Building an Autonomous Characterization Platform for Emissive Films (PhD Studentship) University of St Andrews in United Kingdom

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of St Andrews offers an exciting opportunity to join the Zysman-Colman group in the School of Chemistry. The project focuses on developing an autonomous and intelligent platform for the solid-state photophysical characterization of OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) materials. OLEDs are widely used in digital displays, and their efficiency is closely tied to the photophysical properties of the organic emissive layer. The bottleneck in materials discovery for OLEDs is often the in-depth characterization required to identify optimal formulations.

As part of a broader research initiative, the successful candidate will work on integrating and automating a spectroscopic characterization platform, enabling AI-driven materials optimization. The project aims to reduce manufacturing costs and accelerate R&D by implementing an AI-enabled screening engine with a feedback loop from spectroscopic data to materials composition and fabrication. The student will be involved in screening and assessing sustainable OLED materials developed within the Zysman-Colman group.

The ideal applicant should have a strong interest in spectroscopy, coding, and machine learning, and hold (or expect to receive) a First Class or good Upper Second Class Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A master’s qualification is advantageous. International applicants are welcome and must meet UK English language requirements.

The studentship is fully funded for 42 months, covering tuition fees and an annual stipend for both UK and international students. The prospective start date is September or October 2026 (or sooner). Informal enquiries can be directed to Prof. Eli Zysman-Colman ([email protected]). More information about the research group is available at http://www.zysman-colman.com/home.

To apply, please register your interest via the webform (link) and follow the application procedure outlined on the University of St Andrews website (application portal). For further information about PhD opportunities, contact [email protected].

This position is ideal for candidates seeking to advance research in applied chemistry, materials science, and AI-driven materials discovery, with a focus on sustainable technologies for next-generation electronic devices.