PhD Studentship: 2D Material Spintronics logic and Memory device (The Royal Society funded project)

Overview

The project will be undertaken within the MIND Research Group (https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/group/magnetism-intelligent-devices-mind) in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford, under the supervision of Dr Safeer Chenattukuzhiyil. The PhD studentship is funded through the supervisor’s Royal Society grant, covering tuition fees and providing a standard stipend.

Project Details

The project will explore new approaches to computing hardware that can address the growing limitations of conventional silicon-based electronics. As silicon technology approaches its physical limits beyond Moore’s Law, challenges including current leakage, heat dissipation and quantum effects increasingly restrict further improvements in device miniaturisation and efficiency. At the same time, the demand for faster, smaller and more energy-efficient computing technologies continues to grow, creating a need for fundamentally new materials and device architectures.

This PhD project will investigate two-dimensional van der Waals materials as a platform for next-generation computing devices. These atomically thin materials can be assembled into tailored structures, offering considerable flexibility to engineer electronic and spin-dependent properties and realise functionalities that are difficult to achieve using conventional materials.

A central objective will be to exploit spin conductance, rather than conventional charge transport, to develop nanoscale devices capable of performing key computing functions. The research will focus on three important areas: information storage, logic processing and neuromorphic communication. Combining these capabilities using two-dimensional materials could provide a pathway towards computing architectures offering ultrafast operation and very low energy consumption.

The overall aim is to establish new device concepts that could contribute to high-performance classical computing and emerging brain-inspired computing hardware, while addressing fundamental challenges associated with continued silicon-device scaling.

Person Specification

Please check whether you are eligible to apply for the University of Oxford Physics DPhil programme before applying or contacting the supervisor.

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with a strong interest in experimental condensed matter physics, nanotechnology, spintronics and/or two-dimensional materials. Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a strong undergraduate or master’s degree in physics, materials science, or a closely related discipline.

The successful candidate should demonstrate enthusiasm for experimental research, the ability to approach scientific problems independently and creatively, and strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Previous experience in areas such as nanofabrication, electrical measurements, two-dimensional materials, magnetism, spintronics, device physics or related experimental techniques would be advantageous but is not essential. Candidates should also be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative research team and communicate scientific results clearly.

Application Procedure

The position will start in the academic year beginning in October 2027. The application portal expected to open by the end of October 2026, and application deadline is 6 January 2027.

All candidates should check their eligibility and review the application procedure before applying. For further details, please visit:

https://www.physics.ox.ac.uk/research/group/magnetism-intelligent-devices-mind/join-group