The project:

The research project that will focuses on nanoparticle systems undergoing vitrification and crystallization. Amorphous materials have novel properties which make them important in emerging technologies such non-volatile memory (phase change materials) and materials with superior mechanical properties (metallic glasses). At a more fundamental level, understanding the glass transition and crystal nucleation are major challenges in condensed matter. Locally heterogeneous behaviour is important to both phenomena and ascertaining local structure is particularly suited to particle-resolved studies of colloidal model systems.

The project will focus on the implementation of super-resolution microscopy which will open the way tonanoparticle resolved studies, by directly imagining smaller nanoparticles than ever before. In particular we shall use the stimulated emission by depletion (STED) technology for which the 2014 Nobel prize in chemistry was awarded to image with light at a resolution far beyond the diffraction limit “limit”. Simultaneously we shall develop new model systems suitable for direct imaging at the sub-100 nm lengthscales which can now be accessed.

Further details are available from Dr C. Patrick Royall (paddy.royall<στο>bristol.ac.uk) and online at www.padrus.com.

Programme title: PhD in Physics

How to apply:

Please make an online application for this project at http://www.bris.ac.uk/pg-howtoapply. Please select PhD Physics on the Programme Choice page and enter details of the advert when prompted in the Funding and Research Details sections of the form.

Candidate requirements: At least a 2.1 in BSc / Masters in Physics or Chemistry or Mathematics or Engineering (or international equivalent).

Students who’s first language is not English will need to meet the University language requirements:  www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/2015/sci/phd-physics/.

Funding: The project of funded by the European Research Council and will run for 3.5 years starting in 2015. The studentship provides funding for home rate tuition fees, and a living allowance at RCUK rates (for 2014/15 this was £13,863). Students will need to meet the ERC eligibility criteria.

Closing date: Until the post is filled, at the latest 31 March 2015.

Contacts: Dr C. Patrick Royall [paddy.royall@bristol.ac.uk].