PhD Studentship (3-year Industry Funded) in Discovery of Metal Oxides for Imaging Applications

A 3-year PhD Industry Funded Studentship in “Discovery of Metal Oxides for Imaging Applications” (annual stipend including London Weighting and a top up is £23,237)

Supervisor: Prof Jawwad A. Darr

Application deadline: 15^th November 2024

Interview date: interviews on a rolling basis

Start date: 1^st February 2025 or earlier pending approval

UCL Chemistry Department is offering a fully funded studentship (£23,237

1. pa) to a highly motivated candidate to start on 1^st of February 2025 or potentially sooner. The fully funded student will carry out his/her doctoral research at UCL in materials chemistry for discovery of new metal oxide-based scintillator materials for imaging. The PhD studentship will focus on the synthesis (materials discovery/automation) and development using more sustainable, scalable and reliable synthesis routes to such materials. Thus, the role would suit someone who is interested in lab research, inorganic chemistry / materials synthesis, scale up and characterisation.

Background on the applications: New high light yield X-ray scintillator-based imaging detectors are important for enhanced resolution in high end demanding imaging applications; from aerospace component imaging to thick hazardous metal container imaging applications. (https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1759981 Scintillators and Detectors for MeV X-ray and Neutron Imaging). The project seeks to discover new materials compositions that are suitable for use in this application space.

Main duties and responsibilities of the student include: to carry out wet chemical discovery research using metal oxide materials libraries and undertake analytical characterisation to find the optimum materials and performance. The project will involve interactions with AWE and its partners. The materials evaluation research proposed in the PhD project, would lead to the development of improved materials with good stability, good sinterability, high optical transparency, short afterglow. To travel and visit collaborators as necessary. This fully funded research is co-funded via a UCL impact studentship along with industrial sponsor AWE that is seeking to develop the UK’s expertise in such devices. The applicants should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first or upper second-class Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline (e.g. materials, chemistry, chemical engineering, physics.

Interested candidates should initially contact the supervisor, Prof Jawwad A. Darr (j.a.darr@ucl.ac.uk; see his research group website on www.ucl.me.uk), with a CV and a cover letter expressing your interest in the project. Please note that a suitable applicant will be required to complete MS Form entitled Application for Research: degree Chemistry programme. In addition, it is essential that suitable applicants complete an electronic application form at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/apply (please select Research degree: Chemistry programme) prior to the application deadline and advise their referees to submit their references as soon as they possibly can. All shortlisted applicants will be invited interviewed on a rolling basis until an appointment is made. The interview process will be clarified nearer the time. Any admissions queries should be directed to Dr Jadranka Butorac at doctoral.chem@ucl.ac.uk.

This studentship is open only to students who qualify for home fee status. If you do not meet this requirement, please refrain from applying. The updated eligibility criteria for home fees for the next academic year can be found at View Website. 

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