06 Postdoctoral Fellowship at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

The Biomedical and Astronomical Signal Processing (BASP) laboratory at Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh (HWU), headed by Professor Yves Wiaux, is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher in computational imaging.

The BASP laboratory is developing cutting-edge research on all aspects of computational imaging, from theory and algorithms, to applications in astronomy and medicine. Dr Wiaux is a Professor in the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences at HWU. He is also Honorary fellow at the (UoE) School of Informatics, and Academic Guest at the (EPFL) Signal Processing Laboratories.

The position is open in the context of a large research project aiming to develop a new generation of computational imaging algorithms intended to deliver simultaneously precision, robustness, efficiency, and scalability of the image formation process. Algorithms will in the first instance be designed for radio astronomy and validated at extreme scales, leveraging dedicated high-performance computing implementations. Technology transfer to magnetic resonance imaging in medicine is a secondary target.

Led by Prof. Wiaux, the project is supported by a unique team of  international partners: Prof. Pesquet from the Digital Vision Centre at Université Paris-Saclay (https://cvn.centralesupelec.fr/), Prof. Pock from the Institute of Computer Graphics and Vision at Graz University of Technology (ICG), Prof. Thiran from the EPFL Signal Processing Laboratories (LTS5), Mr Jackson at the UoE Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC), Prof. Smirnov from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO), Dr Akiyama from MIT Haystack Observatory (Haystack), Dr van Heeswijk from the Radiology Department of Lausanne University hospital (CHUV).

The Research Associate (RA) will work on developing and demonstrating laser-based surface texturing for application to electric vehicle battery manufacturing, working with other researchers at the University of Sheffield, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and the University of West of Scotland to develop a laser texturing / soldering process to provide high quality electrical contact along with the suitability for end-of-life component separation and recycling.  The position is part of the EPSRC-funded (£1.7M) project “Sustainable Reversal Of Metallic Adhesive Connections Tailored For Augmenting Net Zero Transportation (SURFACTANT).

The overall approach of the SURFACTANT project is to deliver a flexible manufacturing process by combining surface engineering and active based soldering alloys to remove the use of flux to engineer ‘solderphilic’ and ‘solderphobic’ surfaces enabling connection, separation and reconnection without performance degradation whilst minimising negative environmental impact.  

The Heriot-Watt Research Associate will contribute to the SURFACTANT project by undertaking research on laser surface texturing to manufacture optimised engineered surfaces that encompass topography and surface chemistry interactions to locally tailor wettability creating solderphilic and solderphobic responses.  They will also contribute to work on the development of  suitable process monitoring for both the surface engineering and laser based soldering process for each material combination.

We are seeking to recruit a postdoctoral research associate to undertake research in a newly-funded EPSRC New Investigator Award project, entitled ” Spin-Optomechanics in Silicon Carbide for Quantum Technologies”. The goal of this project is to develop whispering-gallery-mode optomechanical cavities in the silicon-carbide-on-insulator platform with a solid-state defect colour centre coupled to its optical mode. This system will be used to demonstrate tuning of the colour centre’s optical emission through optomechanical control. The candidate will be expected to engage in the full device design lifecycle, from design and development as the basis for fabricating the device in the Heriot-Watt cleanroom, to measuring and benchmarking the system’s performance.  

This project is the start of an exciting new research direction in a research environment which provides both the focus and flexibility of a small research team, and the support and exposure to a breadth of research topics brought by our association with the Quantum Photonics Laboratory at Heriot-Watt.  Candidates should submit a CV and a cover letter explaining their motivation and interest in this project. Candidates should specifically highlight how they meet the essential criteria for the position, which are listed below. 

The Edinburgh Mostly Quantum Lab seeks a talented and motivated scientist for carrying out experiments and field tests for entanglement-based quantum communication with satellites via the Quantum Communications Hub’s optical ground station (HOGS) located on Heriot-Watt campus. The primary goals of the project are to:

• Develop rugged high-quality entangled photon sources for satellite uplink scenarios
• Develop uplink infrastructure for the Hub Optical Ground Station telescope on Heriot-Watt campus
• Conduct field tests and international quantum key distribution via HOGS to the Canadian QEYSSat satellite mission

The project is expected to lead to technological progress and high-impact scientific publications in quantum light source development and intercontinental satellite quantum communication.  The work will be conducted in the framework of a recently funded 3-year EPSRC project. It will be carried out under the supervision of Prof Alessandro Fedrizzi, who is the principal investigator of the project, and co-supervision by Dr Ross Donaldson.

For more information, please send enquiry emails to Prof Alessandro Fedrizzi (a.fedrizzi@hw.ac.uk).

The application requires a CV and a cover letter explaining the motivation/interest in this project to be submitted through the university portal. Candidates are invited to specifically highlight in their applications how they fulfil the essential criteria for the post, listed below. 

The Research Associate will work on the EPSRC funded BuildWell Network: Reimaging Future Housing Developments for Health and Sustainability project which aims to connect diverse disciplines and industries relating to residential housing development and the benefits of Green Infrastructure and Space on health, wellbeing, water management and other multiple benefits. The project is a collaboration between Heriot Watt University and the University of York and Northumbria University.

The successful applicant will be based at the Institute of the Sustainable Built Environment at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh. They will be responsible for co-ordinating the network, organising workshops and network activities, as well as conducting research on the outputs and wider literature. They will learn a range of novel participatory methods including housing estate site visits, and plug and play scaled models to work with network members to think about how housing developments are designed and built for health, wellbeing and sustainability benefits. They will be responsible for producing a range of project outputs, including journal papers, gap analysis and policy briefs.

You should have a PhD in a related field, including Geography, Environmental Science, Civil Engineering and have interests in Green Infrastructure and Urban Planning. Applicants must also have excellent co-ordinating, stakeholder engagement and literature review skills, and proven capability in the use of data handling software and GIS. Knowledge of the wide benefits of Green Infrastructure for health and wellbeing, flood and water management and biodiversity is important. Enthusiasm for fieldwork and working in a team are important.

This 12-month, full-time position is funded via a collaborative study with the British Geological Survey (BGS – Keyworth) and industry partners to investigate the behaviour of saline aquifers in the UK Southern North Sea during CO₂ injection. The study addresses the evaluation of pressure propagation in the subsurface that may occur in adjacent areas during CO₂ injection.  The successful appointee will be based at the Institute of GeoEnergy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University’s Riccarton campus in Edinburgh.  They will undertake dynamic flow simulation studies to gain insights into fluid flow and pressure propagation in the subsurface under a range of constraints being determined in collaboration with project partners. The successful appointee will join a growing team focused on integrated reservoir engineering and geoscience evaluations of subsurface low-carbon energy systems.  

We are seeking a highly motivated, results-driven, and collaborative Research Associate to focus on understanding the factors that govern pressure dissipation due to CO₂ injection, the impact on injection capacity and the integrity of the storage complex. This position is vital to our research efforts, and successful candidates will be responsible for conducting independent research, planning, performing and analysing simulations, reporting outcomes and insights, fostering collaborations, and engaging in outreach activities.