Krishna Balram (inaugural lecture May 2026) develops photonic quantum engineering at the intersection of photonics, mechanics, and quantum information. Research: (1) piezoelectric optomechanical resonators (GaAs, AlN) for microwave-optical quantum transduction; (2) photonic integrated circuits for quantum sensing; (3) on-chip phononic and photonic crystal devices. Focuses on enabling technologies for quantum repeater nodes and sensors.
Sahar Basiri-Esfahani is a quantum optics theorist working on squeezed light, continuous-variable quantum systems, quantum noise, and quantum measurement theory. Research interests include quantum noise reduction in optomechanical systems, theoretical frameworks for quantum sensing with squeezed and entangled states, and quantum-enhanced measurement protocols. Borderline theoretical inclusion.
Alex Clark's group works at the interface of quantum science and technology, focusing on: (1) quantum imaging with undetected photons (mid-IR sensing at 3.28 µm using CMOS cameras and entangled photons — QIUP technique); (2) single-molecule photon sources (molecules coupled to nanophotonic cavities); (3) quantum memory protocols (ORCA and ATS in atomic vapours for telecom-band photon storage); (4) integrated photonics for quantum sensing. Director of QET Labs; Work Package Leader in three UK Quantum Technology Hubs.
Rachel Clark's research focuses on integrated quantum photonic devices, squeezed light generation on-chip, and nonlinear photonics. Research: (1) on-chip squeezed light generation in silicon nitride and lithium niobate waveguide platforms; (2) continuous-variable quantum photonic circuits; (3) nonlinear photonics for quantum sensing. This group is directly relevant to quantum-enhanced sensing with squeezed light.
Edmund Harbord researches quantum communications, solid-state quantum optics, and topological photonic structures. Research: (1) single-photon sources based on solid-state emitters (quantum dots, colour centres); (2) topological photonic crystal structures for robust quantum light propagation; (3) quantum communication protocols. Bridges photonics engineering with quantum networking.
Siddarth Joshi's group works on satellite-based quantum key distribution, quantum information protocols, and chip-scale quantum technologies. Research: (1) QKD receiver miniaturization for satellites and CubeSats; (2) chip-scale quantum random number generation and single-photon detection; (3) quantum metrology and sensing with photonic chips. Part of EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub.
Anthony Laing's group pioneers photonic quantum computing and quantum simulation, having invented integrated quantum photonics. Research: (1) universal reconfigurable photonic quantum processors; (2) photonic quantum simulation for chemistry and materials science; (3) photonic quantum sensing using multi-photon interference on chip. Founded PsiQuantum co-founder and Quantum in the Summer school.
Ruth Oulton's group works on quantum photonics using solid-state single-photon emitters. Research: (1) semiconductor quantum dot single-photon sources — cavity-enhanced emission, photonic crystal integration; (2) hBN defect spin-photon interfaces; (3) integrated quantum photonics for sensing and quantum networks. The group focuses on device-quality semiconductor photonic systems for quantum information and sensing applications.
Alberto Politi's Quantum nanoPhotonics Lab develops photonic quantum technology platforms for quantum information and sensing. Research: (1) integrated quantum photonic circuits in silicon, glass, and diamond; (2) quantum simulation with integrated photonics; (3) single-photon sources coupled to nanophotonic waveguides (including hBN defect emitters). Part of UK Quantum Technology Hubs.
John Rarity's group works on quantum-enhanced measurements and free-space quantum key distribution. Research: (1) quantum imaging with undetected photons — mid-infrared gas sensing (CO2, CH4) exploiting entangled photon pairs, with only near-IR photons detected (startup QLM); (2) sub-shot-noise imaging using quantum-identical photon beams; (3) spin-photon interfaces (1D cavity with near-unit scattering efficiency); (4) compact satellite QKD transmitters (EPSRC Quantum Comms Hub). Highly relevant to quantum-enhanced sensing.