About the Project

Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of energy transfer technologies in areas such as, high-power laser beams, coherent beam combination, physics of optical beam measurement and control, opto-mechanical designs and engineering?

We are recruiting a motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £23,237 per year, plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This project is co- funded by PowerPhotonic Ltd.

 

Project focus

The studentship will focus on Coherent Beam Combination (CBC), which is a modern optical technology enabling multiple single-mode fibre lasers to be spatially tiled or stacked in the near-field, and combined in the far-field at an intended target. The current state-of-the-art laser beam combining modules [1] utilise freeform monolithic array optics in a solution that delivers scaled output power with high efficiency and brightness, in a robust compact module that has size, weight and power factors unattainable using conventional optics.

Critical to the utilisation of this technology, is that all the laser channels are “in phase”, and with the same polarisation state, such that constructive interference occurs in the far-field, creating a high intensity hot spot combining the optical power from all channels. In order to achieve this, the phase and polarisation need to be accurately measured to provide feedback to control the phase of each fibre laser.

This project aims to design and develop future generation laser beam combining modules that will include a novel phase and polarisation detection system that can be integrated into the CBC optical module. The project will start with a critical review of the current methods of detection, assessing the limitations and advantages of each concept in the context of CBC. A new design will be created for a phase and polarisation detection system applicable to a wide range of CBC systems, focussing on scalability, high frame rate and integration with an optical combiner module. This student-led work will be guided by PowerPhotonic engineers, who manufacture CBC combiner modules and have 20+ years of experience in the manufacture and design of freeform optical components.

The opto-mechanical designs of future generation modules will also be developed, building on the expertise at Heriot-Watt University in stress-free and robust mounting techniques, whilst also incorporating the latest manufacturing technologies such as metal additive manufacturing, laser-based bonding of glass-to-metal, and athermal opto-mechanical concepts.

The Hub

The Doctoral Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. The successful candidate will be based at Heriot-Watt University and at PowerPhotonic Ltd, and throughout their PhD will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, as well as our specialist industrial network.

Why Join Us?

• Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts.
• Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry.
• Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises.
• Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and a monthly personal payment/stipend) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators.

Key Details

• Host Institution: Heriot-Watt University
• Industry Partner: PowerPhotonic Ltd.
• PhD Duration: 4 years
• Start Date: 1st October 2025
• Enhanced stipend of £23,237

The industrial partner, PowerPhotonic Ltd, are industry leading experts with over 20 years of experience in the design, manufacture & validation of beam shaping and image enhancing optics for the most demanding applications in laser material processing, medicine and life sciences, laser projection displays, defense and science and telecom. PowerPhotonic have also developed capability in manufacturing and alignment of opto-mechanical assemblies, integrating multiple freeform optics into a single mechanical housing.

Location

This project would be held jointly between Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh and PowerPhotonic Ltd in Dalgety Bay, with onsite presence expected at both facilities throughout the project. At PowerPhotonic the student will work alongside the Product Development team which has two decades of experience in fundamental R&D and proprietary manufacturing technology. The student will have access to the ISO9001 accredited manufacturing facility for high quality wafer-scale freeform optics production. At Heriot-Watt University, the student will be integrated into the research team leading the design and development of high-power lasers and optical systems, and the team pioneering the development of laser-based manufacturing processes and applications. The student will have access to the cleanroom optical system development labs, and the laser-based processing labs in the National Robotarium.

The partner will provide PhD supervision, a placement and be part of the larger Hub community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the Hub.

Please check the hub website for further details: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/energy-transfer-skills-training-hub

Eligibility

PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant science or engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance. 

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor for this PhD project before you apply. Please contact Callum Wreford – callum.wreford@powerphotonic.com

Equality, diversity and inclusion

The Hub is committed to improving diversity within the sector and as such we aim to provide an inclusive environment in which all students can thrive. We particularly encourage applications from women, disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, and students from low-income/ non-typical backgrounds to apply. We can also consider part time PhD students. We encourage and support talented individuals from various STEM backgrounds with ambition and an interest in making a difference. 

Funding Notes

Funding provided by the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub.

The generous funding package includes full tuition fees and an enhanced stipend of £23,237 per annum. Additional support is available for conference attendance, specialised training, travel to industrial partners, and extended placements with industry collaborators.

This studentship is open to UK Nationals and is available for home students only.