The University of Manchester is offering a fully funded 3.5-year PhD studentship in quantum communication, quantum optics, and condensed matter physics. The project will develop hybrid quantum-dot and atomic-vapor systems to generate, convert, and store single photons for long-distance quantum networks. The scholarship covers tuition fees and provides an annual tax-free stipend of £21,805. Funding is restricted to applicants eligible for UK Home tuition fee status.
Important Dates / Deadline
- Application Deadline: December 1, 2026
- Expected Start Date: January 2027
- Funding Duration: 3.5 years
- Study Mode: Full-time
Early applications are recommended because the advertisement may be withdrawn before the deadline.
Organization
University: University of Manchester
Academic Department: Physics and Astronomy
Research Themes: Quantum Communication, Condensed Matter Physics, and Quantum Optics
Main Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Zajac
The project builds on research supported by Dr. Zajac’s U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Research Award and connects with the University of Manchester’s work on quantum telecommunications testing.
Location / Study Destination
Manchester, England, United Kingdom.
Who Can Apply
Country Eligibility: Restricted to Applicants with UK Home Fee Status.
The studentship is advertised for UK students and is fully funded only for applicants who qualify for UK Home tuition fee status.
This is a fee-status restriction rather than a strict nationality requirement. Applicants from other countries may be eligible if they meet the relevant UK Home fee criteria. International applicants charged overseas tuition fees are not included in the advertised funding eligibility.
Applicants must:
- Hold or expect to obtain at least a UK 2:1 honors degree, a master’s degree, or an international equivalent.
- Have an academic background in a relevant science or engineering discipline.
- Demonstrate genuine interest in quantum communication, quantum optics, or related research.
- Be motivated to undertake independent doctoral research.
Key Benefits / Funding
The studentship provides full financial support for eligible candidates.
- Annual Stipend: £21,805, tax-free, at the 2026/27 UKRI rate.
- Tuition Fees: Fully covered for eligible students.
- Funding Duration: 3.5 years.
- Annual Stipend Adjustment: Expected to increase each year.
- Research Training: Hands-on experience in quantum optics, semiconductor physics, atomic physics, and numerical modeling.
- International Collaboration: Opportunities to work with research partners in the UK, Europe, and the United States.
- Applied Research Exposure: Participation in research linked to real-world quantum telecommunications testing.
Main Requirements
The PhD focuses on developing quantum repeater technologies that could overcome photon loss in long-distance optical-fiber communication.
The research will combine semiconductor quantum-dot photon sources with warm rubidium-vapor quantum memories to create scalable interfaces for future quantum networks.
Key research activities include:
- Quantum-Dot Photon Sources: Work with III–V semiconductor quantum-dot systems that generate single photons.
- Quantum Frequency Conversion: Develop interfaces that convert photons into frequencies suitable for atomic-vapor storage.
- Quantum Memory Development: Investigate storage of single photons in warm rubidium vapor.
- Quantum-Optical Characterization: Build and test experimental systems to evaluate photon behavior and interface performance.
- Theoretical and Numerical Modeling: Use electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and four-wave mixing models to guide experimental development.
- Quantum Network Applications: Support the development of scalable quantum communication components and their potential testing in deployed telecommunications networks.
The successful candidate will gain practical experience in device fabrication, cryogenic quantum-dot optics, optical setup design, atomic-vapor experiments, and nanophotonic research.
How to Apply
Applicants should contact the main supervisor and complete the university’s postgraduate research application process.
Main Supervisor: Dr. Joanna Zajac
Email: joanna.zajac@manchester.ac.uk
Application steps:
- Review the research project and confirm that your academic qualifications meet the requirements.
- Contact Dr. Joanna Zajac by email to express your interest in the studentship.
- Provide information about your current level of study, academic background, and relevant experience.
- Include a paragraph explaining your motivation to pursue this PhD project.
- Complete the university’s online postgraduate research application.
- Submit the application before December 1, 2026.
Documents Needed
The initial expression of interest to the supervisor should include:
- Current Study Information: Your present level of education and academic status.
- Academic Background: Relevant qualifications and areas of study.
- Relevant Experience: Academic, laboratory, technical, or research experience related to the project.
- Motivation Statement: A paragraph explaining your interest in the research and reasons for pursuing the PhD.
Additional documentation may be required through the university’s formal application process.
Important Notes
- Country Restriction: Full funding is available only to applicants eligible for UK Home tuition fee status. The scholarship is not advertised as fully funded for overseas fee-paying students.
- Academic Eligibility: Applicants need at least a UK 2:1 honors degree, a master’s degree, or an international equivalent in a relevant discipline.
- Early Application: The advertisement may close before December 1, 2026.
- Research Specialization: The project combines quantum-dot semiconductor devices, atomic-vapor memories, quantum optics, and quantum communication.
- Experimental Focus: The PhD involves laboratory-based research, including cryogenic optics, optical systems, and atomic-vapor experiments.
- International Research Network: The project includes collaboration with partners across the UK, Europe, and the US.
- Real-World Applications: The research is connected to quantum telecommunications testing over metropolitan optical networks.
- Research Foundation: The project continues work associated with Dr. Zajac’s U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Research Award.