Space-time beam shaping for scalable 3D printing of photonic circuits. Department of Physics and Astronomy, UQ-Exeter Institute PhD Studentship (Funded) for January 2027 Entry. Ref: 5841

Join a world-leading, cross-continental research team

The UQ Exeter Institute is seeking exceptional students to join a world-leading, international research partnership tackling major challenges facing the global community in sustainability and wellbeing. Our joint PhD program provides a fantastic opportunity for the most talented doctoral students to work closely with world class research groups and benefit from the combined expertise and facilities at The University of Queensland and the University of Exeter. This prestigious program provides full tuition fees, stipend, travel and development funds and Research Training Support Grants to the successful applicants.

This select group of high-calibre doctoral candidates will have the chance to study in the UK and Australia, and will graduate with a joint PhD degree from The University of Queensland and the University of Exeter.

The studentship provides funding for up to 42 months (3.5 years).

Find out more about the PhD studentships www.exeter.ac.uk/quex/phds

Successful applicants will have a strong academic background and track record to undertake research projects based in one of the four priority themes.

Successful applicants will undertake this joint program on a full-time and onshore basis, commencing in Australia (UQ-homed) or in the UK (Exeter-homed). At least 12 months will be spent at each institution over the period of the joint PhD program.

The closing date for applications is midday Friday, 24 April 2026 (BST), with interview to be held between Monday, 25th May and Wednesday, 3rd June 2026. 

The start date is expected to be Monday, January 4th January 2027.

Please note that of the eight Exeter led projects advertised, we expect that up to four studentships will be awarded to Exeter based students.

Theme: Digital Worlds & Disruptive Technologies

Supervisors:

Exeter – Professor David Phillips

UQ – Dr Mickael Mounaix

Project Description

The next generation of signal processing, computing and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be unlocked by the close integration of electronics and photonics. This project will deliver a new ultra-fast laser fabrication system capable of creating three-dimensional (3D) networks of waveguides in a few hundreds of femto-seconds, providing a scalable path to photonic network integration for emerging low-energy opto-electronic AI systems and beyond.

The challenge: Machine learning and neural networks are super-charging the complexity of problems that computer algorithms can solve. While conventional electronic information processors are exceedingly well-developed, their capabilities are being rapidly outstripped by the rapid rise of AI: both the training and inference phase of electronic neural networks is highly power-intensive, and their widespread use puts ever-increasing pressure on global energy infrastructure [1].  

Photonic circuits guide and process light-based signals in the optical domain [2]. Photonics is set to became a major part of future AI systems, due to its inherently low energy consumption, high-speed data transfer and vast potential for parallelisation. Signals are already carried between electronic processors in the optical domain in the form of high-speed fibre optic internet, inter-satellite laser communications, and optical interconnects across data centres. These optical connections will become ever shorter and more integrated with electronic systems, and will not only connect, but also process information themselves. This level of integration calls for scalable fabrication technologies which poses a critical challenge: connectivity is needed in 3D while conventional lithography is intrinsically 2D.  

Ultra-fast direct laser writing uses femtosecond pulses of focussed light to structure materials in 3D [3, 4]. By scanning a high-power laser beam through a medium, it can ‘draw’ 3D networks of waveguides (freestanding or embedded within a glass substrate), and more complex optical components [3,4]. Direct laser writing has enormous potential to address photonic integration challenges. Yet at present structures are slowly created one voxel at a time. Our project moves from sequential to parallel laser writing, increasing fabrication rates by up to two orders of magnitude.

Our vision: We will combine advanced spatio-temporal beam shaping technology developed by Mounaix at UQ [5, 6] with the high-speed laser beam shaping [7-9] and direct laser-writing capabilities [3,4] of Phillips at Exeter. By intricately shaping single fs-laser pulses in space, time and polarisation, elaborate beam shapes will be created that rapidly laser fabricate optical components within a few hundred femtoseconds. Our demonstrator system will allow near-arbitrary structures to be dialled up by the user, offering a versatile and highly scalable laser fabrication tool for next-generation photonic technologies. 

[1] Momeni, Ali, et al. (2025) Nature 645.8079. 

[2] Bogaerts, W. et al. (2020) Nature 586(7828). 

[3] Būtaitė, U. G., …& D.B. Phillips (2019). Nature Communications 10(1). 

[4] Būtaitė U.G., …& D.B. Phillips (2026). arXiv:2602.07222 

[5] Mounaix, M. et al. Nature Communications (2020) 11(1). 

[6] Komonen, A.V., …& M. Mounaix. (2025) arXiv:2506.20365. [under review at Nature Photonics] 

[7] Stellinga, D., D.B. Phillips et al. (2021) Science 374(6573). 

[8] Rocha, J.C., …& D.B. Phillips (2025). Nature Communications 17(73). 

[9] Mididoddi, C.K., …& D.B. Phillips (2025). Nature Photonics 19(4).

Contact

Questions about this project should be directed to Professor David Phillips at D.Phillips@exeter.ac.uk.

Entry requirements

Applicants should be highly motivated and have, or expect to obtain, either a first or upper-second class BA or BSc (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the English language requirements and provide proof of proficiency. Click here for more information and a list of acceptable alternative tests.

How to apply

Apply now

To apply for this studentship project please use the 'Apply now' button above.  Important note:  If you apply for this project via a different route your application will not be considered. 

You will be asked to submit some personal details and upload the following documents:

• a full CV
• A Personal Statement.  Please use the following form. UQ-Exeter Institute Personal Statement.  Please note: the document will open as read only so please ensure you save a copy onto your desktop to edit the document.  Please ensure you upload the completed document to your application.
• academic transcripts and degree certificates
• details of two academic referees.
• English Language qualification.

Please quote reference 5841 on your application and in any correspondence about this studentship.

Summary