Postdoc Positions

We always look forward to receiving open applications by outstanding candidates, please send your inquiries to the PI whose work you are interested in. We are currently looking for post-doctoral candidates in the following areas:

Project 1: Quantum imaging of metabolic changes in 3D models of immune cell-cancer interactions

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop an innovative approach to quantum sensing with NV centres in nanodiamonds to monitor metabolic changes in 3D models of immune-cancer interactions.

This position is funded through a £2M UKRI project led by Aldona Mzyk. The successful applicant will join the interdisciplinary Quantum Bio-Imaging Group and collaborate with academic and industrial partners. There will be opportunities to visit partner laboratories across the UK and internationally. Heriot Watt University is a member of the UK Q BIOMED Hub, offering further connections across the UK quantum biomedical sensing community.

Ideal candidates will have experience in:

  • Performing quantum sensing measurements with NV centres in nanodiamonds
  • Developing 2D and 3D breast cancer models
  • Developing nanoparticle-based strategies for drug delivery into live cells
  • Confocal fluorescent microscopy and image processing
  • Flow cytometry and data analysis

We particularly welcome applications from women and underrepresented groups in STEM.

Apply here: a link will be available shortly, for now please contact Dr Aldona Mzyk.

Contact: Dr Aldona Mzyk

Project 2: Microfluidic platforms for live-cell quantum bio-imaging

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop microfluidic platforms designed to interface directly with NV based quantum sensing microscopes. These systems will support precise control and delivery of live cells, enabling high resolution studies of cellular metabolism in complex biological microenvironments.

This position is funded through a new £2M UKRI project led by Aldona Mzyk. The successful applicant will collaborate with academic and industrial partners and will have opportunities to visit partner laboratories across the UK and internationally. Heriot Watt University is a member of the UK Q BIOMED Hub, offering further connections across the UK quantum biomedical sensing community.

Ideal candidates will have experience in:

  • Microfluidic device design and fabrication
  • Integration of microfluidics with optical or sensor based systems
  • Mixed signal electronics for actuation and control
  • (Desirable) Working with mammalian cells

We particularly welcome applications from women and underrepresented groups in science and engineering.

Apply here: https://enzj.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX/job/4652

Contact: Dr Aldona Mzyk

Project 3: Ultrafast Quantum-enabled Immune screening

We seek a talented and motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Quantum Bio Imaging Group at Heriot Watt University. The successful candidate will develop a multimodal quantum sensing microscope, integrating NV based quantum sensing with other imaging modalities.

The aim of this project is to build next generation tools for fast immune screening and its translation into pre- and clinical diagnostics. This position is funded through a new £2.2M QuantERA2025 consortium project Quanti-PEP led by Aldona Mzyk, Cristian Bonato and Nicholas Leslie. The successful applicant will collaborate with academic and industrial partners and will have opportunities to visit partner laboratories in Finland (UH) and Germany (FAU). Heriot Watt University is a member of the UK Q BIOMED Hub, offering further connections across the UK quantum biomedical sensing community.

Ideal candidate will have experience in:

  • Developing complex optical instrumentation, e.g. quantum sensing microscopes; hands-on experience with SPAD cameras is an advantage
  • Programming (C++ or Python or MATLAB) for device control, data acquisition and analysis
  • (Desirable) Working with mammalian cells We especially encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups in physics and engineering.

Apply here: a link will be available shortly, for now please contact Dr Aldona Mzyk.

Contact: Dr Aldona Mzyk

Project 4: Integrated platforms for novel quantum devices using rare-earth doped crystals for quantum memory applications

We seek a talented and motivated scientist to start a new line of research on integrated platforms for novel quantum devices using rare-earth doped crystals for quantum memory applications.

The work will be conducted in the framework of a recently funded EPSRC grant involving world leading partners working in waveguide fabrication and electrical engineering. It will be carried out under the supervision of Dr Margherita Mazzera, who is principal investigator of the funded project. The ideal candidate will have a strong experimental background in one or more of the following fields: solid-state physics, quantum photonics, and quantum information science. We especially encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups in Physics.

Contact: Dr Margherita Mazzera

Project 5: AI algorithms for nuclear spin detection/control (computational)

We are seeking a Post-doctoral Research Associate to develop algorithms based on Bayesian experimental design, variational Bayesian inference, and reinforcement learning to enable autonomous detection and control of individual nuclear spins. This is relevant, for example, to enable MRI images of nuclear spin clusters associated to single molecules or implement long-lived qubits for quantum memories.

The ideal candidate will have background in AI, machine learning, applied mathematics/statistics, computer science/engineering, or theoretical physics, excellent mathematical and coding (python) skills, and an interest in collaborating with experimentalists. Successful candidates will work closely with partners across the “Integrated Quantum Networks” (IQN) and “Quantum Sensing for Biomedical Research” (Q-BIOMED) hubs.

If interested, please contact Prof Cristian Bonato as soon as possible.

Contact: Prof Cristian Bonato

Project 6: AI-enhanced quantum sensing (experimental)

We are seeking a Post-doctoral Research Associate to further develop our real-time adaptive quantum sensing platform and lead experimental demonstrations of AI-driven identification of single nuclear spins and the development of optimal controls. The over-arching goal is to develop self-optimising quantum sensors that drastically reduce sensing time in highly-multidimensional spaces, and boost robustness to experimental imperfections.

The ideal candidate will have a background in experimental quantum technologies (experience with NV centres in diamond or other colour centres is particularly desirable), excellent coding skills and good familiarity with probability theory or machine learning. Successful candidates will work closely with partners across the “Integrated Quantum Networks” (IQN) and “Quantum Sensing for Biomedical Research” (Q-BIOMED) hubs.

If interested, please contact Prof Cristian Bonato as soon as possible.

Contact: Prof Cristian Bonato

We are furthermore always happy to support suitable candidates for fellowships: