PhD Studentship: New Dimensions in Ultrafast Spectroscopy with Structured Light

Overview

The University of East Anglia offers a full-time PhD studentship within the School of Chemistry, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, supervised by Dr Kayn Forbes. The research project focuses on new dimensions in ultrafast spectroscopy using structured light, combining time-resolved spectroscopy with modern photonics. The work aims to determine if specially designed ultrafast beams can reveal molecular and material dynamics inaccessible to conventional methods, starting with pump-probe spectroscopy and extending to multidimensional techniques like 2D electronic spectroscopy. The student will combine analytical theory and computational modelling to predict structured-light signatures, collaborating closely with experimental groups to guide and test measurements on realistic molecular and material systems.

Who can apply

This opportunity is part of a competition for a Faculty of Science funded studentship and is available to UK applicants.

Requirements

Applicants must meet the standard minimum entry requirement of a 2:1 degree in Chemistry, Physics, or Mathematics. No prior experience in ultrafast or 2D spectroscopy is required, as the necessary techniques will be developed throughout the course of the PhD.

What you get

The funding covers home tuition fees and provides an annual stipend for three years. The current institutional PhD stipend rate is £21,805 per annum, which is subject to an agreed inflationary uplift for the 2027 to 2028 academic year.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 24 February 2027. The intended start date for the position is 1 October 2027.