PhD Studentship: Photonics-assisted generation of ultrapure high-bandwidth signals (1090618PN)

Supervisor: Dr Radan Slavik 

Co-supervisor: Professor David Richardson

We are looking for applicants with an interest in photonics, photonics signals and components, and their precise control, to investigate new architectures of photonics-aided radiofrequency (RF) signal digital-to-analogue conversion with the highest achievable fidelity and bandwidth. 

This will follow up on our work in which we invented a new architecture that we are currently building and testing, in collaboration with our industrial partner EW Simulation Technology.

Further information

Generation and processing of RF signals, or data sent through Internet fibre optics, requires their conversion from analogue to digital form, and vice versa. 

Traditionally, electronics is used for these tasks, but it has its inherent limitations. These limitations could be overcome replacing some critical electronic components with optical ones. In practice, it is more advantageous to completely re-work the entire architecture.

The project will be done in tight collaboration with our industrial partner, EW Simulations Technology based in Farnborough.

The PhD programme

The Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) PhD comprises a solid education for a research career. The structured first year involves attending our training programme running in parallel with carrying out your research project. This provides a smooth transition from your degree course towards the more open-ended research that takes place in the following years under the guidance of your project supervisors. We expect the vast majority of our students to present their work at international conferences and to write papers in leading academic journals as their research progresses. Students will emerge from the PhD with skills at the forefront of future photonics research and will benefit from the many opportunities to interact with the wider community of PhD students across the Southampton Campus through academic, sporting and cultural events. 

The ORC is one of the world’s leading photonics research institutes. A PhD here has enabled our past graduates to make successful careers in academia, in national laboratories, and as scientists or business leaders in industry. 

Key facts

Entry requirements: first or upper second-class degree or equivalent 

Closing date: Applications are considered all year round 

Duration: typically 3.5 years (full-time) 

Funding: For UK students, full tuition plus an enhanced stipend of £18,000 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years. http://www.orc.southampton.ac.uk/phd_funding.html . Overseas students who have secured external funding are welcome to apply. 

Assessment: nine-and 18-month reports and viva voce determine progression to PhD; progression reports, viva voce and thesis examination. 

Start date: typically October 

Applying: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgstudy/howdoiapplypg.html 

Closing Date: 31 Aug 2019
Post Type: PhD Studentship (Funded)