Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

Multi-physics investigation of spray in a crossflow

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

Understanding the dynamics of particles (solid and liquid) in a crossflow is essential for many scientific investigations and engineering applications. Read more

Supervisor: Dr KP Pandey

30 March 2025 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Next generation single-photon avalanche diode for emerging quantum technology applications

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

We are seeing the second quantum revolution, bringing quantum theory out of the lab. The advantage of quantum theory is opening a huge range of application in many sectors such as environment, data security, telecommunication, defence and aerospace etc. Read more

Supervisors: Dr XY YI, Prof G Buller

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Machine learning assisted optimization techniques for fitting excitonic spin-orbit models to big data

University of Edinburgh School of Physics and Astronomy

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Chris Stock (School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh in collaboration with Russell Ewings (STFC-ISIS) and Bo Liu (University of Glasgow School of Electrical Engineering). Read more

Supervisor: Dr C Stock

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - uLED-based lab-on-chip platform (Fraunhofer and University of Strathclyde)

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research Group: CDT in Applied Photonics

Detection and identification of various analytes is crucial in applications spanning through bio-medicine, defence and security, environmental monitoring and various others. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Reid, Dr N Laurand

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Phase relations in planetary ices from atomistic and free energy calculations

University of Edinburgh School of Physics and Astronomy

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Professor Andreas Hermann, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Edinburgh. Read more

Supervisor: Prof A Hermann

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Airborne Quantum Key Distribution and Free Space Optical Communications.

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure encryption key sharing protocol that addresses potential vulnerabilities in encryption key sharing and encrypted data storage. Read more

Supervisor: Dr R Donaldson

31 July 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Practical Quantum Communications

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

About the project. This co-funded studentship with Rhea Activity Space (RSA) is to explore areas of practical quantum communications. Read more

Supervisor: Dr R Donaldson

31 July 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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A study of Sensing and Wireless Communications

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

This project is to investigate novel techniques for sensing and achieving efficient wireless communication. To fulfil the needs of future communication networks, the study will explore both the optical and radio frequencies for simultaneous sensing and wireless communications. Read more

Supervisor: Prof W. Popoola

31 July 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Visible wavelength optical metasurfaces for use in user-machine interfaces (STMicroelectronics and University of St Andrews)

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research Group: CDT in Applied Photonics

Optical metasurfaces offer complete freedom in definition of an optical function and do so on a flat surface. This property enables fabrication of sophisticated optics at wafer-level and therefore opens up the possibility of ultra-high-volume manufacture, in particular to address consumer markets. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Reid, Prof A Di Falco

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Pathogen Aerosolization and Detection in Building Wastewater System Fluid Dynamics

Heriot-Watt University School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society

Research Group: Institute of Sustainable Built Environment

The development of high-rise buildings is now at an unprecedented rate, with their number and scale rapidly and dramatically changing the landscape of global cities. The creation of these complex vertical communities poses major operational challenges for the systems relied upon for occupant safety and the responsible management of wastewater resources. Read more

Supervisor: Prof M Gormley

30 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Fouling Control of Water Treatment Membranes through Optimal and Sustainable Cleaning Strategies

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

Membrane fouling – the deposition of organic and inorganic matter on the membrane surface – is a major technical obstacle affecting membrane-based water treatment processes. Read more

Supervisors: Dr S Romero-Vargas Castrillon, Prof A Lips

19 June 2024 PhD Research Project Awaiting Funding Decision/Possible External Funding

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Revolutionary ultrathin optical devices for imaging

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

Flat optics have revolutionized design concepts in photonics, providing a compact platform to develop unusual ultrathin optical devices with multiple functionalities. Read more

Supervisor: Dr X Chen

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

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Elucidating molecular transport mechanisms through atomistic simulations

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

Membrane-based processes for water treatment, such as reverse osmosis (RO), hold promise in tackling water scarcity locally and globally. Read more

Supervisors: Dr S Romero-Vargas Castrillon, Dr R Pillai

6 December 2024 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Remote, range-resolved ultra-violet Raman spectroscopy for safety in hydrogen fuel and nuclear industries (Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics and University of Strathclyde)

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research Group: CDT in Applied Photonics

The detection and monitoring of substances at range is extremely important to several industrial production and safety processes. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Reid, Dr D Li

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Novel laser designs to exploit low-cost-per-Watt pumping of Ti:sapphire for application in sensing, imaging, and precise timing technologies (Fraunhofer and University of Strathclyde)

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research Group: CDT in Applied Photonics

This studentship will build on the synergies between the parallel programmes at Fh-CAP and the IoP. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Reid, Prof A Kemp

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Next generation long range laser rangefinders based on single photon detectors and new laser technologies (Thales and Heriot-Watt University)

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research Group: CDT in Applied Photonics

Laser Rangefinders are a key element of modern sensor systems and can range up to 20km with an accuracy of less than 1m. Thales UK produced the first in-service laser rangefinder in 1965, just a few years after the invention of the laser, and have been designing and manufacturing laser systems ever since. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Reid, Prof G Buller, Dr A McCarthy

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Upscaling morphing in biological structures

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

Continuum mechanics approaches have been used to model the mechanical behaviour of biological (and active) systems at length scales that are large enough. Read more

Supervisors: Dr M.T. Taffetani, Dr M Dias

6 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Biomechanical Investigation of Tendinopathy: A Multiscale Study

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Overview. This PhD project aims to address the prevalent issue of tendinopathies, which significantly impact the general population and pose substantial socio-economic challenges globally. Read more

Supervisor: Dr KZ Zheng

26 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Single-photon systems for environmental sensing

