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PhD Project on Watching Aggregation in Liquids with Terahertz Spectroscopy University of Southampton in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
The project is competition funded. Specific stipend, tuition-fee coverage, and other financial details are available through the University of Southampton fees and funding information.
Deadline
Dec 31, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Southampton
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About this position
PhD project: Watching aggregation in liquids with terahertz spectroscopy
The University of Southampton is offering a competition-funded Doctor of Philosophy project in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, focused on how molecular-scale dynamics connect to mesoscale structure in complex liquids.
The research will use intense terahertz spectroscopy to monitor structural evolution as molecules or particles aggregate, separate into phases, or coalesce into larger domains. The work will examine local molecular motions on sub-picosecond timescales alongside droplets, clusters, and domains that may reach hundreds of micrometres in size.
Initial experiments will use calibrated particles dispersed in water, varying particle size, concentration, and dielectric contrast. The project will then investigate dynamically evolving systems including colloidal dispersions, emulsions undergoing droplet growth and coalescence, and liquid crystals that self-assemble into micrometre-scale domains.
Students will receive interdisciplinary training in ultrafast optics, terahertz spectroscopy, soft matter, experimental analysis, and computational modelling. The project is suitable for applicants with a 2:1 honours degree and an interest in physics, materials science, chemistry, complex fluids, or related fields.
The closing date is 31 December 2027. Funding is described as competition funded; applicants should consult the university's fees and funding pages for detailed financial information and submit an application through the University of Southampton postgraduate research process.
Funding details
The project is competition funded. Specific stipend, tuition-fee coverage, and other financial details are available through the University of Southampton fees and funding information.
What's required
Applicants should have a 2:1 honours degree. The project requires interest or preparation in relevant areas such as physics, ultrafast optics, terahertz spectroscopy, soft matter, experimental methods, data analysis, or computational modelling; full detailed entry requirements are available through the University of Southampton project page.
How to apply
Review the project details and full entry requirements on the University of Southampton webpage. Consult the university's fees and funding information, then apply through the postgraduate research application process before 31 December 2027.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.