Current PhD Opportunities

Our PhDs are organised by our research groups. For more information on each of these groups, please visit the Research section.

Observational Astrophysics

Supervisor

Dr Mathew Smith

Description

The Universe is currently undergoing a period of rapid accelerated expansion. This discovery, suggesting that 75% of the energy budget of the Universe is unexplained represents the biggest mystery in physics today. Type Ia supernova, as bright, highly homogenous, explosions, are excellent measures of distance. Visible to vast distances, these cosmic light-bulbs are ideal measures of how the size and content of the Universe has evolved over the last 10 billion years. This PhD project aims to expand the use of these events to probe new aspects of cosmology. Specifically, the student will exploit data collected by the international Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) collaboration to maximise our understanding of type Ia supernova to produce a detailed 3D map of the nearby Universe.

This project represents a leap forward in this field; more than ten thousand discoveries are now made each year, compared to several hundred collected in the last twenty. The student will develop machine learning tools to separate type Ia supernovae from other variable sources, and use high performance computing techniques to measure the cosmological parameters using forward modelling techniques.

The student will work closely with a team of international researchers in France, Germany, Sweden, Ireland and the USA to measure the 3D distribution of matter which will improve our understanding of Dark Energy and General Relativity.
Lancaster University has a leading role in multiple state-of-the-art supernova experiments including DES, LS4, LSST, 4MOST, Euclid, ZTF and JWST. As the PhD develops, the student will be encouraged to join and collaborate on projects based upon their own interests.

Please contact Dr Mathew Smith for further information. This PhD project represents just one component of the research performed by the wider Astrophysics group at Lancaster University. For more general information about PhD study in Physics at Lancaster please contact our postgraduate admissions staff at py-pgadmiss@lancaster.ac.uk.

Supervisor

Dr Mathew Smith

Description

Explosive astrophysical transients are uniquely powerful probes for understanding the fundamental evolution of the Universe at all cosmic scales: from the expansion history and growth of structure, measured using type Ia supernovae; down to the star-formation histories of galaxies in a cycle that drives cosmic nucleosynthesis.  This PhD project aims to uncover and explain the rarest of astrophysical explosions. Our understanding of this picture is rapidly evolving: the extremes of the transient population now differ in luminosity and time-scale by many orders-of-magnitude, but no plausible physical explanation exists for either.

Starting in 2026, the Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) will revolutionise astrophysics: millions of new transients will be discovered each year. Combining these discoveries with high-cadenced photometric and spectroscopic data from projects lead by Lancaster astrophysics (LS4; TiDES), the student will develop unsupervised machine learning tools to identify ‘one in a billon’ events in real-time. Combining multi-wavelength observations with stellar populations, we will identify everything from the most luminous transients, to stars that vanish as black holes.  

The student will work at the forefront of multiple international collaborations, alongside experts in the USA and Europe, to pin down the stars and environments that produce the extremes of stellar death.  Lancaster University has a leading role in multiple state-of-the-art supernova experiments including DES, LS4, LSST, 4MOST, Euclid, ZTF and JWST. As the PhD develops, the student will be encouraged to join and collaborate on projects based upon their own interests. 

Theoretical Particle Cosmology

Project Supervisor

Professor Konstantinos Dimopoulos

Description

Cosmic Inflation in the early Universe

Cosmic Inflation is a period of superluminal expansion of space just after the Big Bang. It is fixing the initial conditions of the Universe history, in that it makes the Universe large and uniform. Additionally, inflation generates quantum-mechanically the controlled violation of uniformity necessary for the build-up of structures such as galaxies and galactic clusters. Inflation is under new light due to the recent cosmological data, such as the Planck CMB observations. Several families of inflationary models are now excluded, while new research on the favoured models overlaps with concerns over the stability of the electroweak vacuum (Higgs inflation) and the UV completion of gravity (R^2 inflation).

The discovery of gravitational waves has ignited new interest in detecting primordial gravitational waves, quantum generated during inflation, which are a smoking gun for inflation theory, and motivates forthcoming observations (e.g. the Einstein Telescope, LISA). Observations of primordial gravitational waves may reveal the history of the early Universe, especially if there are periods when the Universe is dominated by a stiff fluid, which enhance the primordial gravitational radiation. Such a period is a natural ingredient of quintessential inflation scenarios.

Quintessential Inflation and Dark Energy

Observations suggest that the Universe at present is engaging anew in a period of late time inflation, determined by a mysterious substance called dark energy, which makes up about 70% of the density budget of the Universe today. Dark energy can be modelled similarly to primordial inflation, through a substance called quintessence. Quintessential inflation is the effort to economically treat dark energy and primordial inflation in a common theoretical framework. As such, quintessential inflation connects not only with primordial inflation data but also with imminent future dark energy observations (e.g. EUCLID), which can provide information on early Universe physics at very high energies, well beyond the reach of Earth based experiments. Moreover, quintessential inflation can exploit the famous scale mystery, whereby the scale of electroweak physics, which is explored in collider experiments such as the LHC, is roughly the geometric mean of the Planck energy scale, which is associated with gravity, and the dark energy scale. This implies that observations in the early and late Universe can be used to shed some light on particle physics phenomenology.

