Semiconductor Science and Engineering: (With enhanced stipend) EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Semiconductor Industry Future Skills (RS944)

Funding Providers: EPSRC CDT in UK-Semiconductor Industry Future Skills

Subject Area: Semiconductor Science & Engineering

Project Start Dates:

• October 2026
• January 2027
• April 2027
• July 2027

** (Please see the note below regarding potential later start dates.)

Supervisors:

• Professor Paul Meredith (Physics)
• Professor Owen Guy (Chemistry)
• Professor Mike Jennings (EEE)
• Dr Saptarsi Ghosh (EEE)
• Dr Yaonan Hou (EEE)
• Dr Emrys Evans (Chemistry)
• Dr Daniel Lamb (Materials Science and Engineering)
• Dr Gregory Burwell (Physics)
• Dr Matthew Elwin (CISM)
• Dr Jonathan Evans (CISM)
• Professor Karol Kalna (EEE)
• Professor Lijie Li (EEEE)

Aligned programme of study:

Electrical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Physics, Chemistry.

Mode of study: Full time and Part time

Place of study: Swansea University (Bay Campus)

Project description:

Up to 6 PhD studentships are available for commencement in the academic year 2026-2027 (October 2026 – July 2027) as the first Cohort of a new EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills* led by Swansea University in partnership with the University of Leeds. The PhD studentships will be:

-        4 years duration at an enhanced stipend rate provided by the UK Government’s TechExpert Programme** of up to £10,000 above the UKRI basic stipend (26/27 rate £21,805);

-        flexibly structured as 4 years of Full Time Equivalent research with a continuous programme of practical skills training in semiconductor science, engineering and technology, and particularly suited to students from non-traditional education routes such as degree qualified apprentices or those seeking to move sector from another cognate industry, or indeed remain employed whilst pursuing their PhDs;

-        based at Swansea University’s new state-of-the-art semiconductor research and innovation facility (the £55M Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials);

-        closely connected to industry partners, with co-created research projects and opportunity to spend time at industry sites.

Project description(s): Semiconductors are key enablers of virtually every aspect of modern society from smart phones and computers to energy generation, communications, AI, defence, transport and healthcare. Without semiconductors there will be no Net Zero transition, and as demonstrated during COVID, disruption of semiconductor manufacturing supply chains can literally bring the world to a standstill. Whilst the ubiquitous semiconductor silicon has powered the last 70 years of technology, new and more advanced semiconductors such as compound and molecular semiconductors are creating incredible new opportunities in areas such as efficient power electronics, clean energy generation and conversion, radically more powerful processors for artificial intelligence, electrification of transport and the explosion in space technology including the possibility of manufacturing in space!

We have up to six PhD projects available in the first Cohort of the new Swansea University-University of Leeds EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in UK Semiconductor Industry Futures Skills (UK-SIFS) *. These six projects will be in close collaboration with our industrial partners and span multiple potential areas of science and engineering of advanced semiconductor technology. The scope of the projects will be:

Project 1: Ultra-wide bandgap materials (gallium oxide and aluminium gallium oxide) for ultra-violet optoelectronics and radiation hard power electronics: in collaboration with AIXTRON Ltd

Project 2: Manufacturing of high-quality semiconductor crystals in space: in collaboration with Space Forge Ltd

Project 3: Characterisation and metrology of ultra-wide bandgap materials and devices (up to two studentships): in collaboration with the National Physics Laboratory, Zeiss Ltd and Compound Semiconductor Centre Ltd

Project 4: Materials and devices for vertical gallium nitride components: in collaboration with KLA

Project 5: Sustainable processing of semiconductor materials and devices: in collaboration with Edwards Vacuum Ltd

Project 6: Molecular semiconductors for next generation optoelectronics including triplet materials for light emitting diodes and related devices

These exciting PhD projects come with an enhanced stipend** for the full 4 years of study and generous research funds and research training grant. The projects will be hosted by and undertaken in Swansea University’s new £55M flagship Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM) recently opened in 2025 and providing state-of-the-art semiconductor fabrication cleanrooms and associated experimental laboratories and device design, testing and characterisation facilities. We welcome applicants with backgrounds in Physics, Chemistry, all Engineering disciplines and Materials Science. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from non-traditional education routes such as degree qualified apprentices or those seeking to move sector from another cognate industry or indeed undertaking a PhD whilst remaining employed with their current employer in the semiconductor sector.

*UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills 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 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. 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 these PhD projects are your opportunity.

**This UK-SIFS CDT first Cohort is part of the TechExpert (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/techexpert ) pilot offering stipend top-ups of up to £10,000 on the basic UKRI stipend plus comprehensive wraparound support for students eligible for home fee status for the full four years of study. TechExpert aims to make doctoral study a more competitive and financially viable option for talented graduates, while also providing a pathway back into research for those who may have left due to financial constraints. By doing so, it strengthens the UK’s innovation pipeline and contributes to a more inclusive, resilient, and high-impact research ecosystem. Join us to help grow the UK’s national capability in digital technologies and semiconductors, part of the UK’s modern industrial strategy.

Scholarship open to UK fee eligible applicants only.

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA (Full list of categories for HE in Wales)

Standard minimum entry requirements apply; however, consideration may be given to anyone who can demonstrate considerable experience in a relevant Industry who may fall short of the standard minimum degree entry requirements. Please note that a Bachelor (Hons) degree must be held.

This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an enhanced annual stipend rate provided by the UK Government’s TechExpert Programme of up to £10,000 above the UKRI basic stipend rate;

Additional research expenses of up to £15,000 per year will also be available.

To apply, please complete the entire application form for the course of interest:

PhD in Physics, FT or PT - Oct 26, Jan 27, Apr 27 or July 27.

PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, FT or PT - Oct 26, Jan 27, Apr 27 or July 27.

PhD in Chemistry, FT or PT - Oct 26, Jan 27, Apr 27 or July 27.

PhD in Materials Science Engineering, FT or PT - Oct 26, Jan 27, Apr 27 or July 27.

To be considered for this scholarship award the following steps are also required.

1) In section ‘Programme Related Information’ please input the relevant RS Code for the scholarship award i.e. RS944

2) In section ‘Research’ you will see ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’* (Mandatory)

• In ‘Proposed project title/studentship title’ please input:

•  the RS Code, RS944
• the scholarship title

• Please leave Proposed Supervisor field blank
• Please leave Research Project (if applicable) blank
• In ‘Do you have a proposal to upload? *’(Mandatory) Please select Yes
• Then upload copy of advert (you can save the advert by clicking print, and then print to pdf)

3) In section ‘Funding information’ please choose the option ‘Scholarship Funding’ only. Please ensure no other options are selected.

*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 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):

• CV
• Degree certificates and transcripts (if you are currently studying for a degree, screenshots of your grades to date are sufficient)
• A cover letter including a ‘Supplementary Personal Statement’ to explain why the position particularly matches your skills and experience and how you choose to develop the project.
• One reference (academic or previous employer) on headed paper or using the Swansea University reference form. Please note that we are not able to accept references received citing private email accounts, e.g. Hotmail. Referees should cite their employment email address for verification of reference.
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable).
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of EDI form submission

Informal enquiries are welcome; please contact:

NAME: Professor Paul Meredith

EMAIL: Paul.Meredith@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

**In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the discretion of the University and/or the relevant funding body, a deferral of offer may be granted to the next available enrolment period. Such deferral will typically not exceed a duration of three calendar months from the originally stipulated commencement date. Please note that only one deferral may be considered, and any such deferral is not guaranteed.