PhD Research Fellow in Underwater Quantum Communication with Photons

The NORCE Technology division is headquartered in Bergen, with substantial activity also in Tromsø, Kristiansand, Grimstad, and

Oslo. The division has approximately 120 scientific staff members, organized into 8 research groups. We develop technologies and

solutions across a range of market areas, aiming to contribute to sustainable development.

We have a full-time cross-disciplinary PhD position available in the fields of Photonics, Quantum communication, and Underwater

optics at the Technology Division of NORCE Research in Bergen, Norway.

The position is for a fixed-term period of 3 years at the Bergen office of NORCE. You will be enrolled as a PhD student at the

Institute of Physics and Technology (Faculty of Science and Technology and Natural Sciences) of our collaboration partner, the

University of Bergen (UoB), Norway.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate to strengthen the Technology Division, working at the forefront of wide range of

disciplines including sensor technology modelling, communication systems, drones, modelling and data processing.

Secure communication is a fundamental requirement for modern digital infrastructure, with increasing importance in maritime

operations, subsea infrastructure monitoring, and offshore energy systems. While quantum communication has demonstrated provably

secure key exchange in optical fibre and free-space terrestrial links, underwater environments remain largely unexplored. Optical

wireless communication in the blue-green spectral window offers high data rates, but underwater channels are highly complex, with

absorption, scattering, turbulence, and background light significantly affecting signal propagation. These effects pose major

challenges for transmitting and detecting weak quantum signals reliably.

Reliable operation of quantum communication systems in underwater environments requires a detailed understanding of how channel

conditions impact system performance. However, the interplay between physical channel effects, system design choices, and protocol

performance is not yet well understood, and currently represents a key obstacle for practical deployment. In particular, it is

challenging to quantify how attenuation, depolarization, alignment sensitivity, and noise influence key performance metrics such

as quantum bit error rate and secure key rate.

The primary objective of this PhD project is to develop experimental and analytical tools for robust underwater quantum

communication, enabling improved system design, performance characterization, and uncertainty quantification. The project will

focus on establishing a flexible experimental platform for optical quantum communication in water, using weak coherent pulses and

decoy-state implementations as an initial framework, while enabling systematic investigation of channel effects and system

limitations.

The position is primarily dedicated to experimental quantum photonics and system development, with emphasis on understanding and

improving performance under realistic channel conditions. Research will include optical system design, experimental testing in

controlled water environments, and development of data-driven models linking channel properties to communication performance. The

focus will be on improving system robustness, measurement reliability, and scalability, and may be adapted to the candidate’s

interests within areas such as optical system design, signal processing, or quantum communication protocols.

The candidate will have the opportunity to participate in international conferences, collaborate across disciplines, and

contribute to the development of next-generation secure communication technologies for maritime and subsea applications. The

candidate may also have the opportunity for a research stay with the Quantum team at the National Physical Laboratory (UK).

As a PhD Research Fellow, you must participate in an approved educational programme for a PhD degree within a period of 3 years.

The deadline for applying for admission to the PhD programme at The Faculty of Science and Technology, UoB, is 2 months after you

start your position or after the start of the research project that will lead to the PhD degree.

The principal NORCE supervisor for this PhD position will be Peter James Thomas. There will also be one ore more supervisors from

UoB.

Applicants should hold an MSc degree or equivalent education, preferably in physics, photonics, or electrical engineering.

Candidates with a degree in applied mathematics, computational engineering, or a related field, with strong interest in

quantum/optical communication and experimental systems, are also encouraged to apply.

• Names and contact information of at least two references. One of these should be the main advisor for the master's thesis or

equivalent thesis.

• Transcripts and diplomas showing completion of the bachelor's and master's degrees. If you have not yet completed your master's

degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the master's thesis submission time.

Further information about the research group can be obtained by contacting Research Director Ranveig Nygaard Bjørk, tel. +47 913

35 305, e‑mail: rabj@norceresearch.no.

At NORCE, we are committed to ensuring diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for

available positions regardless of gender, age, disability, or ethnic background.

Candidates are expected to openly offer relevant information about themselves during the recruitment process. Furthermore, one can

expect background checks to be conducted on candidates in the final phase of the recruitment process. NORCE uses external actors

to carry out such background checks.

NORCE is subject to the Security Act and there are strict requirements for our employees to have a security-conscious behavior.

For this position, you must satisfy the security clearance requirements for SECRET/NATO SECRET.