PhD applications
Applications are invited for postgraduate research leading to a PhD in the Department of Physics and Astronomy for entry in 2013.
We have highly active research groups in a wide range of areas and have an international reputation for the quality of our research (ranked joint 7th in the UK in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise). Further information about the activities of the research groups may be found at http://www.shef.ac.uk/physics/research. There are a number of different types of funded studentships available. Details of these studentships are given below. Self-supported applicants are also welcome in all research areas.
EPSRC & STFC studentships
British citizens are eligible for fully-funded EPSRC and STFC awards covering maintenance and university fees in all of the research groups in the Department. Applicants should state on their application form that they are applying for Research council funding: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying
Departmental Scholarships
Applications are invited from Home and EU students for 4 studentships. 2 are available immediately (latest start date 1st July) and the other 2 to start in October 2013. Successful candidates will have their University fees paid and will receive a stipend at the Research Council rate (£13,726 per annum) for up to 4 years. They will be expected to do a substantial amount of Departmental teaching, up to 12 hrs per week during semester time while pursuing their PhD studies, which may be in any of the research areas of the Department: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/physics/research
Applicants should apply via:
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply/applying stating clearly on their application that they are applying for a Departmental Studentship.
Please contact Laura Oliver at l.oliver@sheffield.ac.uk for further information.
Project specific studentships
Shine centre studentship: Understanding leaf shape to optimize photosynthesis
A fully funded scholarship is available (for EU nationals only) from the faculty of science's Shine Centre for Doctoral Training. The project, "From model to morphology: understanding leaf shape to optimize photosynthesis", will be jointly supervised by Andrew Fleming (Animal & Plant Sciences), Nick Monk (Mathematics) and Rhoda Hawkins (Physics).
Further information can be found here (PDF). Please contact Dr Rhoda Hawkins at rhoda.hawkins@sheffield.ac.uk for more details.
Applicants should apply to the University using the online application system: www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply
Shine centre studentship: Tip enhanced microscopy - High resolution imaging of soft matter
Many different microscopies have been developed to obtain resolutions below the diffraction limit. However, many of these techniques only work with very specific sample type. Tip based microscopy covers a range of techniques which can be used to study a variety of systems ranging from polymer photovoltaics to biological structures at resolutions approaching 10 nm.
Using the systems developed at Sheffield you will study a wide range of systems including light harvesting proteins which have been patterned in to nano-wires and polymer blends for organic photovoltaics. The project will allow you to choose between technique development and application of the technique in order to solve some of the fundamental problems in soft matter physics.
Please contact Dr Ashley Cadby at a.cadby@sheffield.ac.uk for more details.
Applicants should apply to the University using the online application system: www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply
Muon tomography for geological structures and CCS repositories
Supervisor: Dr Vitaly Kudryavtsev
This is an STFC-funded Global Challenge studentship. The funding covers standard RCUK stipend and Unversity fees for a period of up to 4 years.
The successful candidate will be working with Dr Vitaly Kudryavtsev and Prof Jon Gluyas (University of Durham), as well as with other people in the Particle Physics and Particle Astrophysics group (Dr Lee Thompson and Prof. Neil Spooner) on muon tomography as a novel technique for studying and monitoring changes in various geological structures, in particular geological repositories to be used for carbon dioxide storage in various CCS projects.
The work on muon tomography for CCS is carried out by a large consortium of universities and other organisations including Sheffield, Durham, Bath, RAL, NASA and industrial partners. The student will join this team and contribute to this large-scale project.
The successful applicant should know or be able to quickly learn experimental techniques in particle physics and programming in C++. During their PhD they will also need to learn certain aspects of geology and geochmistry linked to CCS.
The project is open to UK nationals and EU nationals who have been resident in the UK for 3 last years.
Informal enquiries can be addressed to Dr Vitaly Kudryavtsev at v.kudryavtsev@sheffield.ac.uk
Applicants should apply to the University using the online application system: www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply
For further information
email : l.oliver@sheffield.ac.uk
Telephone: 0114 22 23514
Or write to:
Prof Mark Fox (postgraduate tutor)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Hicks Building
Hounsfield Road
Sheffield
S3 7RH
United Kingdom