Engineering plant microbiome PhD – A roadmap to electrically pumped Organic LASERS

Lasers fabricated from crystalline materials such as GaAs/InP have revolutionised modern society since they were first demonstrated in the 1960s. Their ability to produce powerful coherent light at low cost has enabled the development of fibreoptic networks (aka the Internet), advances in soft tissue surgery, laser printing, measurement, chemical/biological analysis, and industrial cutting. Today, much of modern life would not be possible without lasers [1].

However, despite their revolutionary impact, the materials used to manufacture these devices are highly toxic and brittle [2], preventing use in many biological and healthcare applications. Furthermore, due to the physical limitations of inorganic semiconductors, current lasers can only generate light over a fraction of the spectrum. An everyday example of this is the humble green laser pointer; good green sources do not exist and therefore, the light is generated by frequency-doubling infrared light. A more profound example is the mid/far-infrared wavelengths needed for cancer surgery as these are also not accessible. Finding coherent light sources for the remaining half of the spectrum would have a significant impact on society, comparable to the development of the first lasers, with as-of-yet unimagined applications from sensing to health care [3].

This 3.5 year PhD studentship will be part of a broader project developing electrically pumped lasers made from conducting carbon based molecules. You will work on four key areas:

·       Investigate how material properties affect the emission of light from advanced electronic devices.

·    Design electronic devices capable of precisely controlling light emission on extremely fast timescales, providing a unique platform for studying light-matter interactions in potential laser materials.

·    Showcase the versatility of these devices by creating prototypes with adjustable emission characteristics, suitable for everything from vivid displays to cutting-edge laser technology.

·    Pioneer new device designs to achieve efficient control of both electrical and optical properties within a single structure, while also exploring methods to enhance performance and durability by minimising self-heating effects.

The PhD will be primally experimental, however there will be a chance to explore the simulation of these devices if the candidate desires to. There will be a mix between device fabrication, measurement, and experimental system building. The student will be jointly supervised by Dr Mujeeb Chaudhry (an expert in optoelectronic device fabrication) and Dr Roderick MacKenzie (an expert in optoelectronic device simulation). A postdoctoral researcher will also be working on the project providing simulation support. You will join a vibrant society of active researchers at Durham working on closely aligned fields.

Environment

Durham University, one of the top 100 universities in the world (ranked 78th in QS World University Rankings 2024) is inviting applications for a fully funded PhD studentship to work within the Department of Engineering. The successful candidate will have full access to the facilities available in both the Department of Engineering. The student will receive comprehensive training in wet lab experimentation and computational research. They will also be able to access training through Durham University’s Researcher Development Programme. Durham University provides a wide variety of training courses, ranging from paper writing support to high-performance computing courses. These run continuously and are highly valued by all researchers at the University.

This project presents an excellent opportunity for a candidate interested in an applied research career, within a 3.5 year funded study programme.

Requirements:

Essential:

·       Good Degree (2:1 or above) in Natural Science/Engineering/Computing.

·       Excellent communication skills

Desirable (we appreciate few candidates will have all of these skills):

·       Ability to python/C/MATALB scripts

·       Demonstrable expertise in experiment design

·       Demonstrable expertise in wet bench techniques.

·       Demonstrable expertise in optical labs.

Funding Duration: 3.5 years (UK Home Student)

This project will provide funding for UK Home students:

Home fees: £4,786 p.a. (2024/25 rate)

Stipend: £19,237 p.a (2024/25 rate)

Note: This funding is only for UK Students (overseas students are welcome to apply but would need to cover the difference between home students’ fees and overseas fees, the difference being about £24k).

Application process:

In the first instance (or for informal discussion), contact Dr. Roderick MacKenzie (Roderick MacKenzie). Applications can then be formally submitted through the online postgraduate (research) application system (please highlight that your application should be considered by Dr. Roderick MacKenzie): https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/

The project will start on 1^st October 2024.