About the Project
A fully funded PhD opportunity to participate in the world-leading research undertaken by the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award at the University of Sheffield.
Supervised by Dr Joe Smith, with Dr Kristian Groom.
The University of Sheffield is one of the leading Russell Group universities in the UK. We carry out cutting-edge research with strong links to industry. When you enrol to do a PhD with us, you will be working with world-leading academics and have access to top of the range facilities. As a PhD student you will have the opportunity to gain skills not only to conduct research, but also to take your career to the next level, whether you want to stay in academia, go into industry or the public sector, or set up your own company. You will have access to a range of training and support services to help you excel in your studies and beyond.
Project Description
Why Do Quantum Sensors Matter?
In both cellular biology and chemistry, many critical processes that affect our quality of life are not yet well understood. These processes happen within systems surrounded by high levels of environmental noise.
For a decade we have been researching an ambient semiconductor-based technology that yields single photons, particles of light, correlated with its spin property. Capturing the photons enables the spin-based sensor to function as an extremely sensitive monitor of its immediate environment, as information can now exit the environment, free from electromagnetic disruption. This technology has already provided a unique window on processes within cellular structures and chemical reactions.
There is now over a decade of scientific evidence that this technology would transform areas where classical techniques have stalled and there is unmet demand. However, to date, these sensors are constrained to physics laboratories with complicated associated infrastructure. They cannot be used at scale or by non-specialists who would benefit from this transformative technique.
The Value of Photonics
This project aims to realise a 64-pixel diamond spin-sensor array by lithographically depositing diamond in micron-scale regions and routing each pixel’s optical signal through integrated photonic waveguides. It builds on an eight-sensor photonic-integrated NV array demonstrated with colleagues at the University of Bristol (Nature Communications, 2026). The rise of silicon quantum photonics has indicated that photonic waveguides are the most reliable way to achieve scale and robustness in quantum experiments.
At the moment, state-of-the-art multi-site sensing is through microscope optics or a fibre bundle, in both cases imaged with a camera. The prospect of a site-defined photonic waveguide approach offers five key advantages
- The high-index waveguide collect 30% of the coupled emission and a small enhancement in emission rate (Purcell Factor F=2)
- Emission is coupled to photon detectors, allowing rapid throughput with electronic time discrimination to remove fast noise (laser, Raman) from slow atom-like signal (10 ns lifetime).
- Each photonic channel is individually addressable: signal from neighbouring sites can be isolated and interleaved.
- In-plane waveguide excitation significantly reduces laser damage to sensitive samples.
- The chip geometry is stable; no free-space parts.
The PhD project involves photonics device simulation and design, cleanroom nanofabrication, device testing, and finally proof of principle quantum sensing experiments. The project is underpinned by a five-year £1.6M EPSRC Quantum Technology Career Acceleration fellowship and an ARIA seed grant in this area of research.
The photonic quantum sensor will be used to demonstrate two key real-world applications: mapping signals in a single biological cell to gain insight into disease pathways and imaging a single molecule, an important advance for nanolitre chemical analysis to replace bulky spectroscopy apparatus.
Some relevant experimental physics experience is desired but not essential. An interest in making photonic devices and strong analytical reasoning is desired. Some computational simulation experience and programming experience is also valuable.
How to apply
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the project supervisors to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application.
Please refer to the EPSRC DLA webpage for detailed information about the EPSRC DLA and how to apply. Applicants must ensure that they use the correct application form linked to the EPSRC DLA webpage and must submit an application for October 2027 entry. The form is unique to the EPSRC DLA. It contains the list of advertised projects from which to select, and three questions specific to the DLA.
The application deadline is 17:00 GMT 13 January 2027.
The majority of our DLA studentships will be allocated to candidates who qualify for Home fee status, in accordance with EPSRC funding regulations which place strict limits on international recruitment.
Funding Notes
The award will fund the full tuition fee and a maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £21,805 per annum) for 3.5 years, as well as a research grant to support costs associated with the project.
