The Future AI Infrastructure team at Microsoft Research Cambridge (UK) is exploring technologies to help the world’s fight against the climate crisis. We are seeking a PhD student to join us in Cambridge in winter/spring 2025 to work on optical technologies for environmental monitoring of greenhouse gases. We are looking for an enthusiastic intern to contribute to topics such as optical spectroscopy technologies, silicon photonics design and modelling, fiber gas sensing, inverse design and experimental sensor integration. You will be joining a welcoming and highly collaborative environment and work on creative and challenging problems with a real-world impact towards GHG emission monitoring.

Responsibilities

• Research on novel technologies for greenhouse gas monitoring with a view on real-world deployments.
• Modelling, design and lab-based experimental evaluation
• Documenting and presenting your findings in technical documents and presentations

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Be enrolled in PhD program in Computer Science, Engineering or related discipline 
• Experience in optical lab experimentation and integration
• Experience with optical spectroscopy and sensing with integrated optics and/or fiber sensing.

Other Requirements:

· Interns are expected to be physically located in Cambridge, UK

Preferred/Additional Qualifications:

A subset of the following

•  Strong technical and scientific communication skills
•  Experience with optical modelling and simulation software
•  Experience with inverse design for optical systems
•  Experience in full system integration (software, hardware, data acquisition)
•  Ability to code in Python, as well as familiarity with Git
•  CAD design software
•  Ability to work in an interdisciplinary collaborative environment with people from different technical backgrounds. 

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form.

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.