EPSRC NetworkPlus in Terahertz (THz) Systems
Special Interest Group co-leaders
The NetworkPlus in Terahertz Systems seeks UK academics or industrialists to co-lead its six Special Interest Groups (SIGs), each based on a defined thematic area. SIG co-leaders will form part of the Network’s management group, which will meet on a three-month basis.
This means that in total, 12 roles are available across six key disciplines. Please note that these are undertaken on a voluntary, non-salaried basis on behalf of the UK terahertz community and EPSRC. Please apply for the role by sending a summary (no longer than one A4 page at 11pt) of why you are interested in the role to terahertz@leeds.ac.uk by 12pm on 25 July 2025.
Selection will be made via an online interview and discussion with members of the NetworkPlus management team and its advisory board, as well as with EPSRC.
SIG co-leaders (two per SIG) are sought in the following areas of THz science and technology (the full topic coverage / planned remit for each SIG is given later):
- High-frequency electronics and communication systems
- Solid state and quantum materials, devices, and systems
- Healthcare
- Chemical and biological systems
- Astronomy and Earth observation
- Non-destructive testing, security, and process monitoring
Key responsibilities of SIG leaders / co-leaders
- Organise twice-yearly SIG meetings (with at least one in-person meeting each year), each incorporating international input; engage with the Project Manager based at Leeds, who will provide administrative support in arranging meetings
- Identify emerging research challenges and opportunities in terahertz technologies within the SIG's remit; Contribute to the development of a new roadmap for Terahertz Systems, to be developed by a commercial roadmapping company
- Promote and build SIG membership
What we would like from you
- A strong research background in the technical area of the SIG or a closely related field;
- Excellent communication and organisational abilities; and
- Commitment to fostering inclusive and interdisciplinary research communities.
We particularly encourage people from under-represented groups to apply. Informal enquiries are welcome; please email these to John Cunningham via j.e.cunningham@leeds.ac.uk.
Topics / initial remit of SIGs
1) High-frequency electronics and communication systems
- THz transceivers
- Backward wave oscillators and parametric oscillators
- Components for sub-mmW systems, including resonators, modulators, multiplexers, splitters, switches, phase shifters, circulators, and more.
- Photonic generation and detection of THz signals using optical heterodyning
- Gyro-oscillators and amplifiers
- Schottky diode detectors
- Resonant tunnelling diodes
- CMOS and high-electron-mobility transistors
- Uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes and PIN photodiodes
- IMPATT and Gunn diodes
- Integration of THz systems with silicon photonics / CMOS technologies
- Metamaterials and metasurfaces for tunable THz wave control
- THz antennas and interconnects for ultra-fast data transmission
- THz communication systems, including channel modelling and propagation studies
- Beamforming and MIMO architectures for sub-mm waves.
- Low-noise amplifiers and mixers.
- Ultrafast analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for THz signal processing
- Signal processing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence
- Tomography, holography, structured light
- Antenna arrays, lens arrays, phased arrays
- Waveguides, transmission lines, and fibres
- Focal-plane arrays and cameras
- Plasmonic and slow-wave structures
- Lenses, reflective and diffractive optics
2) Solid-state and quantum materials, devices, and systems
- THz-driven coherent control of quantum materials and devices
- Non-linear effects in the solid state
- THz spectroscopy of low-dimensional materials (including 2D and quantum dots)
- Design of THz quantum cascade lasers and novel THz sources
- Superconducting detectors and mixers for THz frequency ranges
- Plasmonic and polaritonic effects in THz interactions with quantum materials
- THz frequency transport studies in topological insulators and Weyl semimetals
- Semiconductor materials for THz electronics
- THz phononics including SASERs
- Carrier dynamics and ultrafast relaxation processes
- Spectroscopy of semiconductors
- Condensed matter physics
- Ferrites and magnonics
- Low-dimensional materials - quantum dots, nanowires, 2D materials
- Metamaterials, metasurfaces, reflectarrays, and transmitarrays
- Spintronics
- Ultrafast phenomena
- Nonlinear phenomena
- Quantum-cascade lasers
- Near-field microscopy systems
- Superconductor emitters and detectors
- Spintronic emitters/detectors
- Photonic crystals, electromagnetic bandgap structures, and topological photonics
- Photoconductive antennas and electro-optic crystals
- Microbolometers and pyrodetectors
- Photoacoustics
- Near-field probes, terajets
3) Healthcare
- THz imaging for early-stage cancer detection (e.g., skin, breast, oral cancers)
- Spectroscopy of biologically relevant liquids
- Monitoring hydration levels and skin conditions via THz absorption spectra
- Detection of burn injuries and wound healing stages using THz imaging
- Biosensors for rapid point-of-care diagnostics
- Identification of protein conformations and DNA/RNA dynamics with THz radiation
- THz-safe imaging protocols
- Real-time endoscopic imaging techniques
- Dielectric property mapping of biological tissues
- Biomedical applications
- THz diagnostics of dental tissues/caries detection
- Biophysics
- Imaging systems for medical diagnostics
- Spectroscopy of tissues, including skin
- Detection of viruses and pathogens
4) Chemical and biological systems
- Spectroscopy of explosives, narcotics, and hazardous chemicals
- Structural fingerprinting of biomolecules using THz absorption features
- Label-free detection of pathogens, viruses, and bacteria
- Study of hydrogen bonding and hydration shells in biological systems
- Monitoring chemical reactions
- Terahertz circular dichroism for chiral molecule analysis
- THz studies of conformational transitions in peptides and proteins
- Gas-phase rotational spectroscopy for trace gas analysis
- High-sensitivity THz metamaterial sensors
- Phase-change materials and liquid crystals
- MEMS and microfluidic devices
- Spectroscopy system development
- Spectroscopy of gases, liquids, and solutions
- Plasma studies and diagnostics
- Detection using atomic vapours
- High energy facilities (including FELs and synchrotrons)
5) Astronomy and Earth observation
- THz heterodyne spectrometers for planetary atmosphere analysis
- Submillimeter observation of star and galaxy formation
- THz polarimetry for cosmic microwave background studies
- Instrumentation for Astronomy (ground and space-based)
- Atmospheric transmission
- Remote sensing of atmospheric gases (e.g., ozone, water vapor) using THz bands
- THz radar and lidar for high-resolution Earth surface monitoring
- THz receivers for space telescopes
- Development of ultra-sensitive cryogenic bolometers and superconducting mixers
- THz spectroscopic analysis of interstellar dust and molecular clouds
- Planetary science instrumentation for space missions
6) Non-destructive testing, security, and process monitoring
- THz imaging for detection of concealed weapons and contraband
- Quality control in manufacturing (e.g., plastic welds, pharmaceutical coatings)
- Non-invasive inspection of composite materials (e.g., aerospace, automotive)
- Detection of delamination, cracks, and corrosion in structural materials
- Security screening systems, including passive and active THz imaging
- Identification of counterfeit goods and packaging integrity
- THz sensors for real-time process monitoring in industrial environments
- Inspection of artworks and historical artifacts
- Imaging of semiconductor packages and printed circuit boards
- Analysis of layered media such as paints, ceramics, and textiles
If you want to become a co-lead for any of the six areas outlined above, please send a summary about why you’re interested in the role (no longer than one A4 page, 11pt) to terahertz@leeds.ac.uk by 12pm, 25 July 2025.