We offer a range of PhDs funded by different sources, such as research councils, industries or charities.
As a PhD student, you will become a valued member of a research group. Here you will work with internationally respected academics, post-doctoral research associates and technicians.
To apply for a funded PhD, please read the advertised project information carefully as requirements will vary between funders. The project information will include details of funding eligibility, application deadline dates and links to application forms. We will only consider applicants who have a relevant background and meet the funding criteria.
Current PhD Opportunities
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Background
This project aims to investigate hybrid metal halide semiconductors and design novel materials tailored for optoelectronic and electrochemical applications. A key focus will be to explore and understand the optoelectronic properties, defect chemistry, and atomic transport mechanisms of newly developed metal halide semiconducting compounds using first-principles simulations based on density functional theory (DFT) and beyond. By employing state-of-the-art computational techniques, the project will provide valuable insights into the stability, electronic structure, and ion transport of these functional materials, paving the way for their potential integration into relevant applications.
Project description
A fully-funded PhD studentship for UK students is available in the newly established group of Dr Nourdine Zibouche in the Department of Chemistry at Lancaster University. This studentship will cover University fees at the UK rate and a maintenance stipend for 3.5 years and research training support.
The candidate will receive extensive training in computational materials modelling, including electronic structure calculations, ab initio molecular dynamics, and defect properties, equipping them with a strong theoretical and practical foundation in computational chemistry and materials modelling. They will also gain hands-on experience with high-performance computing (HPC) resources and advanced simulation methodologies. Additionally, the candidate will have the opportunity to engage in collaborative research with leading experimental groups in the UK and internationally.
Requirements
The successful applicant should hold, or expect to receive, a first-class or 2:1 UK Master’s-level or BSc degree (or equivalent) in solid-state physics, chemistry, or materials science, with a strong interest in computational materials modelling. Candidates with a 2:2 may be considered if they can demonstrate excellent research skills in their application and references. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. Previous experience with first-principles simulation codes such as Quantum-Espresso, VASP, Crystal, and CP2K, as well as good programming skills, is desirable.
How to apply
(Please read carefully)
Dr N. Zibouche welcomes informal email enquiries before submitting an application n.zibouche@lancaster.ac.uk. Please note that we cannot receive applications by email as they must be processed centrally.
Applications should be made via Lancaster University’s online application system.
Please indicate on your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by declaring the title of the advertisement where prompted.You may use the project description as your research proposal to apply for this studentship.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is 31st July 2025.
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed thereafter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the position may be filled before the deadline if a suitable candidate is identified.
Background
The energy crisis and climate emergency demand novel ways to store energy from renewable sources and achieve net zero carbon emissions. We need better battery materials for the next generation of mobile transport and energy storage applications, and to understand in depth how these materials behave. This challenge motivates much of Dr. Michael Mercer’s group’s research (see https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/about-us/people/michael-mercer for further details), which combines atomic scale methods with advanced electrochemical techniques on small, coin cell batteries as well as larger commercial batteries to understand their properties.
The group is also interested in studies of battery degradation and in transferring these methods to emerging next generation battery technologies such as sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), which would allow the use of substantially cheaper and more abundant materials than present day lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). As part of a recent collaboration with Gavion Ltd., a new polymer-based material, known as Organically Synthesized Porous Carbon (OSPC) has been developed. This work will be done in collaboration with Prof. Abbie Trewin’s group https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/about-us/people/abbie-trewin. OSPC shows exceptionally high capacity, fast charging and resistance to degradation in LIBs. We want to understand the characteristics of OSPC better to be able to understand its operation under real conditions in SIBs and support wider commercialisation.
Project description
A 3.5 year EPSRC DLA PhD position (including £20,780 stipend per year) is available in Lancaster University in collaboration with Gavion Ltd. The funding includes a Research Training Support Grant for research-related expenses.
Both LIBs and SIBs operate through insertion of ions into the electrode materials. Those ions can order in different ways in the electrode materials during battery operation. At Lancaster, we have developed techniques to be able to track ion ordering, through a state-of-the-art capability known as entropy profiling (EP). It is important to understand the nature of these orderings to optimise battery performance, develop better battery materials and diagnose battery degradation. EP shows pronounced sensitivity to changes in lithium or sodium ordering as well as battery material degradation effects. It can, therefore, be complemented with normal charge/discharge battery cycling, to get detailed insights in how the materials behave. This helps to make better batteries with improved capacity, longer lifespan or faster charging/discharging capability.
