Closing date: 1 August 2024
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.
This highly innovative PhD project, led by Swansea University and based at NPL in London, aims to create new tools for analysing semiconductor wafers and devices, focusing on the latest materials like compound semiconductors. Compound semiconductors, important in the UK's semiconductor strategy, are used in various technologies like electric vehicles, sensors, and quantum technologies. They are more efficient than traditional silicon, but are sensitive to defects, which can lead to production issues and high costs. The project will develop methods to inspect wafers more effectively, using machine learning to identify critical defects in the latest semiconductor materials like SiC, GaN and β-Ga2O3. These materials offer profound advantages for power devices over silicon technologies. This PhD work is critical as low production yields lead to wastage and slow market growth.
The project is funded by an iCASE award to the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The award will fund a Swansea University student to undertake a PhD at NPL’s Teddington laboratories near London. More information about this scholarship opportunity can be found below:
For more details please see here: https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/science-engineering-epsrc-icase-npl-phd-metrology-2023-rs654.php
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.
If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in.
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.
To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:
*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.
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 click the following link to complete your EDI Monitoring Form:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form (online 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). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised closing date, where possible:
Informal enquiries are welcome, please contact Professor Owen Guy (o.j.guy@swansea.ac.uk) / Professor Mike Jennings (m.r.jennings@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.
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.
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