Primordial Black Holes

Primordial Black Holes are a natural outcome of many inflationary scenarios, as they can be formed by rare spikes in the spectrum of primordial density perturbations, generated by inflation. Primordial Black Holes can be the Dark Matter in the Universe, which makes up about 25% of the Universe budget at present. They could also seed the supermassive black holes which reside at the centres of galaxies and are responsible for Active Galactic Nuclei. Their formation depends not only on the details of inflation but also on the conditions in the post-inflation Universe. If they are small enough, they are expected to evaporate through the emission of Hawking radiation, which could heat the Universe after inflation but might also have many other effects on the CMB radiation. After the direct observations of binary black hole mergers, there is intense interest in exploring the cosmology of Primordial Black Holes.

Funding is available on a competitive basis. To be considered for a funded studentship, please submit your application by 31^st January 2026.

Apply Here

Applying for postgraduate study

Space and Planetary Physics

Experimental Particle Physics

PhD Projects in Detector Development

PhD Projects on the Neutrino Programme

Accelerator Physics

Supervisor

Professor Steven Jamison

Description

There is immense interest in femtosecond-duration high-energy electron beams in both the condensed matter and high-energy particle physics scientific communities, for their application in exploring femtosecond processes in materials, and for future particle colliders.

Conventional Radio-frequency concepts that have been highly developed for well over 50 years are reaching fundamental limits in this quest. New laser-acceleration concepts are stepping into this challenge, with a number of routes to femtosecond-level electron beams with GeV electron energy undergoing intense international research.

At Lancaster University, and in collaboration with Cockcroft Institute and Manchester university, we are leading the way in a promising concept of direct laser driven acceleration. Our concepts involve the conversion of intense femtosecond laser pulses into phase-controlled terahertz (THz, or far-infrared) pulses. These picosecond pulses, potentially with fields strengths of GV/m, are converted into vector beam polarisation states to provide a longitudinal-polarised state of light (with electric field parallel to the direction of propagation); they are slowed to velocity match the electron beams in micro-manufactured structures where they directly acceleration co-travelling electron beams. Hybrid schemes where the THz-acceleration approach is merged with plasma accelerator stages are also being explored.

We wish to recruit a PhD student for combined theory/simulation and experimental research into non-linear optical processes for the generation of terahertz (THz) vector beams. On the theory and simulation side, you will examine second and third order optical nonlinear process, including coherent sum and difference frequency mixing and parametric amplification, to obtain efficient and high-energy wavelength conversation and temporal shaping. You will develop approaches for mode conversation and vector-beam generation for obtaining longitudinal polarised laser beams. On the experimental side you will put the modelled concepts into practice, obtaining high-energy THz pulses suitable for electron acceleration experiments. For this experimental aspect you will work with high-energy (10 mJ, kHz) femtosecond laser systems in our Lancaster university laser laboratories, and with our 100 mJ, 2 terawatt laser system in our radiation shielded laser- and electron-beam lab based at the Cockcroft Institute/Daresbury national laboratory.

The studentship is part of a larger programme in direct laser acceleration within the Cockcroft institute. You will work within a team of students and post-doctoral researchers from Lancaster Physics, Lancaster Engineering and University of Manchester Physics departments that are part of the THz Accelerator programme (www.thzag.uk). You will participate in the groups experiments in relativistic particle acceleration that will be undertaken periodically throughout the studentship at national and international particle accelerator research facilities.

Project context and supervision.

The project will be undertaken within the THz acceleration group ‘TAG’ collaboration, with principal supervisor Prof Steven Jamison (Lancaster Physics). Other academic investigators within the TAG group are Prof Graeme Burt (Lancaster Engineering), Dr. Darren Graham, Prof. Rob Appleby, Dr. Morgan Hibberd (Manchester Physics). The new student will work alongside other CI students and PDRA’s within the Cockcroft THz acceleration collaboration, and will receive additional informal supervision through the collaboration.

Funding and eligibility: Upon acceptance of a student, this project will be funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council for 3.5 years. This consists of a tax free stipend at UKRI rates, university fees at the home (UK) rate, plus support for travel to conferences and workshops. A full package of training and support will be provided by the Cockcroft Institute, and the student will take part in a vibrant accelerator research and education community of over 150 people.

To be considered for a funded studentship, please submit your application by 31st January 2026. For further information please contact Prof. S Jamison

Key Publications

[1] M. Hibberd et al, & S.P. Jamison. Terahertz control of relativistic electron beams for femtosecond bunching and laser-synchronized temporal locking. arXiv.2508.20685 (2025) (preprint)

[2] Dalton et al., & S.P. Jamison Cryogenically cooled periodically poled lithium niobate wafer stacks for multi-cycle terahertz pulses. Appl. Phys. Lett. 125, 141101 (2024)

[3] Dalton et al., & S.P. Jamison. Average-power scalability of multi-cycle terahertz sources based on periodically poled lithium niobate stacks. arXiv:2509.13060 (2025) (preprint)

[4] C.D.W Mosely et al. & S.P. Jamison. Large-area periodically-poled lithium niobate wafer stacks optimized for high-energy narrowband terahertz generation. Opt. Express. 31 4041 (2023)

[5] M. Hibberd et al, & S.P. Jamison. Acceleration of relativistic beams using laser-generated terahertz pulses Nature Photonics 14, 755 (2020) DOI: 10.1038/s41566-020-0674-1

[6] D. Walsh et al, & S.P. Jamison. Demonstration of sub-luminal propagation of single-cycle terahertz pulses for particle acceleration. Nature Commun. 8, 421 (2017) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00490-y

Anticipated Start Date: October 2026 for 3.5 Years.

