PhD Studentship - University of Leeds - On-Chip Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy Of Single-Crystal Proteins & The Physics and Technology of Low-dimensional Quantum Systems at Terahertz Frequencies
We seek to appoint a PhD student in the field of terahertz spectroscopy applied to protein systems. Proteins are fundamentally important to life, as they are the molecular machines responsible for carrying out the biological functions encoded by DNA. A central tenet in the study of cellular processes is the concept that a protein’s structure defines its biological function within a cell; it is the enormous range of possible combinations and configurations of the amino acid sequences which comprise proteins that explain the diversity of biological functions in which proteins are implicated.
While the structures of many tens of thousands of proteins have been determined by the technique of X-ray crystallography, this technique cannot routinely produce detailed dynamical information on timescales comparable to the large scale movement of a protein; that is, information on how proteins move and interact with one another and how this influences molecules they bind with, which determines their biological function.
This PhD project aims to implement a range of new techniques which will allow such information to be obtained for protein systems, to elucidate these mechanisms. Our techniques will exploit an important region of the electromagnetic spectrum - the terahertz frequency range - which has previously been inaccessible to experimentation owing to the lack of suitable source and detectors, and the lack of suitable ways to confine the radiation to lengthscales commensurate with studies of microscopic biomolecular objects such as proteins. New developments, made by the project supervisors over the last four years, are now capable of studying proteins in the terahertz range for the very first time, and these will be exploited by the student.
During this interdisciplinary PhD, you will develop new on-chip spectroscopy techniques capable of measuring the response of protein systems to terahertz radiation. Your research will be performed in state-of-art laboratories across two faculties at the University of Leeds.
Funding Notes
The studentship will cover tuition fees for UK or EU applicants only, plus a maintenance allowance of around £12,600 per annum, for three years.
Applicants must have, or expect to be awarded, a first or upper second class honours degree or equivalent in Physics, Biology, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline. There is no closing date for the position, which will be filled when an appropriate candidate presents themselves.
For more information regarding the project please contact Dr John Cunningham (j.e.cunningham@leeds.ac.uk)
For more information regarding how to apply to study at the University of Leeds please contact phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk
The Physics and Technology of Low-dimensional Quantum Systems at Terahertz Frequencies
We seek to appoint a PhD student to develop and exploit ultrafast (terahertz frequency / picosecond timescale) techniques to investigate the physics of mesoscopic quantum confined semiconductor systems, and build on these findings to develop new technology for the study of single electron transport.
The PhD studentship is part of a major new £2M research programme, and is available immediately. It represents an outstanding opportunity for an enthusiastic and dedicated student to join an established and internationally leading research team.
Your project will develop new techniques to measure the electronic properties of electronic devices, based on two-dimensional electron systems formed in semiconductors, at unprecedented terahertz frequencies. You will be trained in cutting-edge cryogenic measurement techniques, including use of state-of-the-art pulsed laser systems.
You will also learn simulation techniques to develop next generation terahertz circuits, capable of measuring the response of quantum confined electronic systems. You will also be trained in advanced clean-room fabrication techniques including electron-beam lithography, in order to make unique advanced one- and zero-dimensional nanoscale semiconductor systems. The ultimate goal will be to obtain physical understanding of the high frequency response of quantum confined electronic systems, which has direct relevance to the emerging fields of single-electronics, quantum metrology, and quantum computing.
Applicants must have, or expect to be awarded, a first or upper second class honours degree or equivalent in Physics, Electronic Engineering, or a related discipline. There is no closing date for the PhD position, which will be filled when an appropriate candidate presents themselves.
Funding Notes
The studentship will cover tuition fees for UK or EU applicants only, plus a maintenance allowance of around £12,600 per annum, for three years.
Please note that the funding will cover student fees for UK or EU students only.
For more information regarding the project please contact Dr John Cunningham (j.e.cunningham@leeds.ac.uk)
For more information regarding how to apply to study at the University of Leeds please contact phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk