or pulsed regime. The control schemes will be developed and implemented with the assistance of machine learning specialists.

You will work in a world-leading team, measuring and optimising high-power fibre amplifiers that you design and build, e.g., with fibres fabricated in-house in ORC’s state-of-the-art cleanrooms. Throughout your PhD, you will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories at the ORC. At the end of your PhD project, you will have developed knowledge and skills in cutting-edge fibre and laser technology and advanced characterization techniques.

This project combines many highly-active research topics – phased array combination, machine learning, programmable structured light generation, multi-kW lasers – with a wide range of impact areas both in academic research and industry. If you are seeking an industrially-relevant PhD project with experimental focus and are interested in the rich physics challenges of high-power fibre lasers and phased arrays then this opportunity is perfect for you.

If you wish to discuss any details of the project informally, please contact Johan Nilsson (jn@orc.soton.ac.uk) or William Kerridge-Johns (W.R.Kerridge-Johns@soton.ac.uk)

Supervisory Team: Prof Johan Nilsson, Dr William Kerridge-Johns

This four-year PhD project, focussing on high-power laser architectures, is to contribute to a major Ministry of Defence (MoD) research programme intended to develop generation-after-next-technologies for applications in defence and security.

The project will be supervised by Prof Johan Nilsson (jn@orc.soton.ac.uk) and Dr William Kerridge-Johns (W.R.Kerridge-Johns@soton.ac.uk) at the University of Southampton with support and co-supervision by NKT Photonics (Dr Adam Devine). It will research coherent beam combination (CBC) of ytterbium-doped fibre laser amplifiers with multiple functionalities. This is in contrast to most of the current research on CBC lasers, which simply aims at increasing the power. The project will allow the student to acquire expertise in designing, constructing, operating, and characterising high-power fibre laser amplifiers, nonlinear fibre optics, and optical phase detection and control. The main objectives are:

• Experimental realisation and characterisation of high-power ytterbium-doped fibre laser amplifier with low phase noise and nonlinear phase distortion

• Realisation of multi-functional CBC laser

• Characterisation and optimisation of CBC laser

• Lab test on different targets.

The PhD project is part of a new MoD/EPSRC Energy Transfer Technology Skills and Training (S&T) Hub. The main aim of the S&T Hub is to train the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies relevant for defence and other related applications. The Hub is supported by MoD, Dstl, and UK companies working in the defence and security sector. The student will be part of a yearly cohort of 12 PhD students anticipated across a number of UK institutions. In addition to the project-specific research, specific Skills and Training Hub activities will take place online as well as face-to-face to facilitate cohort building and group learning exercises throughout the PhD programme. Each student will have an industrial partner and have opportunities to work with and train alongside experts from industry. Thus, the Hub offers individuals training for both a research and an industrial career.

The duration of the PhD is 4 years, and the start date is 1st October.

The PhD student will be physically based at the Optoelectronics Research Centre / Zepler Institute, University of Southampton (www.southampton.ac.uk/about/faculties-schools-departments/zepler-institute), where the majority of the research will take place. The ORC is one of the largest photonics research institutions in the world with over 350 members including PhD students. The ORC has a large cleanroom complex and a large number of well-equipped laser labs as well as very strong connections to industry and government research programmes and has spun out over ten companies.

The industrial partner, NKT Photonics (www.nktphotonics.com) has its headquarters in Denmark and will participate in the project via its UK operations in Hamble, within commuting distance from the University of Southampton. NKT Photonics is a leading supplier of high-performance fibre lasers and photonic crystal fibres. The main markets are Medical & Life Science, Industrial, Aerospace & Defence, and Quantum & Nano Technology. Products include supercontinuum white light lasers, low-noise fibre lasers, ultrafast lasers, and a wide range of specialty fibres. NKT Photonics will provide additional PhD supervision, hardware (when appropriate), a placement, and will be part of the larger S&T Hub community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the S&T Hub.

How to apply

Please contact the supervisor, Prof Johan Nilsson (jn@orc.soton.ac.uk) or Dr William Kerridge-Johns (W.R.Kerridge-Johns@soton.ac.uk) for application details and other queries, e.g., to arrange a visit.

Funding

This is a MoD/EPSRC Energy Transfer Technology Skills and Training Hub project. The duration of the PhD is 4 years. The funding will cover a stipend at the UKRI rate plus £2,000 ORC enhancement tax-free per annum (totalling around £21,000 for 2024/25, rising annually), tuition fees. Generous funds will be available for conference attendance and training, for students to travel to industrial partners and for longer placements with the industrial partner. The funding is for home students and applicants must be UK Nationals.

Eligibility

At least a UK 2:1 honours undergraduate degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for, and able to obtain, Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The S&T Hub is committed to providing an inclusive environment in which diverse students can thrive. The Hub particularly encourages applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented in the sector, and welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, disability, sexual orientation, and age. We will give full consideration to applicants seeking to study part time. The University of Southampton takes personal circumstances into account, has onsite childcare facilities, is committed to sustainability, and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. The Optoelectronics Research Centre has an Athena SWAN award.

Supervisory team: Dr Ben Mills, Dr James Grant-Jacob

Fibre lasers have already transformed the world. They are used across manufacturing for everything from the cutting of smartphone screens to the welding of electric car batteries. However, these fibre lasers simply follow a pre-programmed routine, and are not “smart”.

The next revolution is to go beyond the fixed fibre lasers that are currently used in manufacturing, and towards smart fibre lasers that automatically reconfigure and optimise in real-time for each application (and are fully integrated with the autonomous factories of the future).

In other words, the next revolution is the “self-driving” laser!

Your PhD will be focussed on the following applications: 1) convolutional neural networks and reinforcement learning for real-time control of lasers and laser machining, and 2) generative adversarial networks for simulating and optimising laser machining. Neural networks require large amounts of experimental data for training, and hence this PhD will therefore involve a mixture of experimental photonics, experimental automation, and programming and designing neural networks.

Supervisory Team: Dr Yongmin Jung and Prof. Michalis Zervas

Join our pioneering PHD project, “Advanced Beam Shaping for Next-Generation Fibre Lasers,” and be part of the future of laser technology. Fibre lasers are revolutionizing the field, providing unmatched stability without the need for moving parts or mirrors, making them an ideal solution for next-generation laser systems.

 Project Overview:

 This PhD opportunity is part of the UK’s EPSRC funded Programme Grant, HiPPo project (https://www.hippo-laser.co.uk/), which aims to revolutionize fibre lasers by integrating artificial intelligence (AI). As a key contributor in this cutting-edge project, you will work alongside leading researchers at the ORC and collaborate with global industry leaders, including Trumpf Laser, TWI, and Microsoft.

 Key Focus Areas:

 The project’s focus is on developing advanced fibre designs and novel devices for programmable spatial and polarization beam shaping, pushing the boundaries of fibre laser performance and versatility.

 As a PhD candidate, your contributions will include:

• Designing and implementing advanced beam and polarization shaping techniques to optimize fibre laser systems.

• Conducting experimental and simulation-based evaluations to validate and refine these technologies.

• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to transition your innovations into real-world applications.

• Exploring AI-driven control mechanisms for dynamic beam shaping and polarization modulation, enabling rapid, precise adjustments.

 Research Environment:

You’ll be part of the Pulsed Fibre Laser Group (~10 researchers) and the Hippo project (~25 researchers), both housed within the world-leading ORC. This dynamic and collaborative environment provides access to cutting-edge facilities, mentorship from academic experts, and engagement with industrial partners. You’ll work on ground-breaking research with real-world impacts, particularly in laser material processing.

 Join Us:

 If you’re eager to contribute to the future of laser technology and explore the powerful capabilities of fibre lasers, apply today and embark on a journey of innovation and discovery.

 Learn more about Dr. Yongmin Jung and the ORC research.

(https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5x5v8w/doctor-yongmin-jung#research)

Supervisory Team: Prof Jayanta Sahu and Dr Ben Mills

Specialty optical fibres are foundational to breakthroughs in fields spanning high-power lasers, advanced manufacturing, high-speed telecommunications, healthcare, and quantum technology. Each of these domains demands fibres with unique properties, such as power handling for industrial lasers, stability for quantum applications, or precision for healthcare diagnostics. However, optimising fibre characteristics through existing fabrication processes is complex and resource-intensive, especially as even the smallest variations in fabrication parameters can dramatically impact fibre performance.