Low Temperature Physics

Supervisor

Professor Jonathan Prance

Description

The ability to cool materials to millikelvin temperatures has been the foundation of many breakthroughs in condensed matter physics. At this frontier, quantum behaviour can be studied by making devices smaller and colder, increasing coherence across the system. The goal of this project is to apply a new technique – on-chip demagnetisation refrigeration – to reach temperatures below 1 millikelvin in electronic devices and materials. This will open a new temperature range for the development of quantum technologies.

In the sub-millikelvin regime, it becomes increasingly difficult to measure and define the temperature of a material or device. The thermal coupling between various sub-systems can be extremely small; for example, the electrons in the metal wires contacting a chip can be at a different temperature to the electrons in the chip, the phonons in the chip, and the apparatus that you are using to cool it. This situation calls for a variety of thermometry techniques, each suited to measuring the temperature of a different physical system. The thermometers must also have extremely low heat dissipation and excellent isolation from the room temperature environment. This project will also include the development of new and existing thermometry techniques that are suitable for sub-millikelvin temperatures.

Devices will be produced in the Lancaster Quantum Technology Centre cleanroom, and by our collaborators. Experiments will be conducted using the cutting-edge facilities of the Ultralow Temperature Physics group and IsoLab at Lancaster University.

Candidates would benefit from an interest in and knowledge of some of these areas:

electrical measurements of quantum devices, e.g. semiconductor quantum dots, superconducting qubits, 2D-material-based devices,
cryogenic techniques,
nanofabrication,
data acquisition and measurement automation.

Related publications:

Ridgard et al., Journal of Applied Physics 137, 245901 (2025)

Autti et al., Physical Review Letters 131, 077001 (2023)

Samani et al., Physical Review Research 4, 033225 (2022)

Chawner et al., Physical Review Applied 15, 034044 (2021)

Jones et al., Journal of Low Temperature Physics 201, p772 (2020)

Funding is available on a competitive basis. To be considered for a funded studentship, please submit your application by 31 January 2026.

Supervisor

Dr Dmitry Zmeev

Description

Recently, we have developed a new type of levitating probes: superconducting spheres whose motion can be controlled with high precision.

These probes open up several pathways for exploring a variety of fundamental and applied problems in physics.

Firstly, the exceptional coherence time of the levitated oscillators, greater than 24 hours, combined with an ultracold sub-millikelvin environment creates a unique platform for probing the boundary between quantum and classical physics. This allows us to experimentally address one of the most profound questions in modern physics: “How does the quantum description of reality transition into the classical world?”

Secondly, the probes can be controllably moved over large distances and at high velocities, enabling the study of dynamic processes in quantum fluids. This capability opens new avenues for investigating the formation and evolution of topological defects, such as quantum vortices, and the emergence of quantum turbulence in both 2D and 3D fermionic and bosonic superfluids. These phenomena are central to understanding superfluidity and non-equilibrium quantum systems.

Thirdly, a probe of an arbitrary shape moving in a low-viscosity fluid at a high speed presents an opportunity to study highly turbulent flows relevant to airplanes and cars on a moderate scale and much-reduced costs compared to wind tunnels. This capability also presents an opportunity to answer the question “Is flight possible in a superfluid?”.

Scientific Environment

We perform experiments on superfluids and other materials with applications in areas such as nanoelectronics, cosmology and turbulence.

The group has a strong international reputation for performing state-of-the-art experiments at the lowest achievable temperatures. Our custom-made dilution refrigerators, built in-house, achieve world-record low temperatures.

We are well known for providing these sub-millikelvin low temperature environments with advanced in-house cryogenic engineering, and for our accompanying expertise in ultra-sensitive measurement techniques and the development of specialised instrumentation.

Creating, controlling and exploiting the ultra-low temperature environment has proven crucial for the research and development of quantum-enhanced devices. Our platform technology provides the extreme cold and isolation necessary to probe the subtle quantum behaviours that are otherwise hidden by thermal fluctuations or external disturbance.

We have a broad research portfolio in low temperature physics and specialise in quantum fluids and solids research.

How to apply

We will consider applications from candidates with an excellent academic record in Physics, Engineering, or a closely related subject at the MSc. level or equivalent.

This studentship is open until filled. Early application is strongly encouraged. PhD provisional start date is October 2026. Please contact D Zmeev to discuss the opportunities

Non-Linear and Biomedical Physics

The PhD opportunities in Nonlinear and Biomedical Physics include topics related to nonautonomous systems in both animated and non-animated contexts. Each proposal will be tailored to the interests of the student—within the framework of the topic—and will include a supervisory team of experts covering all aspects of the interdisciplinary work. Currently, the group has secured one fully funded home position, with potential for additional funding or co-funding.

Description

This project aims to develop a new physics of the living cell, revealing how physical laws govern the dynamic organisation and self-regulation of life at the cellular scale. How do living cells maintain coherence and function amid continual internal fluctuations? Addressing this fundamental question requires a theoretical framework that captures the inherently time-dependent and complex dynamics of living systems.

The classic Hodgkin-Huxley model remains a landmark in biophysics, showing how physics can explain neuronal activity. Yet it assumes constant membrane voltage - a simplification far from the reality of fluctuating, energy-driven living systems. Recent advances now allow simultaneous measurements of ionic concentrations, pH, cell volume, and ATP production, offering a unique opportunity to develop a more complete physical description of life at the cellular level.

This PhD will integrate these rich experimental datasets with modern theories of nonautonomous dynamical systems and advanced time-series analysis, using tools such as Lancaster’s MODA toolbox. The research will explore phase coherence, synchronisation, and stability in cellular processes, seeking unifying principles that govern both excitable and non-excitable cells.

