PhD Research Students
The School of Mathematics and Physics have a large and diverse PhD student body who contribute enormously to the vibrant research culture of the school. To view the profiles of our students, please click on the links below.
Research Centres
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium
Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Photonic Integration and Advanced Data Storage
Centre for Nanostructured Media
Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
Mathematical Science Research Centre
Armagh Observatory & Planetarium
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pablo Galán de Anta | The Fragility of Nuclear and kpc-scale Galactic Discs against Mergers | Dr Marc Sarzi | Dr Massimo Dotti (University Milano-Bicocca), Dr Lorenzo Posti (University of Groningen) |
| Kerem Osman Çubu |
CO Mapping the Southern Galactic Plane |
Prof Michael G. Burton | Dr Marc Sarzi |
| Jeremy Rigney |
Stellar Flare Observations with the International LOFAR Telescope |
Prof. Peter Gallagher (DIAS) and Prof. Gerry Doyle (Armagh), Prof. Michail Mathioudakis (QUB) |
Dr. Eoin Carley (DIAS) and Dr. Gavin Ramsay Armagh) |
Astrophysics Research Centre
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exploring the Relics of Planet Formation: The Kuiper Belt Colour/Composition Connection | Prof. Alan Fitzsimmons | ||
| Fionntán Callan | Supernovae: Theoretical Modelling of Light Curves and Spectra | ||
| Ryan Campell | Small-scale transverse magnetic fields in the quiet internetwork solar photosphere | Professor Mihalis Mathioudakis | |
| Christopher Dillion | Solar Physics with Biomedical Applications: Revealing the hidden science of the Sun | Dr David Jess | |
| Matthew Dobson | From the Centaurs to the Inner Oort Cloud: Exploring the Kuiper Belt Connection | Dr Megan Schwamb | |
| Caitlin Gilchrist-Millar | The Atmospheric Response to Oscillations Within Solar Magnetic Pores | Dr David Jess | |
| Jarod Gouldie | Relativistic Dirac R-matrix photoionisation calculations through to their implementation with stellar opacity codes |
Dr Connor Balance | Dr Stuart Sim |
| David Jackson |
Terra Hunting-Extreme Precision Mass-Measurements of Earth-like Worlds |
Dr. Christopher Watson | Dr Ernst de Mooij |
| Dominik Kiersz |
Spectroscopic Observations of Near-Earth Asteroids in Support of Hera and DART Missions |
Prof. Alan Fitzsimmons | |
| Conor MacBride |
Energy Dissipation in Solar Physics |
Dr David Jess | Prof. Mihalis Mathioudakis |
| Matthew McCollum | Fast optical transients in wide-field surveys: giant flares and extragalactic searches | Prof. Stephen Smartt | Dr. Christopher Watson |
| Shaun McLaughlin |
Multi-Wavelength Observations of Solar Flares |
Dr Ryan Milligan | |
| Stephanie Merritt |
Characterising exoplanet atmospheres using high-resolution spectroscopy |
Dr. Neale Gibson (TCD) | Dr. Christopher Watson |
| Aaron Monson |
Photospheric Flare Diagnostics |
Prof. Mihalis Mathioudakis | Dr Ryan Milligan |
| Sean Quinn |
The Search for Upper Atmospheric Responses to Sunquakes |
Prof. Mihalis Mathioudakis | |
| James Edward Robinson |
The Origin and Evolution of Transneptunian Binaries |
Prof. Alan Fitzsimmons | Dr Stuart Sim |
| Richard Smith | Binary Transneptunian Objects in the Hubble Space Telescope Archive | Prof. Alan Fitzsimmons | Dr Wesley Fraser |
| Jamie Wilson |
Observations of Exoplanet Atmospheres |
Dr Neale Gibson | Dr. Christopher Watson |
Atomistic Simulation Centre
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher McCooey | Electron and Nuclei in Nanowires | Dr. Tchavdar Todorov | Dr. Daniel Dundas |
| Javier Fernández Troncoso |
Thermal conductivity of PbTe from computer simulation |
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| Sam Shepherd |
Machine Learning for Aqueous Interfaces |
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| Orla Surgeoner |
Quantum Interactions in Nanostructures |
Dr. Tchavdar Todorov | Dr. Myrta Gruening |
Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
|
Name of Student |
PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title |
University of Glasgow Supervisor |
Queen's University Belfast Supervisor |
| Mahmoud Ahtaiba | Integrated quantum photonic sensors and circuits | Prof Robert Hadfield | Dr Amit Kumar |
|
Hybrid Integrated Silicon Photonic Transceiver |
Prof John Marsh, Dr. Lianping Hou, Dr. Hadi Heidari | Dr. Bob Pollard | |
|
Plasmonic Antennas for Extreme Light Concentration and Harvesting |
Prof Marc Sorel | Dr Fumin Huang | |
| Sia Andersson | Hybrid optical components for advanced quantum systems | Prof John Marsh | Prof Robert Bowman |
| Nanoscale Photo-conductivity in Ferroelectrics | Dr Amit Kumar | ||
|
Plasmonic properties of silver fractal nanostructures |
Dr. Donald Maclaren | Dr Fumin Huang | |
| Anna Casey | Measuring THz radiation | Dr. Matteo Clerici | |
|
Spintronic Behaviour in Conducting Domain Walls |
Dr. Ian Maclaren | Prof Marty Gregg | |
| Lauren Connell |
Reprogrammable Micromagnetic Transport |
Prof Marc Sorel |
Dr. Solveig Felton |
|
Exploring the Role of Magnetostriction in Permalloy Multilayers using Transmission Electron Microscopy |
Prof Stephen McVitie | Prof Robert Bowman | |
| Emma Crothers | |||
|
Ab Initio Design of Plasmonic Materials |
Dr. Lorenzo Stella , Dr. Myrta Grūning | ||
| John Fullerton | Ultra-Advanced Characterisation Studies of Three-Dimensional Spintronic Nanocircuits | Dr. Amalio Fernandez-Pacheco | |
| Hristo Gergov |
Exploring 3D Nanopatterned Structures Fabricated by Plasma FIB |
Prof Stephen McVitie | Dr. Solveig Felton |
| Christopher Gough |
Heterogeneous integration of III-V lasers to optical waveguides |
Prof Marc Sorel | Prof Robert Bowman |
|
Novel Nanophotonic Devices: From Concepts to Applications |
Prof Robert Hadfield | ||
|
GaN blue lasers for photonic integration |
Prof Anthony Kelly | