We are seeking students and postdoctoral researchers who are passionate about both the profound concepts in physics and the art of designing and building real experiments—individuals who want to understand and explore. Training in our group blends fundamental physics, optical experimentation, and modern methods of analysis.
Who is a strong fit?
We are looking for students and postdocs who want to do ambitious, high-standard research and have the potential to become leading young researchers in their area. A strong fit for our group is not defined only by grades, prior publications, or familiarity with a particular technique. What matters most is the combination of scientific fit, research ownership, and the ability to execute difficult projects to completion.
Scientific fit means that you are excited by the kind of questions we ask: how structure, information, measurement, and physical constraints shape what optical and quantum systems can do. You should enjoy connecting physical intuition with mathematical, computational, and experimental tools, and you should be motivated by understanding a problem deeply rather than only applying a known method.
Research ownership means that you are eager to grow into an active intellectual contributor. Over time, students and postdocs in the group are expected to develop their own judgment, identify what is unclear, communicate obstacles openly, and take increasing responsibility for advancing a project. We do not expect incoming students to know everything, but we do look for evidence that they are ready to grow as independent researchers.
Turning ideas into finished work matters just as much. Many projects in the group require patience and persistence to overcome technical obstacles: aligning optical systems, debugging experiments or simulations, analyzing imperfect data, refining theoretical models, and carefully writing papers. A strong fit is someone who can stay with a hard problem until it becomes a finished piece of science.
Our group aims to be supportive, collaborative, and non-competitive, with a shared commitment to high-quality science. We try to create an environment where people can ask serious questions, work through uncertainty, and help each other make difficult projects succeed. The group is best suited for people who are ambitious about doing excellent research and ready to take their own development as researchers seriously.
Postdoc positions
We are open to discussing potential opportunities for exceptional postdocs to contribute to our dynamic research group. If you are interested, kindly reach out to Prof. Wang via email and remember to attach your CV along with a list of your publications.
We also welcome discussions on hosting postdocs supported by various postdoctoral fellowships, including but not limited to the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award program (NSERC) and FRQ Postdoctoral Scholarship Program. If you are eligible and are interested to have our group as your host, please contact Prof. Wang at least a couple of weeks before the relevant fellowship application deadline.
Graduate students
We welcome applications for graduate programs twice a year. The starting semesters are either in the fall (September admission) or the winter (January admission). If you wish to join us in September, please ensure your application reaches us before December 15th. For January admission, the deadlines are July 15th for international applicants and September 1st for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
To apply for a graduate student position in our research group, please follow the application process for the McGill physics PhD or MSc programs. More information can be found here. The application needs to be submitted through the Slate system here.
PhD program
Method 1 (Direct entry)
Students with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent may directly enter our PhD program. Extensive relevant research experience during undergraduate is needed to be eligible. In this case, the first year of the PhD is referred to as “PhD 1”. Candidates entering PhD 1 must take 6 courses at 500 and 600 levels (or higher), with at least three being at the 600 level or higher. In addition to these courses, candidates must pass the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam, for which they must register and complete within the first 5 academic terms (not counting summer terms) of starting PhD 1.
Method 2
Students already having a Master’s degree or equivalent can be admitted to graduate studies at the PhD level. In this case, the first year of the PhD is referred to as “PhD 2”. Candidates entering PhD 2 must take two courses at the 600 level or higher. In addition to these classes, candidates must pass the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam, for which they must register and complete within the first 3 academic terms (not counting summer term) of starting PhD 2.
MSc program
Two-year research master program: Five courses are required (at least one course at the 600 level or higher); research starts straight away at the beginning of the program toward an MSc thesis.
We also offer opportunities for outstanding MSc students to convert to the PhD program after one year of enrollment (“fast track”).
Both MSc and PhD students will receive financial support during their studies.
We encourage students with relevant educational backgrounds in physics, applied physics, optics, photonics, or optical/electrical engineering to apply to our research group.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your application, feel free to email Prof. Wang directly. Simply send your CV, clearly indicating your cumulative GPA for all stages of higher education, and include a list of your publications if applicable.
Undergraduate summer projects
Each year, we offer a limited number of summer research projects to undergraduate students. If you are a McGill student, the list of available projects will be posted here.
We also welcome exceptional non-McGill undergraduate students who are interested in summer projects. For more information and to explore the available options, please contact Prof. Wang via email.
We welcome applications from racialized persons/visible minorities, women, indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.
KAI WANG LAB 