Working within Lancaster’s internationally recognised Nonlinear and Biomedical Physics Group, the successful candidate will contribute to the theoretical foundations of living matter - developing models that may transform our understanding of how cells, and ultimately the brain, function in health and disease such as cancer or diabetes.

Candidate profile
We invite applications from outstanding students (first or upper second class, or equivalent) with a strong background in physics, applied mathematics, computational biology, biophysics, theoretical biology, or other quantitative sciences involving mathematical and computational modelling. A keen interest in the physics and mathematics of living systems and interdisciplinary research is essential.

Interested candidates should contact Professor Aneta Stefanovska for further information.

Description

This interdisciplinary PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a novel, noninvasive diagnostic tool for early-stage skin cancer detection -specifically melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.

By integrating optical sensing, nonlinear dynamics, modern computational techniques, and machine learning, this project aims to build a clinically viable, wearable device capable of distinguishing cancerous tissue from healthy skin with high precision.

Project Overview

Cancerous cells, particularly in melanoma, grow rapidly and often outpace the development of supporting vasculature. This results in distinctive blood flow dynamics that differ significantly from those in healthy or benign skin tissue. Using advanced methods from nonlinear systems analysis, including tools from our open-source platform MODA, we have already demonstrated 100% specificity and 100% sensitivity in differentiating melanoma from atypical naevi and other lesions in initial studies.

The next phase of the research will involve:

Developing a wearable prototype for continuous or point-of-care use,
Applying machine learning to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed,
Collaborating with a Lancaster-based spin-out company to translate the research into a deployable medical device.

Why Apply?

This PhD will provide training and research experience at the intersection of physics, biomedical engineering, and data science, including:

Nonlinear dynamics and complex systems
Optical instrumentation and signal processing
Machine learning and classification techniques
Clinical translation of physics-based diagnostics

You will work within a supportive, interdisciplinary research environment and contribute to real-world medical innovation with the potential for significant healthcare impact.

Candidate profile

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a first-class or upper second-class degree in physics, applied mathematics, natural sciences, or biomedical engineering (or a closely related discipline). A strong interest in interdisciplinary research, especially at the interface between physics and healthcare technology, is essential.

Interested candidates should contact Professor Aneta Stefanovska for further information.

Description

The lungs and heart can be modelled as coupled nonlinear oscillators whose interaction governs essential physiological rhythms. A prime example is respiratory sinus arrhythmia, where the respiratory cycle modulates the heart’s beat frequency. Classical models have typically employed linear or autonomous oscillator frameworks, which fail to fully capture the inherently time-dependent and nonlinear dynamics of cardio-respiratory coupling observed experimentally.

This project adopts a physics-driven approach by applying the theory of nonautonomous dynamical systems, which explicitly incorporate external time-dependent forcing and parameter variability, to model the cardiorespiratory interaction as a network of coupled oscillators with time-varying coupling strengths.

Importantly, this work will address fundamental theoretical challenges surrounding interactions between nonautonomous oscillators. Unlike autonomous systems, nonautonomous oscillators lack time-invariant phase definitions and exhibit complex stability properties, complicating the analysis of phase synchronisation, intermittency, and long-term behaviour. Developing appropriate phase reduction techniques and rigorous mathematical frameworks to characterise these coupled time-dependent oscillators is a central goal.

You will work with experimental datasets recorded under varying physiological states -awake, anaesthetised, and different ambient conditions - to analyse transient synchronisation and dynamic coupling. Alongside theoretical modelling and numerical simulations,machine learning methods will be employed to identify structure in complex physiological time series, classify coupling regimes, and support model validation.

The ultimate aim is to derive a robust theoretical framework and predictive model that capture the adaptive mechanisms underlying cardio-respiratory synchronisation, providing foundational insight with potential implications for guiding future therapeutic strategies in patients requiring assisted respiration (e.g., asthma or anaesthesia).

Candidates should have a strong background in physics, mathematics, or natural sciences.

Interested candidates should contact Professor Aneta Stefanovska for further information.

Description

Can we build a model of the brain that reflects its true nature — not as an isolated system, but as a living, dynamic network?

This doctoral research project offers the opportunity to develop such a model.

Neurovascular coupling - the dynamic interaction between neurons, astrocytes, and blood vessels - is essential for healthy brain function. As we age, or in conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease, this delicate coordination begins to break down. Understanding how and why this happens remains one of the central challenges in neuroscience.

Most existing models rely on large systems of differential equations that traditionally treat the brain as a closed physical system, assuming limited exchange of matter or energy with its surroundings. While mathematically robust, these assumptions can restrict the models’ ability to capture the brain’s complex, open, and dynamic metabolic interactions.

This project will take a fundamentally different approach. It aims to develop a biologically motivated model based on coupled nonautonomous oscillators. These oscillators will represent key metabolic processes within neurons and astrocytes, allowing the model to reflect the brain’s inherently dynamic and interactive nature. By avoiding closed-system constraints, the model will better capture the evolving patterns of metabolic activity in both health and disease.

Beyond theoretical insights, this model holds potential for practical applications, including the development of devices for noninvasive evaluation of neurovascular unit function. Such tools could transform diagnosis and monitoring of ageing and neurodegenerative diseases.

The model will be tested and refined using recent experimental data from healthy individuals of different ages, as well as from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease.

Who should apply

We are seeking a motivated and capable individual with a strong academic background in physics, mathematics, natural sciences, or computational neuroscience. A keen interest in modelling complex biological systems and working across disciplinary boundaries is essential.

