About the Project
An H2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions funded PhD studentship position in organic chiral optoelectronic devices is available in the Department of Physics at Imperial College, London.
You will join the groups of Prof. Alasdair Campbell (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/alasdair.campbell) in the Department of Physics and Prof. Matthew Fuchter (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/fuchter-group) in the Department of Chemistry, working in close collaboration with other research groups at Imperial College. The project will also integrate closely with the broad research programme of the Centre for Processable Electronics at Imperial and will benefit from its wide range of established facilities. You will be part of a cohort of international early stage researchers working as part of the HEL4CHIROLED Innovative Training Network (ITN). This ITN combines a group of world-leading laboratories and organisations, where early stage researchers benefit from academic and industrial collaboration and research skill training.
For more details on the ITN and general advertisement of posts see: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/487188
You will carry out research that extends our successful and exciting work on chiral organic materials (Nature Rev. Chem. 2017, DOI: 10.1038/s41570-017-0045), and their ability to introduce unique functionality into organic electronic devices. These include circularly polarised organic light-emitting diodes (Adv. Mater. 2013, DOI: 10.1002/adma.201204961; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, DOI: 10.1021/jacs.6b02463; ACS Nano 2019, DOI 10.1021/acsnano.9b02940) and circularly polarised light detecting transistors (Nature Photon. 2013, DOI: 10.1038/nphoton.2013.176), where semiconducting properties can be controlled through chiral composition (ACS Nano 2017, DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b03540).
A goal central to the HEL4CHIROLED ITN project is the realisation of chiral organic light emitting and detecting devices based on novel helical conjugated small- or macro-molecules and helical lanthanide complexes. By virtue of the spin selectivity effect and the ability to absorb/emit circularly polarized light (CPL) that is granted from the above-mentioned materials, a foreseeable performance boost and functionality extension of current display and imaging technologies can be made. As such, this post within the ITN focuses on high-performance chiral optoelectronic devices (in particular, CP light emitting or detecting devices and spin filters) using novel chiral materials from our group and other members of the ITN. To elucidate the mechanisms involved, the research will also delve into the relevant physics and materials science aspects of these devices. The successful PhD candidate is also expected to interface closely with co-workers at the synthetic and materials chemistry frontiers via multidisciplinary collaborative research.
Duties and Responsibilities
• You will be undertaking a PhD studentship as part of this role
• You will undertake innovative research to suitable techniques, strategies and apparatus for the design, realisation and characterisation of organic chiral optoelectronic devices
• You will conduct associated spectroscopic, electronic and materials characterisation and device modelling to help i) optimise the device performance; ii) elucidate the underlying mechanisms for the device response observed; and iii) inspire improved chemical design of new chiral organic materials
• You will integrate closely with other members of the ITN to share results and learn from what other researchers are performing
• You will attend training courses and workshops required as part of the ITN
• You will publish your work in academic journals and attend conferences to present your work, both in the UK and abroad
Essential Requirements
It is important that you check your eligibility for this ITN award before applying. Full eligibility criteria can be found in the Job Description.
In order to be considered for this position, you must:
• Have obtained, or be close to completing, a first-class (or equivalent) first degree or a master’s degree in a relevant subject (e.g. Physics, Materials, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Chemistry)
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic photophysical and electronic properties of organic pi-conjugated materials
• Demonstrate knowledge of the structure and operation of (organic) optoelectronic devices
Depending on the applicant’s previous subject training and research project(s), knowledge or experiences on one (or some) of the following aspects would be considered an advantage:
• Experience or knowledge of the fabrication of thin films of organic conjugated materials
• Experience or knowledge of the spectroscopic, morphological and structural characterisation of thin films of organic conjugated materials
• Experience or knowledge of the standard techniques for organic semiconductor device fabrication
• Experience or knowledge of the steady-state, time- and frequency-resolved measurements of organic electronic devices, particularly OLEDs, OPD/Vs, and OFETs
Further information
To apply please visit: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/description/NAT00694/marie-curie-early-stage-researcher
This is a fixed term position for 36 months, during which time you will undertake a PhD studentship as part of this role.
Queries relating to the position should be directed to Prof. Alasdair Campbell at [Email Address Removed], or to Prof. Matthew Fuchter at [Email Address Removed].
For technical issues when applying online please email [Email Address Removed]. Please ensure that you include the job reference number in any correspondence.