Shaping light at the nanoscale with dielectric nanoantennas

Supervisory Team:   Massimiliano Guasoni (supervisor), Cosimo Lacava (co-supervisor)

Project description

In the last decade, nanophotonics has emerged as one of the most important research fields in optics. A tiny nano-object plays the role of a nanoantenna: when excited by a light source, it scatters light in the surrounding environment in one or more directions that depend on its geometry and material. An important issue that has not been fully understood yet is how to control the directionality and power of this scattered radiation.

The scope of this PhD project is to advance our knowledge in nanophotonics by designing and fabricating nanoantennas that allow full control of the scattered field at the nanoscale. Single nanoantennas with arbitrary shape as well as arrays of coupled nanoantennas will be designed, fabricated and tested.

PhD Programme

You will work at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), University of Southampton, in the Multimode Photonics Group led by Dr. Massimiliano Guasoni. We collaborate with the University of Brescia (Italy) and the Australian National University and you may have the opportunity to visit them.

Besides gaining a theoretical understanding in nanophotonics, you will have the unique opportunity to learn how to fabricate and test nanoantennas in our state-of-the-art cleanrooms. You will have access to some among the best equipped laboratories and nanofabrication research facilities in the world (£120M worth), and to one of the most powerful supercomputers in UK. 

You will interact with world-leading scientists at the ORC revolutionizing the field of photonics, and you will engage with several ORC industrial partners. Furthermore, you will present your work in leading academic journals and at the most renowned conferences all over the world, which will allow you to engage with the best researchers worldwide.

In the first year of your PhD, a structured training program will run along with the research project, which will allow a gradual transition from a taught degree to independent research.

The ORC PhD will prepare you for a successful career as a top research scientist or business leader in academia and in industry.

For further information on this project contact Dr. Massimiliano Guasoni (m.guasoni@soton.ac.uk).

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) in physics, material science, computer science, engineering or chemistry.

Closing date

Applications are accepted throughout the year. The start date will typically be late September, but other dates are possible.

Funding

For UK students, tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus £2,000 ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling around £21,000 for 2024/25, rising annually). EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk). Select programme type (Research), Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD ORC”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor.

Applications should include:

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk