Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now

  Coherent Femtosecond Soft X-ray Microscopy


   Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

This project is no longer listed on FindAPhD.com and may not be available.

Click here to search FindAPhD.com for PhD studentship opportunities
  Prof Bill Brocklesby  Applications accepted all year round  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

About the Project

Project title: Coherent femtosecond soft X-ray microscopy 

Supervisory Team: Dr Bill Brocklesby, Prof Jeremy Frey

Project description

We are looking for a student to join an exciting new project in the field of bio-imaging. The project, recently awarded funding of ~£5M, aims to use laser-generated soft X-ray radiation for coherent imaging of nanoscale biological structures. The X-ray generation process, known as high-harmonic generation, is based on nonlinear optics using extremely high-intensity femtosecond laser pulses, the topic of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physics. The imaging process uses computational algorithms to transform the scattered X-ray patterns into detailed images with resolution of 10nm or less, comparable with electron microscopes but with the huge advantages of X-rays in looking within biological structures like cells or neurons.

The capability to generate coherent soft X-rays in a lab is limited to a few research groups worldwide. This PhD project will look at optimising X-ray generation for use in microscopy and will develop coherent imaging in the soft X-ray regime.

The student will be part of a multidisciplinary team constructing a new laser laboratory at the Rutherford Appleton Labs (RAL), home of the most powerful femtosecond lasers in the UK, and of the Rosalind Franklin Institute (RFI), the UK’s premier research institute in biological imaging. The lab will exploit a new generation of fibre-laser femtosecond sources producing high-energy pulses in the infrared at average powers 100 times higher than typical femtosecond lasers.

The candidate will join a welcoming community at Southampton, the RFI, and the Central Laser Facility of RAL, a team including physicists, chemists, computer scientists, and biologists developing imaging techniques within a supportive and diverse environment. The ideal candidate will have a background in physics, have studied nonlinear optics and/or lasers, and have an interest in computational techniques both for lab operation and data analysis. Collaboration across disciplines, from algorithm development to biology, will be essential and will provide the student with a broad background in some of the most exciting areas of photonics, and strong support for career development.

Find out more about:

Our department and research group:

   https://www.southampton.ac.uk/about/faculties-schools-departments/zepler-institute

   https://www.southampton.ac.uk/research/groups/ultrafast-x-ray-group

The PhD programme:

   https://www.southampton.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/photonics-optoelectronics

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2_6yNQamkU

For further details of the project please contact Dr Bill Brocklesby, [Email Address Removed]

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) in physics or a closely related discipline.

Ideally you:

  • have studied nonlinear optics and/or lasers
  • have an interest in application of computational techniques both to lab operation and data analysis

Closing date

Applications are accepted throughout the year. The start date will typically be late September, but other dates are possible.

Funding

For UK students, tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus £2,000 ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling around  £21,237 for 2024/25, rising annually). EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships.  The China Scholarship Council (CSC) students are eligible for fee waivers.  Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

How To Apply

Apply online via clicking the 'Apply' button. Select programme type (Research), Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD ORC”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor.

Applications should include:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date

For further information please contact: [Email Address Removed] 

Physics (29)

Funding Notes

For UK students, tuition fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate plus a £2,000 ORC enhancement, tax-free, per year for up to 3.5 years (for 2024/25 it will make £21,237 in total, rising annually). 

EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. 

The China Scholarship Council (CSC) students are eligible for fee waivers. 

Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply. 


References

https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wxxyk/doctor-bill-brocklesby#research
https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5wxxyk/doctor-bill-brocklesby#research

Where will I study?

Search Suggestions
Search suggestions

Based on your current searches we recommend the following search filters.