PhD opportunities for 2026-27 

We welcome applications from students wishing to undertake a PhD in the Centre for Light-Matter Interactions starting in September/October 2026. Please see further below for 'Application instructions'. 

To watch recent videos taken at one of the PhD research information sessions – please watch PhD Information Session – Recording 1 and PhD Information Session – Recording 2.

Current projects:

Probing dipole instabilities in the ultrafast ionization of molecules, Dr Dan Dundas

Ion sources for Fast Ignition of fusion fuel, Prof Marco Borghesi

Automation of high repetition rate high-power lasers for industrial applications, Prof Gianluca Sarri

Next-Gen Pulsed Therapeutics — Compact Laser-Driven Ion Accelerators for Future Medicine and beyond, Dr Satya Kar

Compact Laser-Driven Neutron Beamline for Advanced Applications in Science and Healthcare, Dr Satya Kar

Ultrabright Sources of Attosecond Pulses, Dr Mark Yeung

Skewed-Polarisation Absorption Spectroscopy, Dr Andrew Brown

Ultra-fast atomic dynamics in X-ray FEL light, Prof Hugo Van der Hart

Generation of Exotically Polarised Light to Manipulate Matter, Dr Jason Greenwood

Protecting the Final Optic: Experimental Approaches to Debris Characterization and control for Next-Generation Inertial Fusion Energy Reactors, Dr Charlotte Palmer

Radiation damage in the wide band gap semiconductor Ga₂O_3, Dr Lorenzo Stella

Ultrafast interaction of ionising radiation in matter: tracking material damage and breakdown, Prof Brendan Dromey

Application instructions

• Applications for post-graduate studies must be made via the QUB applications portal.
• All applications received by Friday February 13th 2026 (unless otherwise stated) will receive full consideration for CLMI PhD positions. However, applications received later will continue to be considered where suitable projects are still available.
• There are funding options listed on the application procedure:
  • 'I will fund the course with my own personal funds/personal loan': This would mean you are willing to pay everything yourself and is not advisable unless you have very significant personal funds you are willing to use during a 3-year PhD.
  • 'I wish to be considered for funding administered by Queen's': Please confirm Yes.

If you have any queries about eligibility, please contact admissions@qub.ac.uk.

If you have problems with the applications portal, please click the 'Need Support?' button at the bottom of the page if you have started an application. That will open a quick form to gather information on what the problem is and send it to the Clerical Team in Admissions for them to offer advice.

If you have issues registering on the portal then email: pg.apply@qub.ac.uk.