Like LIBs, SIBs need an anode, cathode and electrolyte to operate. We have demonstrated EP applied to hard carbons, currently considered the best anode material for SIBs. See M.P. Mercer et al., “Sodiation energetics in pore size controlled hard carbons determined via entropy profiling”, for further details. The capacity of SIBs to store charge is currently limited by the hard carbon in the anode, severely impacting commercial potential. In the proposed project, we want to better understand a recently developed material known as Organically Synthesized Porous Carbon (OSPC), which has demonstrated high capacity, fast charging and resistance to degradation in LIBs. See A. Rowling et al., “Facile Synthesis of Organically Synthesized Porous Carbon Using a Commercially Available Route with Exceptional Electrochemical Performance”. We want to put OSPC into SIBs and characterise them with various electrochemical techniques: charge/discharge cycling, impedance spectroscopy and EP, under a range of relevant operating temperatures and conditions. The project will involve making coin cells with the OPSC materials, then doing EP and other electrochemical techniques. Some experience with scripting, such as with Python, would be highly desirable for analysing the data, although this skill can be developed during the project. We also want to demonstrate the electrochemical performance of OSPC in prototype SIB pouch cells to demonstrate the commercial potential of OSPC in SIBs.
The student will learn the basics of battery science, including standard electrochemical characterisation techniques. It will provide an opportunity to develop data analysis skills, particularly in Python, which is a highly transferrable skill within and outside of science. The student will receive further training on time management, writing and presentation skills and will contribute to research manuscripts. The project will prepare the candidate for postdoctoral study in this field, a career in the battery industry, or any career requiring good experimental, troubleshooting, or data analysis skills.
Requirements
Applicants will hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or 2:1 UK Masters-level or BSc degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Natural Science or aligned Engineering fields and possess theoretical and practical skills commensurate with a science or engineering-based undergraduate degree programme. Candidates with a 2:2 may be considered if they can demonstrate excellent research skills in their application and references.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong interest in experimental physical chemistry and battery science, interest in and willingness to develop programming and scripting skills for data analysis, enthusiasm to work in a laboratory environment, willingness to learn, a collaborative attitude, and will possess good written and oral communication skills.
How to apply (Please read carefully)
Dr. Michael Mercer welcomes informal email enquiries before submitting an application (m.mercer1@lancaster.ac.uk). Please note that we cannot receive applications by email as they must be processed centrally.
Please indicate on your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by declaring the title of the advertisement where prompted. You may use the project description as a basis for your research proposal to apply for this studentship.
Funding Details
The studentship will cover fees at the UKrate. It may also partially contribute to the fees and stipend of a self-funded international candidate, though it is advised that you enquire regarding this before applying.
Deadline: Your application must be uploaded onto the online application system by 31st July 2025
Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, and the position may be filled when a suitable candidate has been identified ahead of the deadline.
Background
The Kerridge research group (akresearch.wordpress.com) is part of the Chemical Theory and Computation (CTC) Research Section in the Department of Chemistry, Lancaster University. Andy Kerridge is head of the CTC and his group’s research interests lie primarily in the application of state of the art quantum chemical simulation techniques to develop fundamental understanding of the strongly-correlated electronic structure of chemical complexes involving heavy elements, specifically the lanthanide and actinide elements. Aligned to this, the group is also involved in the application of quantum computation to chemical simulation, developing protocols for the quantum computational simulation of strongly correlated chemical systems.
Project description
One 3.5-year EPSRC DTP-funded position is available in Lancaster University in the Department of Chemistry in the area of quantum chemical simulation. This funding can be applied to ONE of the following projects. The decision on which project is funded will be dependent on the skills, background and interests of the successful applicant.
Project 1: Generalised active space approaches for the simulation of X-ray absorption and emission processes in actinide complexes
X-ray absorption/emission spectroscopy (XAS/XES) techniques have become established as the most sensitive experimental approaches for probing the nature of the interaction of the f-elements with ligand species, key to the development of strategies for the storage and remediation of spent nuclear fuel. Whilst providing a wealth of data, the associated spectra are extremely challenging to interpret. Theoretical approaches are essential to this interpretation but are dependent on sophisticated “active space” methodologies, of which our group has extensive experience.
A systematic approach to the simulation of XAS/XES in f-element compounds is yet to be established. The key aim of this project is to utilise the under-employed Generalised Active Space (GAS) approach. GAS reduces the exponential scaling bottleneck that plague other approaches by exerting precise control over the interactions that are simulated to the highest levels of accuracy. It has seen little use since its introduction as the degree of control it provides is typically unnecessary: XAS/XES simulations, however, provide an exception.
The successful realisation of the key aim of this project would provide the research community with a new standard for XAS/XES simulation, enabling improved interpretation of experimental data and, ultimately, informing strategies for the continued management of spent nuclear fuel.
