Career Journeys: James Daly
Published: 31 March 2026
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James Daly, PhD Student at the University of Glasgow
At the moment you are undertaking your PhD at Glasgow, what exactly is it that you are working on and what is a typical day like for you?
My PhD topic is metasurfaces in the infra-red region. As well as working in collaboration with my colleague Amit on QEPNT research, I am currently working on two projects: an analysis of the efficiency of different meta-atom geometries for polarimetry in the short-wave infra-red, and a colour (wavelength) routing metasurface in the long-wave infra-red for wavelength-sensitive thermal imaging. A typical day usually involves setting up a simulation of a metasurface device in the morning, and while that runs, working in the cleanroom on device fabrication.
Can you explain what led you to deciding to do a PhD in the field of metasurfaces and what attracted you to it?
I was originally applying to do a PhD in quantum optics in the School of Physics, and the Project Manager of QuantIC, the UK Quantum Technology Hub in Quantum Enhanced Imaging, reached out to discuss the PhD opportunity with Professor David Cumming, as she thought I would be a good fit. I did some research into the field and found it fascinating and took the interview. It seemed like a good combination of physics (my University background) and engineering (where I had been working since graduating).
Can you tell us a bit more about the career paths you are considering?
One thing that attracted me to a PhD in metasurfaces was the wide range of applications and different fields of research that can be explored with the topic. While I am not sure if I would want to stay in academia long-term, I think a post-doc position researching one of the other applications of metasurfaces (e.g., biomedical diagnostics, gas sensing or AR/VR technology) would be the next step I would like to take after my PhD.
What do you feel is the highlight of your career to date and why?
So far, the highlight of my PhD career has been presenting a poster at the QEPNT scientific meeting in Bristol, and having in-depth discussions with several key academics about how metasurfaces can be applied to/ integrated with their research. I am also presenting my own research at SPIE photonics Europe in Strasbourg next month, which I think will be just as exciting.
Can you give details of why you enjoy being part of the QEPNT Hub?
The QEPNT hub has been a great experience in terms of meeting other colleagues from different areas of quantum technology research and finding ways to collaborate and help improve each other’s projects. It has also been beneficial in allowing me to work in areas of metasurface research which I haven’t yet explored in my solo research, such as polarization conversion and beam shaping.
First published: 31 March 2026