[Full UK or International tuition fees covered plus an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,780 per year for 3.5 years. Includes travel resources for research visits and conference attendance.]

This fully-funded PhD studentship at the University of Exeter offers an exciting opportunity to advance the field of integrated opto-electronic devices for switching, computing, and sensing. The project aims to develop next-generation photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and explore novel interfaces between PICs and free-space optical technologies, opening new avenues for highly parallelised information processing, advanced sensing, and communications. Photonic integrated circuits are the optical equivalents of electronic chips, enabling light to be guided across a chip for a multitude of functions at the speed of light. This emerging technology is at the forefront of innovation, with potential applications in neuromorphic computing, point-of-care diagnostics, and next-generation communications.

The research will be conducted jointly in the Photonic and Electronic Devices Laboratory led by Dr. Nikolaos Farmakidis (Department of Engineering) and the Structured Light Laboratory led by Prof. David Phillips (Department of Physics) at the University of Exeter's Streatham campus. The project combines expertise in PIC technology and free-space adaptive optics, offering a unique interdisciplinary environment. The successful candidate will engage in full-cycle research, including concept development, modelling and simulation, device fabrication, and advanced optical/electrical characterization. The studentship includes resources for national and international research visits and attendance at leading conferences in the field.

Applicants should have a background in Engineering, Physics, Optics, Computer Science, or Natural Sciences, or any science-related discipline. Enthusiasm for experimentation, aptitude for building and programming measurement/testing setups, and natural curiosity are highly valued. The award covers UK or international tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend of at least £20,780 for 3.5 years. The studentship is awarded on merit. International applicants should be aware of additional costs for student visa, healthcare surcharge, and relocation.

The application deadline is 15 March 2026, with a start date in October 2026 (or earlier/soon thereafter). For informal enquiries, contact Dr. Nikolaos Farmakidis at [email protected]. Apply online via the University of Exeter funding award page. This position offers a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of photonic device engineering in a collaborative and innovative research environment.