PhD in Chemistry: Solar SFX: Real-time molecular movies of solar cell photosensitizers by serial femtosecond crystallography: Competitive EPSRC funded post

This studentship will create molecular movies showing how solar photosensitizers respond to light, using serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX).

The student will:

• Use advanced crystallization methods to generate homogeneous crystal batches of photosensitizer targets, e.g. hybrid perovskites, photoactive dyes for dye-sensitized-solar-cells, and analyse these by single-crystal/powder XRD, SEM and spectroscopy (IR/Raman/UV-vis/fluorescence).
• Conduct SFX experiments at X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) (SwissFEL/EuropeanXFEL) to study fundamental light-matter interactions at femtosecond-resolution.
• Collaborate with Beamline I19 at Diamond Light Source (DLS) to prepare for XFEL visits, and use serial synchrotron crystallography (SSX) to study longer-lived (nanosecond-picosecond) processes.
• Have opportunities to work at Diamond for extended research visits and secondments.

This studentship will translate proof-of-concept SSX to study commercially-relevant photosensitizers by SFX. The student will work at the global forefront of structural chemistry and become an expert in serial crystallography (SX), a technique highlighted as the future of crystallography. The ultrabright X-rays produced by state-of-the-art facilities destroy individual crystals in a single pulse, thus development of SX is an immediate priority for the global community.

The multifaceted nature of this project will provide training in numerous transferable skills in inorganic synthesis, crystallization, analytical and structural chemistry, making the student highly-employable for careers in research, industry or at National Facilities around the world.

Academic criteria

Candidates should hold or expect to gain a first class degree or a good 2.1 and/or an appropriate Master’s level qualification (or their equivalent). 

We also welcome applications for both full and part-time study and from candidates with non-traditional academic backgrounds.

English Language

If English is not your first language that you must fulfil our English Language criteria before the start of your studies. Details of accepted English Language qualifications for admissions can be found here English language requirements for postgraduate students – Study – Cardiff University

Supervisors

Dr Lauren Hatcher – People – Cardiff University

Deadline for applications – Friday 14th March 2025

Start date – 1st October 2025

How to apply

Complete the standard online Cardiff University PhD application form, noting the additional requirements listed below.

Chemistry – Study – Cardiff University

In addition to the standard application form, applicants should also:

Attach a CV. Guidance on CVs for a PhD position can be found on the FindaPhD.com website How to Write an Effective PhD CV

Ensure your personal statement (as part of the university application form, or as a separate attachment, if you prefer) provides a clear explanation of your research interest, preparation undertaken, and an understanding of the project. 

Your personal statement should be no more than 500 words, and address the following questions:

1. What are your scientific research interests and ambition?

2. How has your academic and/or professional journey prepared you for PhD study? (for instance, give examples of work you particularly enjoyed, of challenges you overcame, of connecting with others about your work or ideas, of showing inventiveness, of developing new skills and knowledge)

3. Why do you think this project is important?

Interviews Shortlisted candidates will be notified of the interview date that is expected within a week of Wednesday 9th April.

As part of the interview process, the candidates who have been shortlisted will be required to deliver a brief (approximately 5 minutes) presentation based on a recent research project.

Adjustments for interviews will be made to ensure equality for the candidates, e.g., questions in advance for individuals with neurodiversity; flexible interview timings and locations for individuals with caring responsibilities, socioeconomic status, etc.; extra time if necessary for individuals with disabilities.

If you wish to ask any informal questions about the application and interview process, including any specific requirements you may have, please contact our PGR office on chemistry-pgr@cardiff.ac.uk Any questions or requests you have will in no way effect your application. 

We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented backgrounds, such as women, ethnic minorities, or people with disabilities. Cardiff University is committed to support students from a range of backgrounds and circumstances. Where needed, we will work with you to take into consideration reasonable project adaptations (for example to support caring responsibilities, disabilities, other significant personal circumstances) as well as flexible working and part‐time study requests, to enable greater access to a PhD.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive environment for all. We welcome applications from all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation

Overview of projects – competitively funded

This is a competitively funded project, and only one applicant across our three Chemistry EPSRC competitive projects will be successful. You can apply for more than one project in Chemistry on the same application, but must list all the projects on your application clearly, and provide a separate supporting statement for each post.

The other projects are here:

PhD in Chemistry: Investigation of water-associated deactivation mechanisms for industrial Fischer Tropsch catalysts: Competitive EPSRC funded post at Cardiff University on FindAPhD.com

PhD in Chemistry: Electrolyzers Implemented with Particle-Stabilized Foams for Green Hydrogen Production by Electrolysis of Contaminated Waters and Wastewaters: EPSRC competitive funded post at Cardiff University on FindAPhD.com