PhD projects
Below are a selection of potential PhD projects within our department.
If you are interested in any of these projects please submit your application as soon as possible.
More information on applying can be found in the Faculty of Science Graduate School or the Postgraduate Study website.
Modelling organic devices and novel solar cells
The aim is to use modelling techniques on length scales from molecular to macroscopic dimensions, backed up by experimental measurements, to understand the dynamics of charge and energy transport in organic films for displays and solar cells and also to understand dye-sensitized cells (DSCs) and oxide based cells.
Prof Alison Walker - a.b.walker@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Modelling organic devices and novel solar cells [PDF]
Extreme conditions: Novel functional materials
Materials with novel structural and functional properties will be made by recovery from extreme conditions of temperature and pressure. Their properties will be characterised using methods that include neutron and x-ray scattering.
Prof. Phil Salmon - p.s.salmon@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Extreme conditions: Novel functional materials [PDF]
Acoustic impacts of marine activities
Human activities at sea range from shipping and fishing to building, exploitation of resources (renewables or minerals) and recreational boating. This project will use real data and modelling to study sound propagation and acoustic impacts of different activities in complex settings, looking at mitigation strategies and linking with ocean resource management and international regulations.
Dr Philippe Blondel - P.Blondel@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Acoustic impacts of marine activities [PDF]
Designer soft matter
Adding nanoparticles to colloidal suspensions modifies the colloidal interactions and hence the structure and physical properties of colloidal materials. A key problem is to predict which nanoparticle additives will yield prescribed properties so that the material synthesis can be tailored to specific applications. The project will tackle this problem using state-of-the-art Monte Carlo computer simulation techniques.
Prof. Nigel Wilding - N.B.Wilding@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Designer soft matter [PDF]
Electronic nanodevices from biological liquid crystals
The project aims to create new electronic nano-devices with new physical properties, by controlling and exploiting self-assembling crystalline phases of biological liquid crystals.
Dr Kei Takashina - k.takashina@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Electronic nanodevices from biological liquid crystals [PDF]
Structure and morphology of cryoprotected systems
Neutron and x-ray diffraction will be used to investigate the role of cryoprotectants on the structure and morphology of the hydrogen bonded network formed by water. These substances protect biological tissue and systems (such as the arctic frog) from damage at low temperatures.
Prof. Phil Salmon - p.s.salmon@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Structure and morphology of cryoprotected systems [PDF]
Graphene nanomechanics and applications
The aim of this project is to study mechanical properties of suspended and supported single-, double- and multiple-layer graphene samples. Measurements will be performed by methods of atomic force spectroscopy using nanoscale probes fabricated in our laboratory.
Dr Sergey Gordeev - pyssg@bath.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1225 385154
For more detailed information please see - Graphene nanomechanics and applications [PDF]
“Nanosurgery” of nail and hair cells using an Atomic Force Microscope
The aim of this project is to study nanoscale structure and mechanical properties of hard-keratinized tissues, such as nails and hair, using novel 'nanosurgery' methods recently developed by our group. The investigations will be performed using nanoscalpels and nanoneedles fabricated in our laboratory.
Dr Sergey Gordeev - pyssg@bath.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1225 385154 or Dr Begona Delgado-Charro - prsbd@bath.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)1225 383969
For more detailed information please see - “Nanosurgery” of nail and hair cells using an Atomic Force Microscope [PDF]
Models of animal social networks
This is a project to build computational models of social behaviour within and among groups of animals, to explore the families of social networks generated by local and global interaction rules and to integrate the models into analyses of real animal social networks.
Dr Dick James - r.james@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Models of animal social networks [PDF]
Spin-dependent phenomena mediated by silicon nanocrystal assemblies
The project is based on the recent discovery that Si nanostructures have the extraordinary property of acting as facilitators for the photoexcitation of adsorbed molecules if the energy of photocreated electron-hole pairs matches the energy of singlet-triplet splitting of energy-accepting molecules. Incident light creates quantum-confined excitons in the nanostructures and these in turn transfer energy to the adsorbed species (the figure, right, shows how the energy of nano-silicon photoluminescence varies with particle size).
