Institutions

The Old Schools, Trinity Ln
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 1TN
United Kingdom

Summary: One of the world's premier institutions for experimental quantum sensing. The Cavendish Laboratory hosts the AMOP group (NV-centre magnetometry, quantum optics, atom interferometry) and the Astrophysics group (radio/optical instrumentation, CMB detectors). The Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry contributes single-molecule biophysics. The Cambridge Nanoscale Quantum Sensing and Imaging Suite (CANSIS) and QOMS cleanroom support cutting-edge device fabrication. Exceptional for both biological quantum sensing (NV, ODMR, single-molecule) and astronomical instrumentation (SCUBA-2-heritage detectors, mm-wave receivers).

Notes: Top-5 world-ranked R1 research university. Home of the Cavendish Laboratory (Department of Physics), the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, and the Battcock Centre for Experimental Astrophysics. Strong quantum technology ecosystem including AMOP group (NV sensing, quantum optics, atom interferometry), Cavendish Astrophysics (radio/optical instrumentation), and Chemistry (single-molecule biophysics). Has the Cambridge Nanoscale Quantum Sensing and Imaging Suite (CANSIS) and dedicated cleanroom in the QOMS group.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Laboratory – AMOP Group) | Quantum Optical Materials and Systems (QOMS) @ Cambridge
Summary:

AtatΓΌre leads the ~30-person QOMS group at the Cavendish. Three main thrusts: (1) Spin-based quantum networks β€” demonstrating distant entanglement generation and photonic cluster states using semiconductor quantum dots (InGaAs, GaAs) and diamond spin defects (NV, SiV, SnV), including a many-body nuclear-spin quantum register demonstrated in 2025 (Nature Physics); (2) Quantum-enhanced nanoscale sensing β€” scanning NV diamond magnetometry of emergent magnetism in novel 2D/layered materials and quantum transport in nanocircuits, plus nanodiamond-based in-cell sensing (nanoMRI, thermometry, diffusion in C. elegans); (3) Novel quantum materials β€” hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) optically-active spin defects at room temperature, and moirΓ© physics in TMD heterostructures. He is co-founder and CSO of Nu Quantum Ltd.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Laboratory) | NanoPhotonics Centre @ Cambridge
Summary:

Baumberg directs the NanoPhotonics Centre, confining light into sub-nanometre plasmonic 'picocavities' between metal nanostructures to achieve single-molecule-sensitive SERS and study light-matter coupling at the molecular scale. Current work spans low-cost healthcare biosensors, chiral nanophotonics and quantum coherent effects in plasmonic cavities.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Laboratory) | VISION Lab @ Cambridge
Summary:

Bohndiek's VISION Lab, run jointly between the Cavendish Laboratory and the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, develops low-cost optical and photoacoustic imaging technologies to study the tumour microenvironment and vasculature, with a strong translational focus on early cancer detection (e.g. hyperspectral endoscopy for oesophageal cancer). The lab is part of a large interdisciplinary team and regularly recruits postdoctoral researchers.

Department(s)/lab(s): Institute of Astronomy | Bonsor Group @ Cambridge
Summary:

Bonsor studies the composition and evolution of exoplanetary systems through the spectra of polluted white dwarfs, whose atmospheres reveal the bulk geochemistry of accreted asteroids and comets, providing a unique observational window into planet formation and the delivery of prebiotic material.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Astrophysics) | COAST / MROI Optical Interferometry Group (Buscher) @ Cambridge
Summary:

Buscher leads optical/infrared astronomical interferometry research at the Cavendish, co-leading COAST and serving as System Architect for the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) in New Mexico. Current work focuses on MROI science-combiner instrumentation, fringe tracking, and light source/alignment systems for the beam train. He also holds an EPSRC grant (with Haniff and Young) on machining metre-sized gratings with nanometre precision for ELT high-resolution spectrographs. He is President of the Scientific Council of the European Interferometry Initiative.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Astrophysics) | Cavendish Radio Astronomy and Cosmology Group @ Cambridge
Summary:

de Lera Acedo heads the Cavendish Radio Astronomy and Cosmology group and is PI of the REACH experiment, a global 21-cm signal radiometer deployed in the Karoo desert, South Africa, targeting detection of the redshifted hydrogen signal from the Cosmic Dawn (zβ‰ˆ7.5–28). He has a PDRA opening for 21-cm cosmology data analysis. Research spans novel antenna design, ultra-low-noise receiver calibration (achieving ~80 mK RMSE), Bayesian foreground modelling, and RFI mitigation. He also leads the CosmoCube space mission concept for lunar-orbit 21-cm observations and is active in SKA development and HERA. He is actively hiring postdocs (PDRA posting live in 2025).

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Laboratory) | Physics for Sustainable Chemistry Group @ Cambridge
Summary:

De Nijs leads the Physics for Sustainable Chemistry group, studying light-matter interactions at molecular length-scales using plasmonic nanocavities, with applications spanning single-molecule SERS sensing, in-situ electrochemical monitoring, and plasmon-driven photocatalysis for green chemistry (e.g. plastics degradation).

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Laboratory – AMOP Group) | Quantum Engineering Group (QEG) @ Cambridge
Summary:

Gangloff leads the Quantum Engineering Group at the Cavendish. Research spans three platforms: (1) Semiconductor quantum dots (InGaAs, GaAs) β€” demonstrating optical coherent control of quantum-dot nuclear spin ensembles (magnons, time crystals, many-body quantum registers); developing QD-based quantum repeater nodes (MEEDGARD QuantERA project); (2) Diamond group-IV spin defects (SiV, SnV, GeV) β€” precision positioning and high-purity single-photon generation from tin-vacancy centers; (3) Rydberg excitons in Cuβ‚‚O β€” exploring blockade-based optical quantum gates. The Integrated Quantum Networks Hub co-PI role underpins a broader quantum internet vision.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Laboratory) | Quantum Gases and Collective Phenomena @ Cambridge
Summary:

Hadzibabic's group uses homogeneous, box-trapped ultracold atomic Bose gases as a highly controllable platform to study fundamental many-body physics far from equilibrium, including superfluidity, Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless physics, and quantum turbulence.

Department(s)/lab(s): Physics (Cavendish Astrophysics) | COAST / MROI Optical Interferometry Group (Haniff) @ Cambridge
Summary:

Haniff co-leads the COAST and MROI optical interferometry program at the Cavendish. His work focuses on aperture synthesis imaging, fringe tracking, detector technology (EMCCDs, L3CCDs), and instrument design for the MROI. He also holds the EPSRC grating-machining grant for ELT spectrograph components. MROI achieved first light in 2025/2026.