PhD Studentship: High Light Yield Perovskite Scintillators for Nuclear Security Gamma Applications University of Surrey in United Kingdom

[Fully and directly funded for this project only. UKRI standard stipend for 48 months - £20,780 for 2025/26 academic year. Funding is for 48 months.]

The University of Surrey invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship focused on the development of high light yield perovskite scintillators for nuclear security gamma applications. This project is part of a cutting-edge research initiative in the Physics Department, leveraging the recent advances made by the Surrey team in perovskite scintillator materials. These materials offer a unique combination of high scintillation light yield, high material density, excellent optical transparency due to a large Stoke’s shift, and fast response times, making them highly promising for gamma detection in nuclear security.

The successful candidate will work on developing prototype perovskite scintillator gamma detectors using materials grown at Surrey. The research will involve innovating new growth methods for high light yield perovskite scintillators, studying the morphology and crystalline quality of perovskite crystals with advanced single crystal X-ray diffraction, and characterizing their optical performance through photoluminescence spectroscopy and decay time measurements. Additionally, the project includes investigating the radiation response of these scintillators to X-rays and gamma rays using radioisotopes and X-ray generators.

This is a highly multidisciplinary project, offering access to state-of-the-art material characterization facilities in Chemistry and Materials Science, including Photoluminescence, Raman, Dynamic Light Scattering, SEM/TEM, and XRD. The Physics Department provides all necessary equipment for radiation-based characterization, such as X-ray luminescence and radioisotope gamma irradiation setups.

The studentship is fully funded for 48 months, with a UKRI standard stipend of £20,780 for the 2025/26 academic year. The position is open to candidates who pay UK/home rate fees. Applicants must meet the University of Surrey’s PhD entry requirements, typically including a strong honours degree in Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, or a related field. English language requirements apply for non-native speakers. The project is scheduled to start in April 2026, with flexibility for later start dates upon discussion with the lead supervisor.

Supervision will be provided by Professor Paul Sellin, Professor Carol Crean, and Dr Ian Riddlestone, offering expertise across physics, materials science, and chemistry. For further information or to discuss the project, candidates are encouraged to contact Professor Paul Sellin. Applications should be submitted via the University of Surrey Physics PhD programme page. Instead of a research proposal, applicants should upload a document stating the project title and the name of the relevant supervisor.

This studentship provides an excellent opportunity to contribute to the advancement of next-generation scintillator materials with significant impact on nuclear security technologies, while gaining multidisciplinary research experience in a leading UK institution.