Dr Daniel Wolverson - d.wolverson@bath.ac.uk or Dr Paul Snow - p.a.snow@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Spin-dependent phenomena mediated by silicon nanocrystal assemblies [PDF]
Real space imaging of relativistic quantum mechanics and superconductivity effects in graphene
This project will use a state-of-the-art qPlus scanning probe microscope in the Centre for Graphene Science at the University of Bath to explore, expose and understand the relativistic quantum phenomena of Klein tunnelling in graphene, and the induced superconducting order parameter in proximity effect graphene devices.
Contact Dr Sloan - p.sloan@bath.ac.uk or Prof. Bending - S.Bending@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Real space imaging of relativistic quantum mechanics and superconductivity effects in graphene [PDF]
Electronic properties of silicon nanodevices
The project aims to uncover and harness new electronic properties of silicon nanodevices in which quantum mechanical effects play crucial roles.
Dr Kei Takashina - k.takashina@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Electronic properties of silicon nanodevices [PDF]
Graphene Jigsaws on Crystal Tables
We will directly grow or self-assemble nanographenes and other 2D nanomaterials on atomically flat, crystalline insulators through bottom-up approaches. In this way we will aim to achieve atomically-controlled topological tailoring of electronic and magnetic properties, as well as produce novel interfaces between 2D materials - in both cases there are numerous predictions of completely novel quantum phenomena that are yet to be verified. A unique, scanning probe - based nanofabrication and imaging “nano-factory” will be used to produce these systems and probe their unique properties.
Dr Adelina Ilie - a.ilie@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Graphene Jigsaws on Crystal Tables [PDF]
Guiding Electrons through a Graphene Sheet
We will “pattern” the electronic wavefunction of carriers in graphene through bottom-up, atomically controlled engineering of the underlying substrate, as well as functionalization of graphene surface with molecular or inorganic systems. In this way we will produce and probe anisotropic behaviour of the Dirac electrons within the graphene sheet and waveguide their trajectories, unlike in any other material.
Dr Adelina Ilie - a.ilie@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Guiding Electrons through a Graphene Sheet [PDF]
Nano-machines
We will use theoretical physics to understand what controls the efficiency off nano-scale machines like molecular motors and pumps.
Dr Robert Jack - r.jack@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Nano-machines [PDF]
How rare are rare events?
In many physical systems, change occurs by rare events such as earthquakes or avalanches. Similar rare events also control microscopic processes like chemical reactions and complex of molecular motion. We will compare several computational methods for studying these events.
Dr Robert Jack - r.jack@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - How rare are rare events? [PDF]
Nano-enhanced generation of terahertz radiation
This project is part of a larger programme to develop new source of extremely intense terahertz radiation. The specific aim is to explore the physical processes underling the generation of terahertz radiation at nanostructured metal–gas interfaces with a view to increasing the generation efficiency to the level needed to make such sources competitive.
Dr Steve Andrews - s.r.andrews@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Nano-enhanced generation of terahertz radiation [PDF]
Modelling the generation of terahertz radiation in laser excited plasmas
Pulsed terahertz radiation is being explored for applications in basic science, security and medicine but low source intensity often limits its use. As part of a project involved with realising a conceptually new source of extremely intense terahertz radiation based on femtosecond laser excitation of plasmas in gas filled waveguides, we are hoping to recruit a PhD student who will focus on theoretical and computer modelling of the THz generation and optical propagation processes.
Dr Steve Andrews - s.r.andrews@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Modelling the generation of terahertz radiation in laser excited plasmas [PDF]
Flexible Electronic Amplifiers based on Graphene-Silicone Composites
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship in the Department of Physics, Nanoscience group at the University of Bath, under the supervision of Dr Alain Nogaret. The project aims to understand the physics of perpendicular transport in multilayer graphene. You will fabricate flexible electronic devices that use the negative differential resistance of bilayer graphene to make conformable amplifiers and sensors that encode strain in the frequency of electrical oscillations in a similar way to mechanoreceptor neurons in the human skin.