Project 2: Breaking bottlenecks: advancing quantum chemistry in the era of noisy quantum computers
Quantum computing has seen rapid advancements in recent years, with the potential to be a transformative tool across multiple domains. A flagship application of quantum computing is quantum chemistry. Here, it promises to overcome the fundamental challenges faced by traditional methods in which quantitatively accurate simulations are severely limited by an exponential scaling bottleneck, thereby allowing the simulation of larger molecules of relevance to advanced materials design or drug discovery. Quantum computing remains, however, an emerging technology. Currently, Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices represent the state of the art: such devices are limited to a few hundred qubits, prone to noise and lack robust error correction. The practical benefit offered by quantum computing therefore hinges on the design of efficient quantum circuits which mitigate these issues. This project will consider two of the most relevant approaches in the design of quantum circuits: the first are based on hardware-efficient ansätze, which consider the physical implementation of the qubits in the design, while the second employ problem-based ansätze, in which the physical nature of the simulation drives the design. This project will investigate both approaches so as to identify a path towards more efficient circuit design. The project will critically assess the performance of current hardware-efficient and problem-inspired circuit designs and look to evaluate the impact of NISQ device limitations on these circuit designs by performing computations of these systems using the quantum hardware available through, e.g., IBM quantum, which currently provides access to 127-qubit processors. These data will be used to inform the construction of novel quantum circuits that can be tested and refined using a combination of physical and simulated quantum hardware to establish circuit design principles which advance the state of the art.
The ultimate goal of this PhD project is to demonstrate tangible advancements in the application of quantum computing to quantum chemistry, bridging the gap between theory, simulation and experimental realization, and providing direction towards the ultimate goal of employing quantum computation in advanced materials design and drug discovery.
The successful applicant to these projects will receive extensive training in chemical simulation and will develop a broad skillset: familiarity with the UNIX/Linux computing environments, use of supercomputing facilities, python scripting, experience of a number of quantum chemical simulation software suites and collaborative working. Beyond this, the candidate will be strongly involved in development of research manuscripts and will be provided with opportunities to attend and present research findings at workshops and conference both in the UK and internationally.
Requirements
Applicants will hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or 2:1 UK Masters-level degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Natural Sciences or a related discipline and possess theoretical knowledge and computational skills commensurate with a science-based undergraduate degree programme. Candidates with a 2:2 may be considered if they can demonstrate excellent research skills in their application and references.
The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and well-motivated, demonstrating a strong interest in quantum chemistry, electronic structure theory and chemical simulation as well as the theoretical concepts underpinning these approaches. They will have a willingness to learn, a collaborative attitude, and will possess excellent written and oral communication skills.
How to apply (Please read carefully)
Dr Andy Kerridge strongly encourages informal email enquiries before submitting an application (a.kerridge@lancaster.ac.uk). Please note that we cannot receive applications by email as they must be processed centrally.
Please indicate on your application that you are applying for this funded PhD project by declaring the title of the advertisement where prompted. You may use the project description as your research proposal to apply for this studentship.
Funding Details
The studentship MUST commence by July 1st 2025 and will cover fees at the UK rate plus the standard maintenance stipend (£20,780 per year as of October 1st 2025). It may also fully or partially contribute to the fees and stipend of a self-funded international candidate, though it is advised that you enquire regarding this before applying.
Deadline
Friday 28th March 2025. Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, and the position may be filled when a suitable candidate has been identified ahead of the deadline.
How the application process works
Select the project you wish to apply for. You can make informal enquiries to the project supervisors if you want to. Please ensure that you check the application deadline dates and eligibility criteria.
Complete your application by following the links to the application form. At this stage, you can apply for more than one advertised project if you wish.
After the closing date, we will consider all applications and invite shortlisted candidates for an interview. Interviews can be held in person, or by Skype or telephone. The timescale for this will vary but is in the region of 4 weeks.
If you are successful at interview for the studentship, you will be invited to apply via the admissions portal online. This will ensure that you receive a formal offer of admission. Please submit one application only, and state the studentship that you have applied for in the source of funding section.
Once we have made a formal offer, you will need to check the conditions in your offer letter and supply any outstanding documents by the required deadlines. If your offer is unconditional, then this will not apply to you.
Centre for Global Eco-Innovation
The Centre for Global Eco-Innovation offers a range of funded PhD opportunities in a wide range of sciences, including Chemistry, Biochemistry, Natural Sciences and more. The Centre was established in 2012 based on the University’s pioneering decision to place its world-class environmental research at the heart of driving innovation for clean and sustainable growth.
Studying for a research degree is a highly rewarding and challenging process. You'll work to become a leading expert in your topic area with regular contact and close individual supervision with your supervisor.
If you have your own research idea, we can help you to develop it. To begin this process you will need to find a PhD Supervisor from one of our research groups, whose research interests align with your own.
