About the project
Can light perform artificial intelligence computations faster and more efficiently than conventional electronics? This project will develop intelligent, reconfigurable metasurfaces that manipulate light to perform computation directly. Combining nanophotonics, artificial intelligence and advanced materials, the research aims to create compact, ultrafast, energy-efficient optical computing technologies.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving unprecedented demand for computing power and energy. Conventional electronic processors face increasing challenges in computational speed, power consumption and data movement. Optical computing offers an exciting alternative by exploiting the intrinsic speed, parallelism and information-processing capabilities of light.
This PhD project will investigate how engineered nanostructures, known as metasurfaces, can perform mathematical operations directly in the optical domain. Building on our research in large-area metasurfaces, meta-photonics and optical information processing, the project will develop new architectures for programmable and reconfigurable optical computing.
The research will focus on three interconnected areas:
- computational photonics: developing physical and mathematical models for optical operations, including matrix transformations, signal processing and neural network functions
- intelligent metasurface design: using electromagnetic simulation, inverse design and machine learning to optimise optical nanostructures for high computational efficiency and accuracy
- reconfigurable optical hardware: investigating active materials and switching mechanisms, followed by device fabrication and experimental characterisation.
You will have opportunities to work with advanced photonic simulation tools, cleanroom nanofabrication facilities and optical measurement systems at the University of Southampton.
The project will also benefit from our wider research collaborations across academia and industry, providing exposure to emerging technologies in AI hardware, photonic integration and semiconductor manufacturing.
The ultimate goal is to establish new physical computing architectures capable of delivering high-speed, energy-efficient and scalable optical information processing.
The School of Electronics and 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.
