PhD studentship on Developing and Operating a Trapped Ion Quantum computer Prototype (2021)

What you get

• A tax free bursary for living costs for three and a half years.  From October 2021 this is expected to be £15560 per year, rising annually in line with Research Council minimum stipends.  The bursary can be supplemented by tutorial work.
• Fees waived at the UK level for three and a half years.
• A travel and conferences budget.

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

We recently invented a method where quantum gates with trapped ions are executed by the application of voltages to a microchip in the presence of a few global radiation fields analogous to the operation of transistors in a classical computer. As part of the UK Quantum Technology Hub on Networked Quantum Technologies, our group is developing a trapped-ion quantum computer prototype based on this new approach. You will work on further developing and operating this quantum computer prototype. This will include working on quantum gates, ion transport and sympathetic cooling. You will work on implementing a full quantum information tool box ranging from optimal implementation of gate sequences, validation and verification as well as demonstrating key specifications of the device. Your project will culminate with the implementation of quantum error correction as well as some quantum algorithms.

The Ion Quantum Technology Group is one of the world’s leading centres for the implementation of trapped-ion quantum computing and simulation. The group is part of the UK Quantum Technology Hub on Networked Quantum Technologies and the UK Quantum Technology Hub for Sensors and Metrology. The group currently spans 7 staff scientists, 2 electronics engineers, 14 PhD students and 6 undergraduate students.

Eligibility

Applicants must hold, or expect to hold, at least a UK upper second class degree (or non-UK equivalent qualification) in Physics, or a closely-related area, or else a lower second class degree followed by a relevant Master's degree.

This award is open to UK nationals, or to EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for at least three years and have settled or pre-settled status.

We welcome applications from all other students to work in our research group, but you must have independent funding for your fees and living expenses.

Deadline

How to apply

Send your CV to Prof Hensinger at the email address below, who may then invite you to apply on-line, here:

https://www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply/log-into-account

If you are invited to apply online, select the PhD in Physics with a September 2021 start date.

State in the Finance & Funding section that you are applying for this studentship reference UQ-MPS/SCQT/2021/10.

Be sure to supply all of the required documents, particularly your transcripts and the details of two referees.

Contact us

If you have practical questions about the progress of your on-line application or your eligibility, contact Emma Ransley at mps-pgrsupport@sussex.ac.uk

For academic questions please email the head of group, Prof Winfried Hensinger
(Professor of Quantum Technologies)

(w.k.hensinger@sussex.ac.uk)

You might also be interested in

You can find out more about the group at:

http://www.sussex.ac.uk/physics/iqt/

Some recent media coverage about the group’s work can be found here: The Telegraph, Nature, Financial Times, CGTN documentary, BBC, Sky News Tonight With Dermot Murnaghan, VICE, and Daily Mail.