About the Project
Start Date: October 2017
Sponsored by the EPSRC, this studentship will provide a bursary of £14,296 - £19,000p.a. (tax free) plus fees* for four years.
A fully funded PhD studentship is available in the Centre for Engineering Photonics, working in collaboration with Oxford Instruments Nanoscience, to investigate the development of novel optical instrumentation for application in cryogenic environments. The project will investigate optical sensors for the measurement of temperature, magnetic field and strain within superconducting magnet systems. The instrumentation developed will be trialled at Cranfield and Oxford Instruments Nanoscience.
A fully funded PhD studentship is available in the Centre for Engineering Photonics, to investigate the development of novel optical instrumentation, exploiting optical fibres, for applications in superconducting magnets and more widely in cryogenic environments. Optical fibres offer unique capabilities in this “harsh” environment and our previous work has demonstrated the capability to measure strain within superconducting magnet systems subject to quenching, the first reported measurements of this type. Building on this research we will be investigating techniques to measure strain over larger areas, along with additional measurands such as magnetic field and temperature.
The project would suit candidates with a background in the physical sciences / engineering, who want to apply their skills in real world measurement applications and will offer the opportunity to gain experience in a mix of laboratory based sensor and instrumentation development and practical experimentation in real environments. Experience in photonics would be an advantage, but an ability to learn and to apply that learning are considered equally important, as training will be given in the specific technology. Many of our students complete a PhD following a period (or even a career) in industry and we welcome the additional experience that this brings. Full training will be provided in photonics techniques and all students are encouraged to complete a programme of additional courses in transferrable skills, making them highly sought after by employers. Our students go on to successful careers in the fields of their choice, often in research or development roles in industry, government funded establishments and universities.
Engineering Photonics provides a stimulating research environment, a purpose built suite of first class, well-equipped laboratories, close links with industry and with researchers from other disciplines and opportunities for students to present their work at national and international conferences.
Entry requirements:
Applicants should have a first or second class UK honours degree or equivalent in a related discipline, such as engineering, or the physical sciences and / or an MSc in a relevant subject. Many of our students complete a PhD following a period (or even a career) in industry and we welcome the additional experience that this brings.
For further information please contact:
Prof Ralph P. Tatam, E: [Email Address Removed], T: (0) 1234 754630
Funding Notes
* To be eligible for this funding, we require that applicants are under no restrictions regarding how long they can stay in the UK i.e. have no visa restrictions or applicant has “settled status” and has been “ordinarily resident” in the UK for 3 years prior to start of studies and has not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. (This does not apply to UK or EU nationals). Due to funding restrictions all EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have “settled status” in the UK.
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