Postgraduate research opportunities Supersolids and Quantum Droplets in Light-Mediated Quantum Gases
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Thursday 18 December 2025
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 3.5 years
- Funding: Home fee, Stipend, Travel costs
Overview
This PhD project explores emergent quantum phases in ultracold atomic gases, with a focus on light-mediated interactions and optical feedback. You will work closely within a small, collaborative team of PhD students, a postdoctoral researcher, and your supervisors to investigate how interactions drive self-organisation, pattern formation, and supersolidity. Both funded and unfunded PhD positions are available.Eligibility
We're looking for motivated candidates with a strong background in quantum physics or a closely related discipline.
Experience in one or more of the following is beneficial:
- atomic physics, quantum physics, condensed-matter concepts
- laboratory experience with lasers, optics, electronics, or control systems
- Python/Matlab for data analysis and modelling
Project Details
This PhD project offers the opportunity to explore emergent phases of matter in ultracold quantum gases, with a particular focus on light-mediated interactions induced by optical feedback and the formation of supersolids, a remarkable phase that combines crystalline order with superfluid flow.
Project overview
Ultracold atomic gases provide an exceptionally clean and tunable platform for studying strongly correlated quantum systems. By coupling atoms to structured light fields - ranging from optical lattices to dynamical optical potentials created by optical feedback - this project will investigate how light-mediated interactions can drive self-organisation, pattern formation, and supersolidity. The work will combine experimental measurements with modern theoretical and computational approaches to reveal new regimes of non-equilibrium and collective quantum behaviour. The project is embedded in a broader research environment with opportunities to engage in related studies of lattice physics, nonlinear quantum fluids, and non-equilibrium many-body physics.
Training and development
As a PhD student, you will gain world-class training in:
- Experimental AMO physics: laser systems, vacuum apparatus, atom cooling and trapping, optical lattices
- Quantum many-body physics: Bose-Einstein condensates, supersolids, self-organisation, non-equilibrium dynamics, phase transitions, optical lattices
- Computational techniques: Python/Matlab based analysis, modelling and simulation of quantum systems, image processing, hardware programming
You will work closely with a research team in a collaborative environment, with opportunities to present at national and international conferences and engage with the wider ultracold-atoms community.
Key details
- Host Institution: University of Strathclyde
- PhD Duration: 3.5 years
- Start Date: 1 October 2026
- Annual Stipend: At UKRI minimum stipend level (projected to be £21,383 for 2026/27)
Funding details
This fully-funded scholarship for 3.5 years covers all university tuition fees (at UK level) and an annual tax-free stipend.
International students are also eligible to apply, but must find other funding sources to cover the difference between the home and international tuition fees.
Exceptional international candidates may be provided funding for this difference. Please contact the supervisor for further details.
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Apply
For any questions or to apply, please contact Dr Elmar Haller (elmar.haller@strath.ac.uk) or Professor Thorsten Ackemann (thorsten.ackemann@strath.ac.uk).
Number of places: 1
To read how we process personal data, applicants can review our 'Privacy Notice for Student Applicants and Potential Applicants' on our Privacy notices' web page.