The Nanoscale Microscopy Group at Physics Department, University of Lancaster is seeking an enthusiastic and creative candidate to work on a PhD project on Nanoscale Thermal Metrology. The project will explore fundamental mechanisms of Nanoscale Heat Transport in materials and nanoscale devices using advanced Scanning Thermal Microscopy as a part of the large European FP7 QUANTIHEAT research consortium. While the control of nanoscale heat flow is central to modern technology and of particular importance to the semiconductor industry, the understanding of advanced materials such as graphene and other two-dimensional materials and nanoscale devices, there are, currently, no effective tools for quantitative thermal measurements on the nanoscale. This project, a collaboration of 20 leading European partners from both academia and industry, will use experimental and computational techniques to explore the physical processes of the nanoscale thermal probe-sample interactions, ultimately providing quantitative measurements of nanoscale thermal parameters, such as thermal conductivity, diffusivity, and temperature.

Lancaster University's Physics Department is one of the top in the UK for research. In the last Research Assessment Exercise, we achieved the highest quality profile amongst 42 UK physics departments. The researchers of Nanoscale Microscopy Group at Lancaster have made world leading contributions to the nanoscale probing of physical properties, including ultrasonic force microscopy, nano-manipulation of ferroelectric domains, sub-surface nanomechanical imaging and nanoscale mapping of thermo-physical properties of graphene.

The successful PhD candidate will demonstrate an excellent academic record in physics, material science or related area. Knowledge of and experience in either scanning probe microscopy, measurements of advanced physical properties, and simulations would be greatly advantageous. The candidate is expected to successfully work as part of a team, with good inter-personal skills and to successfully complete research project suitable for the award of a PhD in Physics including publications in high impact peer-reviewed articles. The position is for 3.5 years and can start immediately after the selection of the candidate.

Please contact Oleg Kolosov (o.kolosov@lancaster.ac.uk, www.nano-science.com) for any additional enquiries.