This PhD project invites you to transform specialty fibre fabrication through the application of machine learning. By leveraging the predictive power of machine learning, you will be developing methods to model and fine-tune the intricate process variables, from dopant levels to temperature profiles and drawing conditions, enabling the production of fibres tailored to exact specifications. Imagine AI-driven insights that uncover brand new fabrication recipes and unlock the capability for real-time fabrication adjustments to create fibres optimised for each unique application.

You will apply machine learning techniques to understand how fibre fabrication steps, using methods such as Modified Chemical Vapor Deposition (MCVD), affect the final properties of fibres doped with rare-earth elements like Erbium, Ytterbium, and Thulium. Your objective will be to achieve superior optical properties, unmatched reliability, and exceptional yield, and ultimately unleash the production of fibres that push the limits of performance in lasers, improve transmission quality in telecoms, enhance imaging in healthcare, and meet the demanding requirements of quantum technologies. Your research will redefine fibre fabrication, setting the stage for the next generation of specialty optical fibres.

About the PhD Project

Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of laser-based energy transfer technologies? University of Southampton are recruiting a motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £25,780 per year (£5,000 over the EPSRC standard), plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This PhD project is co-funded by NKT Photonics.

 When a laser beam interacts with a target, the interaction often creates a plume. This can obscure the target, making it difficult to retrieve target information to determine how effective the interaction is. In case of a multi-functional laser, target information also helps in selecting the functionality. This applies to industrial laser processing as well as to defence and security applications.

 In this project, you will research both artificial-intelligence-based approaches to retrieving information from obscured interactions of targets with high-power laser beams, and the lasers you will use. As your research progresses, the lasers will gradually evolve in capability towards high-power multi-functional fibre arrays.

 The project will allow you to acquire expertise in artificial intelligence, lasers and laser arrays, and control. The main objectives are:

·       Realisation of an artificial intelligence (machine-learning-based) system for obscured target information retrieval.

·       The experimental realisation and characterisation of suitable lasers, including multi-functional and / or phased-array fibre lasers.

·       Lab tests on different targets.

The project will be supervised by Dr Ben Mills, Dr William Kerridge-Johns, and Prof Johan Nilsson at the University of Southampton with support and co-supervision from NKT Photonics (Dr Adam Devine). You will be physically based at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton (www.southampton.ac.uk/about/faculties-schools-departments/zepler-institute), where the majority of the research will take place. The ORC is one of the largest photonics research institutions in the world with over 350 members including PhD students. The ORC has a large cleanroom complex and a large number of well-equipped laser labs as well as very strong connections to industry and government research programmes and has spun out over ten companies.

The industrial partner, NKT Photonics (www.nktphotonics.com) is a leading supplier of high-performance fibre lasers and photonic crystal fibres. The main markets are Medical & Life Science, Industrial, Aerospace & Defence, and Quantum & Nano Technology. NKT Photonics will provide additional PhD supervision, hardware (when appropriate), a placement, and will be part of the larger Doctoral Training Hub community benefiting from the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the Hub.

 Key Details

·       Host Institution: University of Southampton

·       Industry Partner: NKT Photonics

·       PhD Duration: 4 years

·       Start Date: Around 1st October 2025

·       Enhanced stipend of £25,780 per year

·       Application deadline March 31 2025

The Hub

The Doctoral Training Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. The successful candidate will be based at University of Southampton and throughout the PhD project will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, and our specialist industrial network.

Why Join Us?

·       Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts

·       Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry

·       Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises

·       Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and an enhanced personal stipend) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators.

Please check the Hub website for further details at (link) Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub

Eligibility

PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this PhD project before you apply.

How to apply

Please contact the supervisor, Dr Ben Mills (bm602@orc.soton.ac.uk), Dr William Kerridge-Johns (W.R.Kerridge-Johns@soton.ac.uk), or Prof Johan Nilsson (jn@orc.soton.ac.uk) for application details or other queries, e.g., to arrange a visit.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The Hub is committed to improving diversity within the sector and as such we aim to provide an inclusive environment in which all students can thrive. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, and students from low-income / non-typical backgrounds to apply.  We can also consider part time PhD students. The University of Southampton takes personal circumstances into account, has onsite childcare facilities, is committed to sustainability, and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. The Optoelectronics Research Centre has an Athena SWAN award. We encourage and support talented individuals from various STEM backgrounds with ambition and an interest in making a difference. 

