We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to develop the next generation of AI-enhanced quantum sensors, combining machine learning with cutting-edge quantum hardware to create autonomous scientific instruments.
Our research aims to build quantum sensors capable of deciding for themselves what measurement to perform next, learning from incoming data in real time, and continuously optimising their performance. These technologies have the potential to transform nanoscale imaging, single-molecule detection, quantum networking, and next-generation biomedical sensing.
The successful candidate will develop advanced AI algorithms based on:
- Bayesian experimental design
- Variational Bayesian inference
- Reinforcement learning
- Probabilistic machine learning
- Adaptive decision-making under uncertainty
These methods will be applied to quantum sensors based on individual electron spins, among the most sensitive measurement devices ever developed. Long-term goals include imaging individual molecules, detecting and controlling single nuclear spins, and enabling magnetic resonance experiments with unprecedented sensitivity.
The project is carried out in close collaboration with Prof Giovanni Montana (University of Warwick) and Prof Tom Rainforth (University of Oxford), internationally recognised leaders in machine learning, Bayesian optimisation, and AI for scientific discovery. The successful candidate will work closely with experimental researchers to deploy algorithms directly onto specialised quantum hardware and evaluate their performance in real-world experiments.
The position builds on a strong foundation of recent advances from our group, including real-time Bayesian experiment design on a single quantum spin (Phys. Rev. Applied 21, 024026, 2024) and scalable Bayesian inference methods for nanoscale magnetic resonance imaging (PRX Quantum 7, 020360, 2026).
The postdoc will join the Quantum Photonics Laboratory at Heriot-Watt University, an internationally recognised centre for quantum technologies, and will interact extensively with researchers across the UK quantum ecosystem through the Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) and Quantum Sensors for Biomedical Research (Q-BIOMED) national quantum technology hubs.
This position offers a unique opportunity to help shape the emerging field of autonomous quantum technologies, while gaining expertise in two strategic areas of science and innovation: artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
Location: Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Duration: Fixed-term research position
Informal enquiries: Prof Cristian Bonato (c.bonato@hw.ac.uk)
For more information about the research environment, visit the Quantum Photonics Laboratory website.