Interested candidates should contact Professor Aneta Stefanovska for further information

Quantum Nanotechnology

Supervisor

Professor Manus Hayne

Project

Computers are based on the von Neumann architecture in which the processing and memory unit are largely separated, requiring information to be shuffled to and fro, which is inefficient and creates a bottleneck. This is particularly disadvantageous for activities that are memory intensive, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.

An alternative is in-memory computing [1, 2], in which certain algorithms are performed within the memory unit. This is less flexible than the traditional von Neumann approach, but has huge potential in terms of computational time and energy saved for memory intensive tasks involving operations that are performed huge numbers of times. These could be common logical functions such as AND and OR, or matrix-vector multiplications which comprise between 70% and 90 % of the deep-learning operations in speech, language and vision recognition [2]. Many conventional and emerging memory technologies have been investigated for in-memory computing, such as SRAM, DRAM, flash, phase change memory, resistive RAM, and very recently MRAM [3]. However, memory technologies with very fast, low-energy switching, high endurance (and low disturb) are required to fulfil the potential of in-memory computing and compete with the conventional CMOS-based approach [1].

ULTRARAM™ is a patented Lancaster memory technology with a non-volatile storage time of at least 1000 years, an endurance in excess of 10 million program/erase cycles, non-destructive read, low disturb, a switching energy that is 100 times lower per unit area than DRAM, and intrinsic sub-ns switching speeds [4]. It has huge potential as a conventional memory, but also for in-memory computing.

The PhD project will be the first to investigate ULTRARAM™ for in-memory computing. The research will involve modelling (at different scales), and designing, fabricating and testing some simple ULTRARAM™ for in-memory computing circuits to show proof of principle.

This PhD is offered in collaboration with Quinas Technology. Funding for UK students is available on a competitive basis.

[1] ‘Memory devices and applications for in-memory computing’, A. Sebastian et al., Nature Nanotechnology, 15, 529 (2020) [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-020-0655-z]

[2] ‘In-memory Computing for AI Applications’, E. Eleftheriou, 16^th International Conference on High-Performance and Embedded Architectures and Compilers, 18-20 January 2021

[4] ‘A crossbar array of magnetoresistive memory devices for in-memory computing’, Jung et al., Nature 601, 211 (2022) [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-04196-6]

[3] ‘ULTRARAM: a low-energy, high-endurance, compound-semiconductor memory on silicon’, P. D. Hodgson, D. Lane et al. [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aelm.202101103]

Supervisor

Dr Qiandong Zhuang

Description

This project aims to establish new research in wavelength-extended avalanche photodiode (APD) capable for single-photo detection and transferable for heterogenous integration for photonic integrated circuits targeting biochemical sensors.

The big advance of single-photon counting is the ability to faithfully capture the single quantum of light. This technique has attracted increasing attention globally owing to the critical capability for a wide range of important applications ranging from new low-light sensing to emerging photonic quantum technologies. Its potential has been proved by several demonstrations since 2020, for instance, quantum secured internet communication over 22 Km has been established[1], long-distance single-photon imaging over 200 km has been demonstrated with high sensitivity and temporal resolution[2]; and prototype of single-photon LiDAR imaging for greenhouse gas methane mapping has been demonstrated[3]. However, the detection limit of 1650nm from well-developed Si and InGaAs ADPs restricts the deployment of potential of single photon counting. For example, biochemical sensing applications require photons at longer wavelength, e.g. mid infrared (Mid-IR), e.g. 2 – 5 um. We propose to utilize advanced type II superlattice to extend the ADP responding wavelength into MIR spectral range. Unique device design and processing will be also developed to enable transferable individual devices for heterogenous integration.

The student will gain experience and expertise in molecular beam epitaxy, semiconductor materials characterization and device fabrication in cleanroom, and photodetector assessment.

[1] Entanglement of two quantum memories via fibers over dozens of km, Yong Yu et al, Nature 578, 240 (2020)

[2] Single-photon imaging over 200 km, Zheng-ping Li et al, Optica 8, 344 (2021)

[3] Single-photon LiDAR gas imagers for continuous monitoring of industrial methane emissions, Murray K. Reed et al, Proceedings 11579, Quantum Photonics: Enabling Technologies; 115790C (2020)

Supervisor

Professor Manus Hayne

Project description

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) are high-speed, compact (low-cost) laser diodes used in laser printing, datacoms and other applications. Their implementation in the Apple iPhone X for facial recognition and motion sensing was soon replicated by other smartphone manufacturers, stimulating a growth in the VCSEL market from $775M in 2015 to an expected $4.7bn in 2024, a compound annual growth rate of 22% [1]. Nevertheless, many consumers and thus manufacturers, don’t like the small cut-out section at the top of the screen that is necessary for the implementation of the VCSEL arrays, preferring to place the VCSEL below the screen. However, achieving this requires VCSELs that emit beyond 1380 nm. Indeed, there are a host of telecoms-related and other applications such as LiDAR that have yet to benefit from VCSELs that emit in the telecoms range (1260 to 1625 nm).

VCSELs work by implementing the mirrors required for the laser cavity in repeated alternating layers of GaAs and Al_xGa_1-xAs, which have differing refractive indices, to make distributed Bragg reflectors that exploit interference effects. The use of GaAs/Al_xGa_1-xAs is strongly preferred as there is minimal lattice mismatch, despite the refractive index contrast, allowing ~100 layers to be grown with high quality. The problem is that the conventional method of extending the wavelength, via the introduction of In into the quantum wells in the active region, generates strain that limits the emission to wavelengths below 1000 nm.

