PhD Studentship in Development of Low-Light and Ambient Photovoltaic Devices for IoT Applications

Award summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £19,237 (2024/25 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided.

Overview

We are excited to announce a PhD opportunity focused on the design and development of low-light and ambient photovoltaic (PV) devices tailored for Internet of Things (IoT) applications. This project aims to create self-powered devices capable of operating efficiently in low-light environments, facilitating innovative solutions for environmental monitoring, including flood prediction and land management.

Project Goals:

• Device Fabrication: Engage in the engineering design and fabrication of cutting-edge low-light and ambient PV devices, including hybrid technologies such as dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and perovskite cells.
• Performance Optimization: Utilize engineering principles to optimize efficiency and functionality of the devices, ensuring they meet practical real-world demands.
• Integration of Computational Techniques: Leverage your computational skills to model device performance and integrate advanced machine learning techniques that enhance operational capabilities.
• Hands-On Experience: Gain practical experience through real-world testing and deployment, ensuring you understand the entire lifecycle from conception to implementation in actual environments.

Number of awards: 1

Start date: 1^st October 2025

Award duration: 4 years

Sponsor: EPSRC

Supervisors: Prof. Marina Freitag, Dr. Fabio Cucinotta and Dr. Lucy Whalley (external, Northumbria University)

Eligibility criteria:

A first-class or 2:1 Honours degree (or international equivalent) in Electronic Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or a closely related field is required. A Master’s degree is advantageous but not mandatory. We value prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are essential.

For EPSRC DLA applications we are following the EDEPI competency-based framework. Please read and complete this document as your Personal statement, and upload this with your application. Applications which do not include this document will not be considered. Further details can be found here.

Home and international applicants (including EU) are welcome to apply and, if successful, will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.

International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How to apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:

• Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8100F
• Research Area: Chemistry 
• Select ‘PhD Chemistry (full time) as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:

• A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) – Use this template.
• The studentship code DLA2522 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field.
• When prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.

You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.

Contact details

Prof Marina Freitag, marina.freitag@newcastle.ac.uk

You can also contact: doctoral.awards@ncl.ac.uk for independent advice on your application.

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