Dr Alain Nogaret - pysarn@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Flexible Electronic Amplifiers based on Graphene-Silicone Composites [PDF]
Superconductivity in graphene-based 2D materials
The temperature-dependent conductivity of very highly chemically, electrically and electrochemically doped graphene and graphene-based materials will be investigated. High temperature superconductivity, which has been theoretically predicted in these systems, will be sought as well as other novel many-body phases that may occur at very high carrier densities.
Prof. Simon Bending (S.Bending@bath.ac.uk) or Dr Kei Takashina (K.Takashina@bath.ac.uk)
For more detailed information please see - Superconductivity in graphene-based 2D materials [PDF]
A versatile protein-graphene biosensing platform
We will develop a highly versatile and adaptable protein-graphene biosensing platform by self-assembling protein complexes onto graphene films. A main focus is to probe and understand the interaction that governs the assembly of the protein complexes onto the graphene surface. A second focus will be to probe and subsequently tailor the distribution of multiple specific binding sites on the analyte-exposed face of the protein complex, to maximise sensitivity. This knowledge will then be applied to producing a highly sensitive and customisable platform able to sense a wide range of analytes such as bacterial pathogens.
Dr Adelina Ilie - a.ilie@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - A versatile protein-graphene biosensing platform [PDF]
Programming chaotic networks of competing neurons to time and coordinate motor patterns
We seek to recruit a PhD student in the field of experimental/computational physics on a project supervised by Dr Alain Nogaret. The project aims to develop computer software for programming chaotic neural network hardware to mimic the groups of neurons at the base of the brain that control cardio-respiratory activity. The programmed networks will be tested on live rats with colleagues at the Bristol Heart Institute. The devices will be miniaturized and used as therapies for heart failure, sleep apnoea and hypertension.
Dr Alain Nogaret - pysarn@bath.ac.uk
For more detailed information please see - Programming chaotic networks of competing neurons to time and coordinate motor patterns [PDF]
Spin-polarised supercurrents
Novel quantum states of matter in patterned ferromagnetic-superconductor (F-S) hybrid structures will be investigated using a variety of state-of-the-art spatially-resolved techniques. The work will seek to understand the local spin structure at F-S interfaces with a view to optimising the conditions for realising spin triplet superconductivity and spin-polarised supercurrents.
Prof. Simon Bending (S.Bending@bath.ac.uk)
For more detailed information please see - Spin-polarised supercurrents [PDF]
Novel nanoscale graphene-based hall sensors for scanning probe microscopy
Novel nanoscale Hall effect sensors will be realised that build on recent advances in functionalised and suspended graphene technology. These devices should dramatically outperform all existing sensors for room temperature scanning Hall probe microscopy. Not only will they allow exquisitely sensitive investigations of domain structures in ferromagnetic thin films, but they should also attract considerable interest from commercial SPM manufacturers with whom we collaborate.
Prof. Simon Bending (S.Bending@bath.ac.uk)
For more detailed information please see - Novel nanoscale graphene-based hall sensors for scanning probe microscopy [PDF]
Novel waveguiding structures for quantum optics
Quantum states of light are powerful tools both for fundamental physics and applications. The goal of this project is to design, fabricate, and use waveguiding structures to generate and manipulate light at the quantum level.
Dr Peter Mosley - p.mosley@bath.ac.uk - Centre for Photonics and Photonic Materials.
For more detailed information please see - Novel waveguiding structures for quantum optics [PDF]
Modelling of light matter coupling in semiconductor microcavities
Photons trapped in a semiconductor microcavity can couple to excitons forming a special half-light halfmatter state known as polariton. This project will focus on theoretical and computer modelling of microcavity polaritons and development of polariton circuits.
Dr. Andrey Gorbach (A.Gorbach@bath.ac.uk, http://people.bath.ac.uk/ag263) or Prof. Dmitry Skryabin (D.V.Skryabin@bath.ac.uk).
For more detailed information please see - Modelling of light matter coupling in semiconductor microcavities [PDF]