The project will build on successful collaborative work between IQE and Lancaster developing telecoms wavelength GaSb quantum ring (QR) VCSELs [2]. The objective is to push the emission wavelength beyond 1380 nm and will involve the design, growth, processing and testing of individual VCSEL devices and VCSEL arrays.

This PhD is offered in collaboration with Photarix. Funding for UK students is available on a competitive basis.

[1] ‘Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSELs) market’, Transparency Market Research.

[2] ‘Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser’, M. Hayne and P. Hodgson US, Europe, Japan and S Korea patent.

Supervisor

Dr Samuel Jarvis

Description

Project summary

This experimental PhD project aims to create a new generation of quantum-engineered materials for ultra-efficient, atomic scale switches that perform low-power, in-memory computation. These devices harness quantum interference – the wave nature of electrons – to control current at the atomic level. By assembling nanoscale “building blocks” one atom at a time, we can design and test materials whose electronic behaviour can be tuned with quantum precision.

Background

Modern AI hardware wastes most of its energy simply moving data rather than processing it, a limitation known as the von Neumann bottleneck. Data transfer can account for up to 90 % of a computer’s energy use, equivalent to hundreds of terawatt-hours each year worldwide. Memristors (“memory resistors”) offer a radical solution by merging memory and logic in the same nanoscale element, potentially cutting energy per operation by hundreds to thousands of times. Unlike conventional memory, they retain information without power and can perform in-memory and neuromorphic computation that mimics the brain. By building memristors atom-by-atom, this project seeks to harness quantum effects to create switches that learn, remember, and compute with almost no wasted energy, paving the way for sustainable, low-carbon AI.

To realise these next-generation materials, our memristors will be built from porphyrin-based molecules – the same class of compounds that make plants green and blood red. Porphyrins are remarkable: their electronic and optical properties can be engineered by design, offering tuneable conductivity, light absorption and emission, and controllable quantum interference. These properties are determined by the quantum mechanical electronic structure of the molecules, which can be understood in a similar way to semiconductor physics and related quantum technologies. This project is focussed on experimental physics, and, whilst advantageous, requires no prior knowledge from chemistry or materials science.

Project outline

This project will experimentally realise and test molecular-scale memristors built from porphyrin-based molecules engineered to exploit quantum interference and redox properties. Using advanced deposition techniques, you will assemble highly ordered molecular layers onto surfaces to form atomic-scale devices in which memory and logic coexist within a single element. Their nanoscale structure and switching behaviour will be characterised using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) under ultra-low-noise conditions in the state-of-the-art IsoLab facility, enabling direct observation of switching events at the level of individual atoms and molecules. Electrical measurements will then measure how molecular design influences performance, such as switching speed, stability, and on/off ratio, to uncover the quantum mechanisms that control resistive memory at the atomic scale. By establishing these design principles, the project aims to demonstrate a new class of low-power, molecular memristors that could form the foundation for future in-memory and neuromorphic computing technologies.

Interested candidates should contact Dr Samuel Jarvis for further information.

Supervisor

Dr Samuel Jarvis

Description

Project summary – The goal of this PhD project is to develop highly ordered and structurally stable molecular devices. The growth of thermally and mechanically stable molecular nanostructures is a major challenge for retaining the quantum mechanical properties of molecules in real-world and demanding environments. This is especially important in nanoelectrical devices where heat and stress can damage the molecular structure, causing device failure. This PhD project aims to overcome this challenge by developing new methods for step-by-step (atom-by-atom) on-surface synthesis of covalently stabilised molecular wires and devices. Achieving this goal will address a major outstanding challenge in translating functional molecular polymers to technologically relevant materials.

Background – Thin-film molecular layers are exceptionally important for introducing high degrees of functionality to materials. Molecules can be designed with a multitude of different physical properties, ranging from high electrical conductivity, catalytic activity, tuneable optical properties, and much more [1]. These properties are determined by the electronic structure of a molecule, making them well suited for applications in quantum technologies. In particular, on-surface polymerization restricted to one and two dimensions has received considerable recent attention [2]. Not only does covalent cross-linking of molecules greatly increase their stability, on-surface polymerization also enables the growth of unique molecular structures often otherwise impossible to synthesize, including graphene nano ribbons used as molecular wires [3].

At present, the vast majority of molecular nanoscale synthesis is limited to catalytically active metal substrates, where the catalyst metal is required to activate the polymerisation reaction. This results in strong surface coupling causing molecular distortion, orbital broadening, and electrical short-circuits, thus detrimentally affecting molecular properties and severely restricting their application in physical devices. In order to fully realise nanoscale molecular devices, we must instead fabricate molecular wires directly on semiconducting substrates such as SiO₂, where they can be directly integrated into nanoelectronic devices. To do this, we will build on recent findings [4] highlighting the potential to fabricate nanoscale molecular structures directly on surfaces.

Project Outline – This project will explore methods to direct the assembly and growth of functional molecules into nanoscale structures and devices. We will study how single molecules with well-defined quantum mechanical properties can be ‘linked’ together into rigid 1D molecular wires or 2D molecular networks, starting with porphyrin and graphene nanoribbon based wires. Single molecule and atomic scale properties will be studied with images of their detailed atomic and electronic structure (with resolution better than 0.1nm). The resulting molecular structures will provide an exciting playground to develop our fundamental understanding of quantum behaviour and molecular interactions at the atomic scale, and ultimately, provide new routes for developing nanoscale electronic devices such as field effect transistors (FETs) [5].

