People

Mehul was born in New Delhi, India. After completing his PhD in Optics at the University of Rochester, NY in the group of Robert W Boyd, he spent five fruitful years in Vienna as a Marie Curie fellow in the group of Anton Zeilinger and a senior postdoctoral fellow in the group of Marcus Huber at IQOQI Vienna. Outside of physics, Mehul is passionate about science communication and issues of gender diversity and researcher mobility in academia. He is an avid cook and enjoys exploring BBQ cuisines from around the world at the annual BBQLab BBQ. He is a keen backcountry skier, loves art+film+music, and is not shy on the dance floor. In his spare time, he can be found exploring the many beautiful hills around Edinburgh and spending time with his wife and two amazing kids!

Will joined our emerging team in 2019 following his PhD (2017) and several years post-doc in University of Bristol, Quantum Engineering Technology Labs with Prof John Rarity FRS and the quantum information group. There he developed his background in nonlinear quantum photonics in fibers and integrated optics as well as quantum information theory, and since has been applying these methods to high-dimensional systems, their characterisation and applications in quantum communication/networking settings. As an on-going programme committee member for the conference ‘Q-turn: Changing paradigms in quantum information science’, UCU member, and past role of EDI session chair at Bristol Quantum Information Technologies conference he champions academic cultural principles around workers’ rights and inclusion. Out of the office, Will can be found (and heard) in front of pianos and drumkits at open jams, and seen rolling, jumping and flipping around parks on his skateboard.

Saroch is from Thailand. He joined our team in 2020 after completing his PhD in the group of Prof Sylvain Gigan at Kastler-Brossel Laboratory, Sorbonne University, France. Before that, he graduated with his BSc in Physics from Prince of Songkla University and obtained his MSc with the Molecular Nano- and Biophotonics (MONABIPHOT) Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s program. His general interest is in the compelling nature of light and its characteristics. His current research focuses on understanding and controlling nonclassical light in realistic complex environments and developing new experimental techniques and optical devices for potential quantum technologies by harnessing features of complex scattering media. He loves photography, films, food and deep and friendly conversations on various topics. Often during his reading time, he uses his spare time between his thought to contemplate a better way to explain sciences to general audiences and students. He really loves to impress them with the beauty of nature and useful applications.

Sabine got her PhD in sunny Brisbane, Australia, in 2017 and later joined the QET Labs in Bristol for her Postdoc. There she extended her expertise in quantum optics and information science. She developed novel integrated photonic sources and protocols for quantum sensing. She is passionate about playing with lasers and exploring entanglement in the lab. Sabine has joined BBQLab on a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship in October 2021 to continue her endeavours into the quantum realm. Sabine is an award-winning science communicator and has been one of Q-Turn’s main organisers. She advocates for underrepresented groups as a UN Women UK delegate. In her spare time, she enjoys brewing her own beer, camping, hiking, and playing the clarinet.

Natalia is from Bogotá, Colombia. She obtained her B.Sc in Physics from the National University of Colombia, gained her M.Sc in Photonics with the Europhotonics Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s program, and got her PhD at BBQ Lab in 2023. Her research interests include finding novel ways to generate, characterise, and manipulate complex quantum states of light. Natalia feels passionate about the importance of diversity and equality in science. She is one of the founders of Red de Fisicas Unal, a network that seeks to connect, support and promote Colombian women in Physics. She is also involved in similar projects here in the UK that seek to tackle the challenges that underrepresented groups face when working in STEM. When she’s not doing science, Natalia loves knitting, doing yoga, binge-watching TV shows and films, listening to inspiring podcasts, and going to charity shops.

Fiona was born in Melrose in the Scottish Borders in 1991. She grew up in Berwickshire on the South-east coast of Scotland and completed her undergraduate degree at Heriot-Watt University, graduating in 2015 with an MPhys (Hons). In October 2015 she began her PhD in the Nonlinear Optics Group at Heriot-Watt University working on the development of compact high repetition rate mid-IR solid-state lasers. On completion of her PhD in October 2019, Fiona joined the Single-Photon Group at Heriot-Watt as a Postdoctoral Researcher where she is now studying infrared single-photon counting using integrated Ge-on-Si SPADs (single-photon avalanche detectors). In her spare time Fiona enjoys hiking, watching football and tennis, reading and baking. She is currently representing the Single-Photon Group and BBQLab as a visiting postdoc working on superconducting detector arrays at JPL and Caltech in Los Angeles, CA.

Vatshal has made it to his third year in PhD at our BBQ Lab. He comes from Prayagraj, a city of multiple histories in India. He survived his B.S. and M.S. in Physics from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. His interest in issues of access and privilege in education rivals his passion for physics. He volunteers with SwaTaleem, a non-profit initiative that offers high-quality education to underrepresented women. His diary is full of paintings of Edinburgh, interspersed with chess-notation and grandma recipes. You can quiz him on quantum steering, high-dimensional entanglement, and spatial correlations.

Primarily from New Delhi, Suraj has stayed in and experienced almost all corners of India. He comes from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi where he completed his B.Tech in Engineering Physics. He loves to do cool experiments with photons. Although he comes up with a new hobby every few months, outside the lab you can find him making circuits that automate different parts of his home, or doing some shiny night sky photography at the moment. One can also find him fantasizing about some amazing eastern philosophies on life and reality!

Sophie joined the BBQLab after her first year in the Quantum Engineering CDT at the University of Bristol. Before that, she completed a masters degree in mathematics at the same university. She is interested in quantum thermodynamics, understanding the quantum-to-classical transition and applications of this in complex media. Although Bristol has a firm place in her heart, she is excited to move to Edinburgh and experience the city’s gothic architecture and explore the surrounding Pentlands. Besides physics, she enjoys upcycling and creating her own clothes as well as other crafts, cycling and yoga.

After completing both of his undergrad research projects with us (BSc and MSc) in Physics here at Heriot-Watt, Dylan was impressed enough that he decided to join our lab as a PhD student in 2022. He’s Swedish-Welsh, having grown up in the city of Gothenburg he is already used to the cold of Edinburgh. His research interests and learning lie mainly in manipulating quantum optical systems with complex media. He enjoys biking around Edinburgh and exploring food from all over the world both by cooking and eating.