UK : PhD Studentships in Foundations of Molecular Nanospintronics

Imperial College London - London Centre for Nanotechnology, Imperial College London and UCL

Applications are invited for three PhD studentships in projects studying the foundations of molecular nanospintronics. The positions will be held at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN), a joint venture between Imperial College London and University College London. The successful applicants will be part of a multidisciplinary team with expertise in experimental physics, engineering, chemistry, materials, biology and theoretical modelling and will benefit from state-of-the art fabrication and characterisation tools available in both institutions. The grant is funded by the EPSRC through a programme focusing on collaborative UK-China research projects in nanospintronics. This will give students the opportunity to participate in short-term exchanges with Tsinghua University, one of the most renowned institutions in China and our partner institution in Beijing.

Specific sub-projects are available in the following areas:

1. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and spectroscopy studies of the electronic, magnetic, and structural properties of individual magnetic molecules and multilayers.
   (PhD Studentship based at UCL)
2. Molecular thin film growth using sublimation methods; ex-situ study of structural, magnetic, and electronic properties; spintronic device characterisation.
   (PhD Studentship based at Imperial)
3. Theory of molecular magnetic interactions and their dependence on molecular geometry; theory of coupling of magnetic excitations to currents in the STM. The work will have both computational and analytical components.
   (PhD Studentship based at UCL)

All projects are closely coupled and you will work on the project with new Research Associates.

Prospective students should have a strong interest in working in an interdisciplinary environment and have an appropriate undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in physics, chemistry, engineering, or materials science, with at least a 2:1 grade (or equivalent).

Funding is for 36 months and covers stipend and UK/EU registration fees. Additional funding covering supplementary fees may be available for exceptional students from other countries.

Applications should be addressed to the institution where the specific project will be held.

Imperial College
For more information on project 2, please contact Dr Sandrine Heutz at s.heutz@imperial.ac.uk.
For assistance with application details please contact Norma Hikel (n.hikel@ic.ac.uk).
The prospectus, entry requirements and application form (under ‘how to apply’) are available at: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus.

UCL
For more information, please contact Dr Cyrus Hirjibehedin at c.hirjibehedin@ucl.ac.uk regarding project 1 and Prof Andrew Fisher at andrew.fisher@ucl.ac.uk regarding project 3. For assistance with application details, please contact Ms Denise Ottley (d.ottley@ucl.ac.uk). PhD application forms can be downloaded or completed online at: http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate-study under “How to Apply”.

Applicants will be processed when received, with the expectation that all posts will be filled by October 2009.

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