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Postgraduate research project

Harnessing Topological Light through Metasurfaces for Intelligent 3D Endoscopy

Funding
Fully funded (UK and international)
Type of degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Entry requirements
2:1 UK honours degree View full entry requirements
Faculty graduate school
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
Closing date
About the project Potential supervisors Entry requirements Fees and funding How to apply Contact us
About the project Potential supervisors Entry requirements Fees and funding How to apply Contact us

About the project

This PhD project will develop metasurface-enabled intelligent optical sensing for rapid, accurate identification of miniature features in endoscopy. Building on recent funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Leverhulme Trust, this PhD combines advanced nanofabrication, machine-learning-driven optical design, and close collaboration with University Hospital Southampton, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Metasurfaces are planar nanostructures that enable precise control of the amplitude, phase, and polarisation of light, redefining the frontiers of optical engineering. These capabilities underpin compact polarisation - and phase-sensitive optical detection systems and have demonstrated strong potential in biomedical imaging. 
 
This PhD project aims to harness metasurface-based light manipulation to develop intelligent optical sensing technologies for next-generation endoscopy. The project builds on recent funding from the EPSRC and the Leverhulme Trust, providing access to world-class nanofabrication and characterisation facilities at the University of Southampton. You will investigate deep-learning-assisted metasurface design to achieve extreme topological manipulation of light, and realise these designs through wafer-scale fabrication in the University’s cleanroom facilities. Supervised by Dr Xu Fang (School of Electronics and Computer Science) and Dr Eric Plum (Optoelectronics Research Centre), you will gain strong interdisciplinary training in computational photonics, nanofabrication, and optical characterisation. 
 
The project also includes close collaboration with academic and industrial partners, supporting the translation of fundamental optical concepts into practical imaging systems. In the later stages of the PhD, subject to progress and research focus, there will be opportunities to engage in international collaborations with NTU and MIT, advancing foundry-scale metasurface integration toward real-world deployment. 

The School of Electronics & Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.