My journey into photonics began during my integrated master’s and undergraduate degree in Electronic Engineering, which I completed in 2019. I took a few modules in photonics, and the subject immediately clicked for me. It made sense in a way other areas didn’t, and I found it incredibly interesting. That early exposure ultimately shaped my decision to pursue a PhD.
Before joining the PhD programme, I’d already spent time in Southampton and really liked the city. Southampton has been a great place to study with good transport links, excellent gyms, lots of choice, and much cheaper than other areas of the country.
Research at the Optoelectronics Research Centre
My PhD has given me a truly holistic understanding of photonics and the science of light. I’ve always wanted to work in an area that combined both the practical and the academic sides of the discipline. Photonics does exactly that, especially in showing how technology interacts with the machinery used across the field.
I started my PhD in 2023 under the supervision of Professor Goran Mashanovich and Dr. Colin Mitchell, working within the mid-infrared silicon photonics group. Since then, I’ve had the chance to work on the MISSION project and focus on the integration of photonic detectors onto silicon waveguides for gas sensing applications.
A collegiate community with world-class facilities
One of the things I value most at the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) is the community; everyone is willing to help each other out, and the environment is genuinely collegiate. There’s a great mix of skills, and I’ve learned a lot from my peers.
I’ve also had opportunities to attend conferences, visit photonic industry partners, and build connections across the sector. Being based in a photonics cluster has really helped strengthen those industry links.
The clean-room facilities are another highlight. It has every tool you could need, and working there has helped me collaborate and connect with researchers from other universities. It really is a state-of-the-art facility which I have been lucky enough to have conducted my research in.
This PhD has opened doors I wouldn’t otherwise have had. I’m the first person in my family to work towards a doctoral title.
Looking ahead
This PhD has opened doors I wouldn’t otherwise have had. I’m the first person in my family to work towards a doctoral title, and the experience has been transformative. It’s given me huge breadth across the field and made me realise just how many career pathways photonics offers.
My advice to prospective ORC students is simple: Southampton is a fantastic opportunity. You gain such a wide foundation in photonics, and after you finish, you can go in so many directions. Whether that’s joining a startup, staying in academia, opening a lab, or moving straight into industry. The skills and experience you gain here genuinely prepare you for all of it.