The selected student will have the opportunity to become trained in a broad range of techniques to study a variety of nanoscale materials. This will involve advanced scanning probe microscopy methods capable of imaging single atoms and characterising nanoscale electronic and chemical properties. This work will take place in world-leading facilities including Lancaster’s Quantum Technology Centre and the award winning George Pickett IsoLab, providing some of the most advanced environments for characterisation in the world. You will work in a vibrant research group, whose research has been shortlisted for the Times Higher Education award for ‘STEM project of the year’ in 2019. You will also become highly trained in nanoscale material fabrication, ultra-high vacuum technology, X-ray spectroscopy, clean room usage, device testing, and use nano-fabrication tools to prepare devices for integration with embedded systems. Students are also expected to publish high impact journal publications and present their work at international meetings and conferences, and will receive opportunities and training for personal and research development.

Interested candidates should contact Dr Samuel Jarvis for further information.

[1] T. Kudernac, S. Lei, J. A. A. W. Elemans, and S. De Feyter, Chem. Soc. Rev. 38, 402 (2009).

[2] L. Grill and S. Hecht, Nature Chemistry, 12, 115 (2020).

[3] P. Ruffieux, S. Wang, B. Yang, C. Sánchez-Sánchez, J. Liu, T. Dienel, et al., Nature 531, 489 (2016).

[4] L. Forcieri, Q. Wu, A. Quadrelli, S. Hou, B. Mangham, N.R. Champness, D. Buceta, M.A. Lopez-Quintela, C.J. Lambert, S.P. Jarvis, Nature Chemistry (under review), (2022).

[5] J.P. Llinas, A. Fairbrother, G.B. Barin, W. Shi,. K. Lee, S. Wu, et al., Nature Communications, 8, 633 (2017).

Supervisor

Professor Benjamin Robinson (Physics)

Project summary: This is an experimental project, based in the Department of Physics at Lancaster University. You will study the electrical switching properties of thin films of organometallic materials assembled on compatible electrode surfaces and in devices capped by 2D films of graphene to help realise a new generation of memristive switching devices with the potential to fulfil societal needs for next generation AI.

Background:

The advance of artificial intelligence (AI) represents the largest market opportunity in the history of humankind, estimated to be anywhere between USD 3.5 and 5.8 trillion. However, it also represents a grave environmental challenge. As a typical example, hundreds of millions of daily queries on ChatGPT can cost around 1 GWh each day, equivalent to the daily energy consumption for about 33,000 UK households. This trend is unsustainable, and new approaches are needed now.

The fundamental limitation of modern computing is the rate of data transfer between a processing unit and memory, known as the von Neumann bottleneck. This data transfer not only limits computational speed but is also highly energy intensive. To overcome this bottleneck there is a global demand for new technologies for brain-inspired, neuromorphic, computing within memory.

Memristors are one of the most promising technologies for achieving in-memory computation. Short for “memory resistors”, memristors are considered the fourth fundamental passive circuit element, alongside resistors, capacitors, and inductors. However, in contrast to traditional volatile memory technologies like RAM, which lose data when power is lost, memristors are a class of non-volatile memory, whose resistive state is maintained even when no external power is applied.

This project will contribute to the technological challenges of realising stable, efficient memristive elements formed of highly ordered thin films of organometallic molecules with highly tunable switching mechanisms.

The project’s goals are aligned with the recently awarded, Lancaster-led, £7.1M EPSRC programme grant, Quantum engineering of energy-efficient molecular materials (QMol)

Project Outline: This project will focus on the thin film growth of novel organic/organometallic compounds by molecular self-assembly and Langmuir-Blodgett deposition and their subsequent characterisation by a range of surface science techniques including scanning probe microscopy.

The project is predominantly experimental, and you will gain interdisciplinary expertise spanning materials design, thin film fabrication, and nanoscale characterisation. You will benefit from Lancaster’s molecular thin film fabrication capabilities and a suite of state-of-the-art scanning probe microscopes to explore the physical processes of thermal and electrical transport in deposited ultra-thin structures. The compounds will be supplied by colleagues in the Departments of Chemistry at Oxford University and Imperial College, London. There will also be opportunities for you to work with colleagues from the Department of Physics at Imperial College to translate your thin films to practical device architectures.

Research Environment: You will benefit from a vibrant working environment and will be part of the QMol consortium incorporating partners across nine leading Universities and 11 industry partners. Through QMol, you will have the opportunity to develop skills in interdisciplinary working through close collaboration with colleagues studying the theory of quantum transport and device fabrication, as well as industry partners from both SMEs and multinational corporations.

You will be trained and supported in other academic skills such as the preparation of high-impact journal publications, and presenting your work at international meetings and conferences, and you will receive opportunities and training for personal and research development. In addition, you will have the opportunity to join in local and national outreach and engagement activities.

Lancaster University is a leading UK university, and the Physics Department at Lancaster University is one of the top in the UK for research. REF2021 rated 98% of our research outputs as world-leading or internationally excellent. The Department is ranked 7th in the UK for Physics in the Guardian University League Tables 2026.

The Department is committed to family-friendly and flexible working policies. We are also strongly committed to fostering diversity within our community as a source of excellence, cultural enrichment, and social strength. We hold an Athena SWAN Silver award and Institute of Physics Juno Champion status. We welcome those who would contribute to the further diversification of our department.

