Computational Modeling of Laser-induced Phenomena in Materials

Supervisor: Dr Peter Sushko

A FOUR year fully funded studentship is available to applicants interested in computational modeling of laser-induced phenomena in materials. The research project, co-funded by the EPSRC and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL, USA), is focused on the developing mechanisms of laser-induced modification of the surface structures of oxide nano-particles and goes alongside of a long-term experimental research programme at PNNL. Control over surface morphology and chemical functionality via electronic excitations is a major challenge in emerging novel technologies in electronics, chemistry, and biology. The research will involve developing of new computational methods for electronic structure calculations, calculations of excited states, and modeling surface structures and reactions.

The studentship is at the Department of Physics and Astronomy and it is open to candidates who have been resident in the UK for more than 3 years and have gained or are expected to gain a first or upper second class MSci degree or equivalent. PNNL will provide an annual 3,000 GBP top-up to the UCL level of studentship (currently about 15,000 GBP). Successful candidates are expected to work closely with researchers at PNNL and at the London-wide Thomas Young Centre for Theory and Simulation of Materials. Collaboration with the experimental work at PNNL is essential. It will focus on the mechanisms of laser-induced modification of surface structure of oxide nano-particles.

For more information on this and related projects please access www.cmmp.ucl.ac.uk/~kpm/. Preliminary email applications are encouraged (Dr Peter Sushko; Prof. Alexander Shluger).

Deadline for applications: 28 February, 2010.