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

This project aims to investigate the use of novel single-photon detectors for remote environmental sensing. Read more

Supervisors: Dr RT Tobin, Prof G Buller

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Intracellular Capillarity of Biomolecular Condensates

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

The emerging role of biomolecular condensates formed through a liquid-liquid phase separation process inside biological cells is driving a paradigm change in our understanding of cellular organisation. Read more

Supervisors: Prof HK Kusumaatmaja, Dr R Ledesma Aguilar

16 January 2025 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Designing Structured Surfaces with Superwettability Properties

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

The wetting behaviours of liquids on solid surfaces play an important role for a wide range of engineering applications, including coatings, electronics, oil recovery, microfluidics, and inkjet printing. Read more

Supervisors: Prof HK Kusumaatmaja, Prof G McHale

16 January 2025 PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

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Single-photon depth imaging under extreme conditions

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

This PhD project will examine single-photon imaging in a number of extreme environments, including thorough atmospheric obscurants, scattering media and in extreme low-light environments. Read more

Supervisors: Prof G Buller, Dr RT Tobin

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Nonlinear optics in time-varying dielectric media

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

This theoretical Project aims to study the generation of a new type of light waves emitted by materials the refractive index of which varies periodically and non-periodically in time. Read more

Supervisor: Dr F Biancalana

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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Ultra-high speed integrated optical beam steering.

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Integrated optic (IO) devices manipulate light waves in a manner similar to the way integrated electronic devices manipulate electrons. Read more

Supervisors: Prof R Thomson, Dr A Maccarone, Dr R Donaldson

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Development of a miniature fibre-optic Raman probe for biomedical applications.

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Raman spectroscopy is a vibrational spectroscopy technique that enables the label-free identification and classification of materials, including biological materials such as live tissues. Read more

Supervisors: Prof R Thomson, Dr CR Ross

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Integrated Nonlinear Photonics

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Advances in fabrication techniques has enabled efficient nonlinear interactions in nanophotonic waveguides with very low pump excitations. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Saleh

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Underwater single-photon depth imaging

Heriot-Watt University Institute of Photonics and Quantum Sciences (IPaQS)

This PhD project aims to investigate novel single-photon detector arrays for underwater single-photon depth imaging. The successful candidate will investigate different single-photon technologies to obtain three-dimensional images in several underwater environments. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Maccarone

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

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Saline droplet evaporation for engineering applications

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

Evaporating arrays of droplets have attracted a lot of attention for their potential applications in areas such as microfluidics and surface patterning. Read more

Supervisors: Dr GW Wells, Dr R Ledesma Aguilar, Prof G McHale

5 July 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Spontaneous and forced Capillary flows on liquid surfaces

University of Edinburgh School of Engineering

Capillary imbibition is a phenomenon in which a liquid spontaneously fills a porous solid due to the to surface tension (think water invading a sponge). Read more

Supervisors: Dr R Ledesma Aguilar, Dr GW Wells, Prof G McHale

27 June 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Laboratory-based physical emulation of long path atmospheric turbulence for imaging sensors (Thales and University of Glasgow)

Heriot-Watt University School of Engineering & Physical Sciences

Research Group: CDT in Applied Photonics

Advanced imaging systems, operating in the visible and thermal infrared bands, are critical for a wide range of defence and security applications. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Reid, Prof M P J Lavery

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

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We have 49 Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

We have 49 Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh

Multi-physics investigation of spray in a crossflow

Next generation single-photon avalanche diode for emerging quantum technology applications

Machine learning assisted optimization techniques for fitting excitonic spin-orbit models to big data

Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - uLED-based lab-on-chip platform (Fraunhofer and University of Strathclyde)

Phase relations in planetary ices from atomistic and free energy calculations

Airborne Quantum Key Distribution and Free Space Optical Communications.

Practical Quantum Communications

A study of Sensing and Wireless Communications

Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Visible wavelength optical metasurfaces for use in user-machine interfaces (STMicroelectronics and University of St Andrews)

Pathogen Aerosolization and Detection in Building Wastewater System Fluid Dynamics

Fouling Control of Water Treatment Membranes through Optimal and Sustainable Cleaning Strategies

Revolutionary ultrathin optical devices for imaging

Elucidating molecular transport mechanisms through atomistic simulations

Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Remote, range-resolved ultra-violet Raman spectroscopy for safety in hydrogen fuel and nuclear industries (Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics and University of Strathclyde)

Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Novel laser designs to exploit low-cost-per-Watt pumping of Ti:sapphire for application in sensing, imaging, and precise timing technologies (Fraunhofer and University of Strathclyde)

Doctor of Engineering (EngD) - Next generation long range laser rangefinders based on single photon detectors and new laser technologies (Thales and Heriot-Watt University)

Upscaling morphing in biological structures

Biomechanical Investigation of Tendinopathy: A Multiscale Study

Single-photon systems for environmental sensing

Intracellular Capillarity of Biomolecular Condensates

Designing Structured Surfaces with Superwettability Properties

Single-photon depth imaging under extreme conditions

Nonlinear optics in time-varying dielectric media

Ultra-high speed integrated optical beam steering.

Development of a miniature fibre-optic Raman probe for biomedical applications.

Integrated Nonlinear Photonics

Underwater single-photon depth imaging

Saline droplet evaporation for engineering applications

Spontaneous and forced Capillary flows on liquid surfaces

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Laboratory-based physical emulation of long path atmospheric turbulence for imaging sensors (Thales and University of Glasgow)

We have 49 Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

We have 49 Physics PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships in Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh

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