Fully Funded EPSRC iCASE and NPL PhD Scholarship: Metrology and Process Integration for Defect Mapping of Next Generation Semiconductor Materials and Devices

Funding providers: EPSRC iCASE and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington UK  

Subject areas: Physics / Electrical Engineering / Chemistry  

Project start date(s): 1 October 2024 (Enrolment open from mid-September)  

Supervisors: 

(Primary): Owen Guy (Chemistry)  

(Secondary): Prof. Mike Jennings (Electrical Engineering) 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry - Distance Learning  

Mode of study:  Full time  

Project description: 

This highly innovative PhD project will develop new analysis tools for investigating semiconductor wafers and devices – focussing on the latest semiconductor materials (including compound semiconductors). 

This studentship is linked to an exciting new Doctoral Training Initiative “UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills” (UK-SIFS). UK-SIFS will provide valuable and highly practical skills relevant to the UK semiconductor industry such as formal cleanroom fabrication training, vacuum systems, process control (six sigma) in semiconductor manufacturing, semiconductor supply chains and export control, semiconductor packaging, and technology translation in the semiconductor sector. This PhD will be part of two cohorts of students in 2024 and 2025 across Swansea University and the University of Leeds, the Royce Institute, and partners including KLA, and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), amongst others. Our partners will co-deliver the training content, plus co-supervise PhD research projects, and supervise a programme of secondments at partner sites. UK-SIFS provides not only the considerable benefits of research training and collaboration across a multidisciplinary cohort working in areas such as semiconductor devices, device characterisation and metrology, power electronics, clean energy, bioelectronics and sensing, THz devices, optoelectronics, molecular semiconductors, quantum technology, electronic glass and advanced heterogeneous integration, but is also a unique opportunity for those students who may want to connect closely with the semiconductor and related industries for their PhD and aspire to be the future leaders of the sector in the UK and beyond.  

Eligibility

Candidates must hold a UK bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in chemistry or a related subject, or overseas bachelor’s degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in chemistry or a related subject;

Or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ in chemistry or a related subject (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) - see country specific qualifications. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

Funding Details

Additional Funding Information

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £5,000 will also be available.

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