Dr David Richards
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Supervisor: Professor David Richardson
Co-supervisor Dr Lin Xu
Project description
We are looking for applicants with a background in physics, material sciences or engineering to develop the technology needed to support the internet of the future.
In collaboration with a world-leading industrial telecommunications equipment manufacturer, this PhD at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) focuses on exploiting novel fibre materials, structures and technologies to develop wide-band fibre amplifiers. Ensuring the key amplifier characteristics of high gain, flat spectral gain profile and low noise figure represents a major aspect of the project.
The successful candidate will be an integral part of an ambitious, well-funded Programme with the potential for major global impact. Working alongside a world-renowned ORC research team, you can expect professional mentoring, independence and the skills for a successful career.
The amount of data transferred daily over the internet is increasing at a rate of 40% per annum and demand to increase the transmission capacity of optical communication networks continues. This has traditionally been done by improving the transmitter and receiver technology at the end of the fibre transmission line. However, this approach is running out of steam as the signalling technology is close to fully optimised and the fundamental transmission capacity of the fibre transmission line, and in particular the bandwidth of the erbium doped fibre amplifiers (EDFAs) used to periodically boost signals degraded by signal propagation losses, is now a major limiting factor.
The project is supported with substantial funding from a £6m EPSRC-funded AirGuide Photonics programme grant, hosted at the world-renowned Optoelectronics Research Centre.
About the Optoelectronics Research Centre
The ORC has led the world in optical fibre technology research for the past 50 years. With over 90 state-of-the-art laboratories and 200 researchers working in all areas of photonics, the ORC provides an outstanding interdisciplinary environment for students to grow. Its cluster of 12 photonics spin-out companies provides a natural career path for PhD graduates.
The group has an excellent track record of publishing in high profile research journals and international conferences. Its former PhD and postdoctoral researchers have made successful careers in universities worldwide or as industry scientists and business leaders.
In the first year of your PhD a structured training programme runs alongside the research project, providing a gradual transition from taught degree to open-ended research. Students present their work at conferences worldwide, first-author papers in leading academic journals and emerge with skills at the forefront of glass and fibre optics research https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2_6yNQamkU.
Further ORC information: www.orc.soton.ac.uk
Further Airguide Photonics information: www.airguide.soton.ac.uk
To discuss any details of the project or arrange a visit, please contact Professor David Richardson ([Email Address Removed])
Entry Requirements
A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).
Closing date: applications are accepted throughout the year but start date is typically October 2020.
Funding: full tuition for EU/UK Students plus, for UK students, an enhanced stipend of £18,000 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years.
How To Apply:
Applications should be made online here selecting “Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science” under the Faculty and then “PhD ORC (Full time)” as the programme.
Applications should include:
Curriculum Vitae
Two reference letters
Degree Transcripts to date
Apply online: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page
For further information please contact: [Email Address Removed]
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