Research Assistant/Assoc in Quantum

The Role

We are seeking research associates (or research assistants, for those who have submitted their PhD thesis by the start date of the role) with experience in the broad area of quantum information science and technology, and an interest in quantum foundations more specifically, to work with Dr Jonte R Hance within the Quantum Research Group in the School of Computing.

Positions are funded under Dr Hance's EPSRC New Investigator Award, titled "Leveraging Quantum Foundations for Metrological Advantage". This project involves working theoretically to optimise setups with this counterfactual gain for metrology applications, with a focus on understanding, manipulating, and leveraging quasiprobability negativity as a resource for quantum metrological advantage. It also involves building collaborations with experimentalist partners to demonstrate counterfactual gain, and how quasiprobability negativity can strengthen it, and how both can be used for metrology.

You will work closely with internal collaborators, external project partners (including at the University of Bristol, Heriot-Watt University, Northumbria University, the EPSRC Quantum Sensing, Imaging, and Timing Hub, and the National Quantum Computing Centre in the UK, UMass Boston in the US, Linkoping University in Sweden, and Kagawa University and Hiroshima University in Japan), and new and developing external collaborators. These 3-year fixed-term positions should provide a path to research independence, and Dr Hance will provide support and guidance for applying for independent fellowships and other such opportunities for developing independence throughout the term of the position.

Research directions will be developed collaboratively by you and Dr Hance, commensurate to previous research experience and independence, but will broadly focus on applying quantum foundational ideas, principles, and tools (e.g., quasiprobability negativity, postselection, interaction-free measurement, novel POVMs) to problems in metrology, imaging, sensing, or tomography.

As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of Research Innovation Role Profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and, secondly, the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.

Contact for the post is Dr Jonte Hance (jonte.hance@newcastle.ac.uk).

This is a full-time post available for the duration of 3 years.