Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science: Fully Funded Phd Studentship in spin-optical design of molecular semiconductors in photon upconversion

Funding provider: Faculty of Science and Engineering  

Subject areas: Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science 

Project start date: 1 October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September) 

Supervisors: Dr James Ryan and Dr Emrys Evans

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry 

Mode of study: Full-time 

Project description: 

The electron spin properties of ground and excited state levels in molecular semiconductors dictate the photophysics in optoelectronic and photonic technologies. By developing new materials based on open-shell organic radicals that operate outside the established photophysics of standard (closed-shell) materials, we aim to push the boundaries of spin, optical and magnetic properties that could improve current technologies and enable new opportunities (Nature Materials 2020, Nature Communications 2022, Nature 2023). In a recent breakthrough, we demonstrated that organic radicals can initiate excited states for photon upconversion using multi-electron coupled states that exploit new energy and spin management mechanisms (ChemRxiv 2024). In this PhD project you will establish molecular structure-function relationships from magnetic and photophysical characterization of novel spin-optical phenomena related to energy upconversion in molecular semiconductors, as well as demonstrating exploitation in working photonic and optoelectronic devices.  

This project is hosted by and uses the full facilities of the new Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) – Swansea University’s flagship £55M facility for advanced semiconductor research and development. This is an outstanding opportunity for a chemistry, physics or materials science graduate to be part of the semiconductor for net zero revolution. 

This studentship will also be part of an exciting new Doctoral Training Initiative called UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills or UK-SIFS for short. UK-SIFS 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 also 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. We would particularly welcome appropriately qualified applicants with experience from other industry sectors looking to embark on a new career journey in semiconductors. If you want to undertake cutting edge research in world class facilities closely linked to the rapidly expanding UK semiconductor sector, then UK-SIFS and this PhD project is your opportunity.