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

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.