Prof Kevin MacDonald, Prof Nikolay Zheludev
Applications accepted all year round
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
The University of Southampton’s Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) hosts the UK’s flagship research programme on photonic metamaterials - a new generation of nanotech-enabled materials with engineered, actively controllable optical properties (see: Science 348, 973 (2015); www.nanophotonics.org.uk).
Advanced materials with unique dielectric and plasmonic properties offer new and enhanced modes of light-matter interaction. They are redefining the limits of what is possible in terms of the magnitude and speed of material response to optical excitation over nanometre-scale interaction lengths, and promise step-changes in the miniaturization and reduced energy consumption of optical modulation, sensing, switching and memory devices.
This PhD project will investigate nonlinear and phase-change response mechanisms in a variety of ultra-thin, metamaterial and nanostructured designer optical materials, for example extremely high-/low-refractive index dielectrics, and plasmonic ‘topological insulators’ with intriguing electromagnetic surface states.
Students with a knowledge of and keen interest in fundamental physics and ultrafast/nonlinear optics, and a desire to develop advanced skills in experimental photonics, computational electromagnetic modelling and nanofabrication, would be a good fit to this exciting project area. You will join a strong international group of students, postdoctoral and academic staff working together on many aspects of cutting-edge nanophotonics.
To discuss any details of the project informally, or to arrange a visit to meet us and see our facilities, please contact Kevin MacDonald [[Email Address Removed]] or Nikolay Zheludev [[Email Address Removed]].
The PhD programme:
The ORC PhD provides a solid education for a research career (www.orc.soton.ac.uk/phdprogram.html). The structured first year involves attending our training programme running in parallel with carrying out your research project. This provides a smooth transition from your degree course towards the more open-ended research that takes place in the following years under the guidance of your project supervisors. We expect our students to present their work at major international conferences and to write papers in leading academic journals as their research progresses.
The ORC is a world-leading photonics research organisation of around 200 research staff and students, famous for the development of novel photonic technologies underpinned by cutting-edge research in materials. Its mission is to combine applications-led research with fundamental studies into the generation, transmission and control of light. A PhD here has enabled our past graduates to make successful careers in academia, in national scientific laboratories, and as scientists or business leaders in industry.
Key facts:
• Apply online: http://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/how-to-apply/postgraduate-applications.page#applying_for_a_postgraduate_research_degree
• Entry requirements: First or upper second-class degree or equivalent.
• English language: IELTS 6.0, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (for information on other accepted English Language tests, please visit https://www.southampton.ac.uk/admissions_language)
• Closing date: Applications for 2018 entry are open now; early application is strongly advised.
• Duration: up to 4 years (full-time).
• Start date: Typically September/October but other dates are possible.
• Assessment: periodic written reports and viva voce examinations determine progression; PhD award is subject to final thesis submission and viva voce examination.
Funding Notes
Fully-funded places include paid tuition fees and a tax-free bursary to cover your living expenses.
For UK applicants, a good number of fully-funded scholarships available, with an enhanced stipend of up to £18k per year.
EU applicants may also contend for a small number of fully-funded scholarships; obtaining support from other sources (self-funding) for living expenses will increase chances of a successful application. Please note that EU students who have been working or studying in the UK for the previous 3 years can be fully-funded as equivalent UK students.