You will need to be highly motivated and be able to work as part of a team, ensuring that key milestones are reached. You will be expected to lead discussions and give regular research updates in person with the group leader and in wider research group meetings with the project consortium. The ability to plan your own workload and keep accurate scientific records is important.

General eligibility criteria: This is a highly interdisciplinary project operating at the interface of Physics, Chemistry and device engineering.  Applicants would normally be expected to hold a minimum of a UK Honours degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science or a related area.

Enquiries: Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Professor Benjamin Robinson, for more information.

Supervisor

Professor Benjamin Robinson

Project summary: This is an experimental project, based in the Department of Physics at Lancaster University. You will study the electrical and thermoelectric properties of thin films of molecular materials assembled on electrode surfaces to help realise a new generation of molecular devices with the potential to fulfil societal needs for flexible energy harvesting materials.

Background: Green thermoelectricity - the sustainable generation of electricity from waste heat - has the potential to be a key enabling technology in the roadmap to the UK’s target of net zero greenhouse gases by 2050 and a pillar of the efforts to build a viable circular economy by contributing to emerging UK green-industries.

Waste heat generated by information and computing technologies (ICT) is expected to reach 30% of electricity consumption by 2025 and is widely recognised as being unsustainable. If thermoelectric (TE) energy harvesters could be developed, which perform well at relatively low temperatures (<150^oC), then waste heat from ICT could be converted back into useful electricity. Energy harvested from the environment and sources such as the human body could also be used to power the internet of things and wearable devices, with engineered thermal management relevant to applications in healthcare, fashion and high-performance clothing.

This project will contribute to these technological challenges and the associated societal and economic benefits by helping to realise large area, thin-film materials and devices on rigid and flexible substrates, designed for TE energy harvesting and cooling. This overarching research challenge will be met, in part, by utilising quantum interference (QI), which introduces additional dynamical range by suppressing current flow at low bias and allows fine control of electrical and thermal conductance.

The project’s goals are aligned with the recently awarded, Lancaster-led, £7.1M EPSRC programme grant, Quantum engineering of energy-efficient molecular materials (QMol)

The Candidate: This project will ideally suit a candidate who has an interest in interdisciplinary experimental nanoscience. Knowledge of nanomaterials or experience in either quantum transport, scanning probe microscopy and/or self-assembly of organic monolayers would be advantageous but not compulsory as full training in a wide variety of techniques will be given. You will need to be highly motivated and be able to work as part of a team, ensuring that key milestones are reached. You will be expected to lead discussions and give regular research updates in person with the group leader and in wider research group meetings with the project consortium. The ability to plan your own workload and keep accurate scientific records is important.

Enquiries: Interested applicants are welcome to get in touch to learn more about the PhD project. Please contact Professor Benjamin Robinson, for more information

Supervisor

Professor Jonathan Prance

Project description

Candidates would benefit from an interest in and knowledge of some of these areas:

electrical measurements of quantum devices, e.g. semiconductor quantum dots, superconducting qubits, 2D-material-based devices,
cryogenic techniques,
nanofabrication,
data acquisition and measurement automation.

Related publications:

Ridgard et al., Journal of Applied Physics 137, 245901 (2025)

Autti et al., Physical Review Letters 131, 077001 (2023)

Samani et al., Physical Review Research 4, 033225 (2022)

Chawner et al., Physical Review Applied 15, 034044 (2021)

Jones et al., Journal of Low Temperature Physics 201, p772 (2020)

Funding is available on a competitive basis. To be considered for a funded studentship, please submit your application by 31 January 2026.

You can apply directly stating the title of the project and the name of the supervisor.

Condensed Matter Theory

Supervisor

Dr Neil Drummond

Description

The variational and diffusion quantum Monte Carlo (VMC and

DMC) methods are powerful and accurate techniques for solving the many-body time-independent Schroedinger equation. They are widely used in condensed matter physics and quantum chemistry to simulate the behaviour of electrons so that we can predict and understand the electronic, optical and chemical properties of molecules, materials and semiconductor devices.

The VMC and DMC methods rely on the availability of accurate and flexible many-body wave-function forms. Typical VMC and DMC calculations use Slater determinants of single-particle orbitals, multiplied by an envelope function called a Jastrow factor, with the single-particle orbitals being evaluated at points offset from the actual particle positions by a so-called backflow displacement. Both the Jastrow factor and the backflow displacement are parameterised, symmetric functions of all the particle positions.

In this project the goal is to investigate new approaches for producing appropriate trial wave functions for many-body fermionic systems by including long-range multibody terms and neural network functions of particle positions in the backflow displacement. The aim is to produce highly accurate wave-function forms that can be used to study systems of hundreds of particles. The variational principle of quantum mechanics provides the crucial measure of wave-function quality, with more accurate wave functions giving lower energy expectation values. The use of better wave functions will increase the accuracy of quantum Monte Carlo calculations of structural, optical and vibrational properties of molecules and bulk materials; these predictions can be compared with experimental measurements.

For few-body systems such as light atoms and very small molecules it will also be possible to obtain benchmark results by explicitly antisymmetrising many-body wave functions of Jastrow form. This approach can be used to study the ground-state properties of small molecules in which nuclear motion is treated on an equal footing with electronic motion, allowing a comparison of near-exact nonrelativistic quantum mechanical calculations with experiment. Such calculations could also be performed for positronic molecules to calculate positron lifetimes and hence to support positron annihilation spectroscopic measurements.

It will be interesting to compare these two approaches for generating accurate wave function forms for small molecules.

This project is theoretical and computational in nature, requiring strong computer programming skills.

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