Science and Engineering: Fully Funded EPSRC iCASE and NPL PhD: Metrology and Process Integration for defect mapping of next generation semiconductor materials and devices (RS684)

Funding providers: EPSRC iCASE and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Teddington UK  

Subject areas: Physics / Electrical Engineering / Chemistry 

Project start date(s): 
1 January 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-December), 1 April 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-March), 1 July 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-June) 

Supervisors: 

(Primary): Owen Guy (Chemistry)  

(Secondary): Prof. Mike Jennings (Electrical Engineering) 

Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry  - Distance Learning  

Mode of study:  Full time 

Project description: 

This highly innovative PhD project will develop new analysis tools for investigating semiconductor wafers and devices – focussing on the latest semiconductor materials (including compound semiconductors). 

This studentship is linked to an exciting new Doctoral Training Initiative “UK Semiconductor Industry Future Skills” (UK-SIFS). UK-SIFS will provide valuable and highly practical skills relevant to the UK semiconductor industry such as formal cleanroom fabrication training, vacuum systems, process control (six sigma) in semiconductor manufacturing, semiconductor supply chains and export control, semiconductor packaging, and technology translation in the semiconductor sector. This PhD will be part of two cohorts of students in 2024 and 2025 across Swansea University and the University of Leeds, the Royce Institute, and partners including KLA, and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL), amongst others. Our partners will co-deliver the training content, plus co-supervise PhD research projects, and supervise a programme of secondments at partner sites. UK-SIFS provides not only the considerable benefits of research training and collaboration across a multidisciplinary cohort working in areas such as semiconductor devices, device characterisation and metrology, power electronics, clean energy, bioelectronics and sensing, THz devices, optoelectronics, molecular semiconductors, quantum technology, electronic glass and advanced heterogeneous integration, but is also a unique opportunity for those students who may want to connect closely with the semiconductor and related industries for their PhD and aspire to be the future leaders of the sector in the UK and beyond. 

This highly innovative PhD project, led by Swansea University and based at NPL in London, aims to create new tools for analysing semiconductor wafers and devices, focusing on the latest materials like compound semiconductors. Compound semiconductors, important in the UK's semiconductor strategy, are used in various technologies like electric vehicles, sensors, and quantum technologies. They are more efficient than traditional silicon, but are sensitive to defects, which can lead to production issues and high costs. The project will develop methods to inspect wafers more effectively, using machine learning to identify critical defects in the latest semiconductor materials like SiC, GaN and β-Ga2O3. These materials offer profound advantages for power devices over silicon technologies. This PhD work is critical as low production yields lead to wastage and slow market growth. 

The project is funded by an iCASE award to the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The award will fund a Swansea University student to undertake a PhD at NPL’s Teddington laboratories near London.

Full project description for RS684

Centre for Integrative Semiconductor Materials (CISM)

Candidates must hold a UK bachelor’s degree with a minimum of Upper Second Class honours in chemistry or a related subject, or overseas bachelor’s degree deemed equivalent to UK Bachelor (by UK ECCTIS) and achieved a grade equivalent to UK Upper Second Class honours in chemistry or a related subject;

Or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ in chemistry or a related subject (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) - see country specific qualifications.

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations. 

Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency.

If you have any questions regarding your academic or fee eligibility based on the above, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk with the web-link to the scholarship(s) you are interested in. 

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £5,000 will also be available.

To apply, please complete your application online with the following information:

1. Course choice – 
   Course choice – please select, as preferred start date -
   For January 2025 start select:
   Chemistry  - Distance Learning / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years /January
   OR
   For April 2025 start select:
   Chemistry  - Distance Learning / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / April
   OR
   For July 2025 start select:
   Chemistry  - Distance Learning / PhD / Full-time / 3 Years / July
   
   In the event you have already applied for the above programme previously, the application system may issue a warning notice and prevent application, in this event, please email pgrscholarships@swansea.ac.uk where staff will be happy to assist you in submitting your application.
2. Start year – please select 2025
3. Funding (page 8) –

• ‘Are you funding your studies yourself?’ – please select No
• ‘Name of Individual or organisation providing funds for study’ – please enter ‘RS684 - Defect Mapping’

*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.

As part of your online application, you MUST upload the following documents (please do not send these via email). We strongly advise you to provide the listed supporting documents by the advertised closing date, where possible:

• 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.
• Two references (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 Professor Owen Guy (o.j.guy@swansea.ac.uk) / Professor Mike Jennings (m.r.jennings@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.