EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonic Integration & Advanced Data Storage

This well-established EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Photonic Integration & Advanced Data Storage delivers a 4-year doctoral training programme under the partnership between Queen’s University Belfast and the University of Glasgow and additional collaboration partner the Irish Photonic Integration Centre (IPIC).

We provide opportunities for highly motivated applicants to research novel scientific and engineering developments in highly manufacturable photonic and integration technologies with far-reaching applications related to the storage of digital information, telecommunications, healthcare and beyond.

Availability for September 2019

Applicants are currently invited to apply through the CDT PIADS website.

For Cohort 2019 there are three different entry routes into the programme. Industrial EngD, Industrial PhD and “Open Entry”.

EngD studentships carry an additional £5k p.a. on top of the standard tax-free stipend.

• EngD Industrial studentship with Seagate Technology
  1 available position
• EngD Industrial studentship with Oxford Instruments Plasma Technology (OIPT)
  1 available position
• PhD Industrial studentship with Seagate Technology
  3 available positions
• Open Entry Academic-focused PhD (define doctoral project during training phase)
  5 available positions

Research Scope

CDT student benefit from easy access to state of the art experimental and computational facilities at the Kelvin Nanocharacterisation Centre and the James Watt Nanofabrication Centre at the University of Glasgow, the Centre for Nanostructured Media at Queen’s University Belfast and through IPIC in Cork, the Centre for Advanced Photonics & Process Analysis.

Undertake research projects broadly falling under five themes:

• Ultra-reliable semiconductor lasers operating in hostile environments
• Low cost planar lightwave circuit platforms for coupling lasers into passive waveguides and suitable for volume manufacture
• Novel nanoplasmonic devices and antennas capable of operating in extreme environments
• Advanced materials for magnetic recording optimised for high temperature fluctuations through composition, layering and patterning on µm and nm scales
• Characterisation and failure analysis using scanning probe and electron microscopy and x-ray material analysis

Unique CDT Highlights

• Join a 2014-established CDT with a track record of success
• Apply for a pre-defined industrial PhD/EngD or decide on your PhD project later
• Students are registered at both Queen's University Belfast and the University of Glasgow, graduating with a unique joint degree
• All students receive Apple™ laptop and peripherals for the duration of study
• Students gain an internationally recognised Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Management & Leadership from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) valued at over £1000
• Exclusive access to Seagate Technology’s Global Leadership programme

Eligibility

• Applicants should have, or hope to have, a 2:1 (or equivalent) in a cognate physical sciences or engineering discipline, such as physics, materials science, electrical engineering, chemistry or chemical engineering. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the suitability of your academic background.
• Studentships are available to UK nationals & EU citizens resident in the UK for the previous 3 years as ‘Home’ students.
• One studentship per year is available to an EU student not meeting ‘Home’ status.
• One studentship per year is available for International applicants. As fully-funded positions for international applicants are rare, we would expect the candidate to have obtained a 1st class degree (or equivalent), to have English language proficiency (with IELTS certification if relevant -) and have ATAS clearance. More detail can be found on the CDT website.
• Those in possession of their own funding are also welcome to apply for a place of study.

Contact

W: www.cdt-piads.ac.uk
E: [email protected]
T: 028 90973523
(CDT Administrator, Vicky Weir)
Twitter: @CDT_PIADS
Facebook: @CDTPIADS