Physics and Engineering: Characterisation and Metrology of Next Generation Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductors and Devices (RS981)

Funding Providers: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills

Subject Area: Semiconductor Science and Engineering

Project Start Dates:

• October 2026
• January 2027

** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.

Potential Supervisors:

• Prof Paul Meredith (Physics)
• Dr Saptarsi Ghosh (EEE)
• Dr Dan Lamb (Materials Science & Engineering)
• Dr Greg Burwell (Physics)
•  Dr Drew Riley (Physics)

Aligned programme of study:

• Electrical Engineering,
• Materials Science & Engineering,
• Physics

Mode of study: Full time

Place of study: Swansea University (Bay Campus)

Project description:

A PhD studentship is available for commencement October 2026 – January 2027 as part of the first Cohort of a new EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills* led by Swansea University in partnership with the University of Leeds. The PhD studentship will be:

-        4 years duration at an enhanced stipend rate of £5,000 above the UKRI basic rate;

-        flexibly structured as 4 years of research with a continuous programme of practical skills training in semiconductor science, engineering and technology, and particularly suited to students from non-traditional education routes such as degree qualified apprentices or those seeking to move sector from another cognate industry, or indeed remain employed whilst pursuing their PhDs;

-        based at Swansea University’s new state-of-the-art semiconductor research and innovation facility (the £55M Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials);

-        in collaboration with and sponsored by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), with a co-created research project and opportunity to spend substantial time at NPL Teddington.

Semiconductors are key enablers of virtually every aspect of modern society from smart phones and computers to energy generation, communications, AI, defence, transport and healthcare. Without semiconductors there will be no Net Zero transition, and as demonstrated during COVID, disruption of semiconductor manufacturing supply chains can literally bring the world to a standstill. Whilst the ubiquitous semiconductor silicon has powered the last 70 years of technology, new and more advanced semiconductors such as compound semiconductors are creating incredible new opportunities in areas such as efficient power electronics, clean energy generation and conversion radically more efficient power processors for artificial intelligence, electrification of transport and space technology.

We have one more project available in our first UK-SIFS Cohort which is focused on Characterisation and Metrology of Next Generation Ultra-Wide Bandgap Semiconductors and Devices. This project (in collaboration with NPL) involves improving our understanding of cutting-edge new compound semiconductors based upon Gallium Oxide (Ga₂O₃). These materials have ultra-wide bandgaps and have many potential applications including high voltage power electronics and deep UV optoelectronics. They are also ‘radiation hard’ which makes them interesting materials for electronics and optoelectronics in space. At Swansea we have the UK’s National Facility for epitaxial growth of Gallium Oxide and are working with NPL to develop methods to characterise and understand these new materials. The project will be predominantly experimental and suit a physicist or materials scientist interested in developing and applying advanced electrical, optical and structural techniques to uncover the solid-state physics of these intriguing materials at the boundary of semiconductors and insulators.   

This exciting PhD project comes with an enhanced stipend for the full 4 years of study and generous research funds and research training grant. The projects will be hosted by and undertaken in Swansea University’s flagship new £55M Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) recently opened in 2025 and providing state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication cleanrooms and associated experimental laboratories and device design, testing and characterisation facilities. We welcome applicants with backgrounds in Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and Materials Science. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from non-traditional education routes such as degree qualified apprentices or those seeking to move sector from another cognate industry or indeed undertake a PhD whilst remaining employed with their current employer in the semiconductor sector.

*UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills will create a vibrant, multi-disciplinary cohort experience for all our students and provide highly practical training of substantial value to those interested in careers in the semiconductor and related sectors such as optoelectronics and clean energy. You will have a chance to work with a large range of industrial partners who will not only deliver training content but also co-supervise research and host secondments. If you want to undertake cutting edge research in world class facilities closely linked to the rapidly expanding UK semiconductor sector, then UK-SIFS is your opportunity.

PhD:

Applicants for PhD must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).

English Language Requirements:   

IELTS 6.5 Overall (6.0 each comp.) or Swansea University recognised equivalent. Full details of our English Language policy, including certificate time validity, can be found here.  

Note for applicants holding international and/or European qualifications: details of how your qualification compares to the published academic entry requirements can be found on our Country Specific Entry Requirements page.   

If you have questions regarding your academic eligibility based on the above, email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the link to the scholarships you are interested in.   

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.   

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process. Successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with a scholarship course offer. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend consisting of the UKRI basic stipend rate (26/27 rate £21,805) and an enhancement of £5,000

Additionally, generous funds are available from the CDT for research expenses and training.

To apply, please complete the entire application form here:

PhD in Physics, Full Time - Oct 26 or Jan 27.

PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Full Time - Oct 26 or Jan 27. 

PhD in Materials Science Engineering, Full Time - Oct 26 or Jan 27. 

Applications may be submitted in Welsh and any application submitted in Welsh will be treated no less favourably than an application submitted in English. Please refer to the University’s Welsh Language Policy on Awarding Grants

To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS981

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)

•  In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:

• the RS Code, RS981
• the scholarship title

• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank
•  Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank
•  In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload? *’(Mandatory) Please select Yes
•  Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf)

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.

*It is the responsibility of the applicant to list the above information accurately when applying, please note that applications received without the above information listed will not be considered for the scholarship award.

If you’ve previously applied for this programme, the system will display an “Application Submitted” warning and block a new submission. In this case:

1.            Apply for the same course with the next available start date (e.g., select January if October is unavailable).

2.            Email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with your student number and the relevant scholarship RS code, requesting the start date be amended to match the advert.

3.            Admissions staff will then update your application accordingly.

Important: If you have previously applied for the same programme & intake, do not re‑apply using a different email address. Applications submitted with an email address that differs from the one used in your original application will not be accepted or considered.

One application is required per individual Swansea University led research scholarship award; applications cannot be considered listing multiple Swansea University led research scholarship awards.

NOTE: Applicants for PhD/EngD/ProfD/EdD - to support our commitment to providing an environment free of discrimination and celebrating diversity at Swansea University you are required to complete an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form in addition to your programme application form.  

Please note that completion of the EDI Monitoring Form is mandatory; your application may not progress if this information is not submitted.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email):

•           CV

•           Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)

•           A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.

•           One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.

•           Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable - please note that you do not need to hold a valid English Language test at time of application, as any offer made can be conditional upon the appropriate level of English. Please find further information on what we can accept via our English Language policy pages here).

•           Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)

•           Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:

NAME: David Warren

EMAIL: uksifs@swansea.ac.uk

*External Partner Application Data Sharing – Please note that as part of the scholarship application selection process, application data sharing may occur with external partners outside of the University, when joint/co- funding of a scholarship project is applicable.