Funding Notes

This studentship is open to UK Nationals and is available for home students only. The generous funding package includes full tuition fees and an enhanced stipend of £25,780 per annum. Additional support is available for conference attendance, specialised training, travel to industrial partners, and extended placements with industry collaborators.

Application closing date

We welcome applications until March 31, 2025, although the position may be filled earlier.

About the PhD Project

Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of fibre laser-based energy transfer technologies? The University of Southampton is recruiting a highly motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £26,000 per year, plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This four-year PhD project is co-funded by Fibercore (www.fibercore.com), a leading manufacturer of specialty optical fibres in the UK.

Fibre lasers that are increasingly becoming the light sources of choice for a wide range of industrial, scientific, healthcare, and directed energy applications, are driving the development of new types of rare-earth (i.e., Yb, Er, Tm, and Ho)-doped fibres, each with a unique set of properties to match with the specific applications.

In this PhD project, we will advance the design, fabrication, and material properties of rare-earth (RE) doped optical fibres with large-core and tailored dopant profiles that are capable of delivering excellent laser efficiency, superior beam quality, and effectively suppress the detrimental non-linear effects that can limit the output power of high-power fibre lasers and amplifiers. In addition, we will implement special fibre coatings for efficient thermal management at kW average power level to enhance the robustness and reliability of high-power fibre lasers for practical applications.

Through this project, you will develop knowledge and skills in specialty optical fibre design, fabrication, and characterization of rare-earth doped optical fibres, while simultaneously expanding your knowledge in high power fibre devices.

The main objectives of this project are:

·       Utilisation of state-of-the-art fibre fabrication facility to develop large-mode-area (LMA) fibres with novel fibre core compositions while implementing advanced fibre fabrication techniques, such as MCVD (Modified-Chemical-Vapour-Deposition)-gas phase deposition techniques, to drive innovation in RE-doped high-power laser fibres.

·       Spectroscopic characterization and the realization of high-power lasers of fabricated fibres.

The project will be supervised by Prof Jayanta Sahu and Prof Johan Nilsson at the University of Southampton with support and co-supervision from Fibercore. You will be physically based at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton (www.southampton.ac.uk/about/faculties-schools-departments/zepler-institute), where the majority of the research will take place. The ORC is one of the largest photonics research institutions in the world with over 350 members including PhD students. The ORC has a large cleanroom complex and a large number of well-equipped laser labs as well as very strong connections to industry and government research programmes and has spun out over ten companies.

The industrial partner, Fibercore (www.fibercore.com), is the global leader in specialty optical fibre solutions that enable precise sensing and control in the world’s most demanding and harsh environments. The partner will provide additional PhD supervision, a placement, and be part of the larger Hub community benefiting from the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the Hub.

Key Details

·      Host Institution: University of Southampton

·       Industry Partner: Fibercore

·       PhD Duration: 4 years

·       Start Date: 1st October 2025

·       Enhanced stipend of £26,000 per year

The Hub

The Doctoral Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. The successful candidate will be based at the University of Southampton and throughout their PhD will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, as well as our specialist industrial network.

Why Join Us?

·       Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts

·       Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry

·       Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises

·       Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and an enhanced personal stipend) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators.

Please check the hub website for further details at Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub

Eligibility

PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this PhD project before you apply.

How to apply

PhD Application | Research | University of Southampton

For application details or other queries, please Contact Prof Jayanta Sahu (jks@orc.soton.ac.uk).

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The Hub is committed to improving diversity within the sector and as such we aim to provide an inclusive environment in which all students can thrive. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, and students from low-income / non-typical backgrounds to apply.  We can also consider part time PhD students. The University of Southampton takes personal circumstances into account, has onsite childcare facilities, is committed to sustainability, and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. The Optoelectronics Research Centre has an Athena SWAN award. We encourage and support talented individuals from various STEM backgrounds with ambition and an interest in making a difference. 

Funding Notes

The generous funding package includes full tuition fees and an enhanced stipend of £26,000 per annum. Additional support is available for conference attendance, specialised training, travel to industrial partners, and extended placements with industry collaborators. This studentship is open to UK Nationals and is available for home students only.

Application closing date

We welcome applications until April 30, 2025, although the position may be filled earlier.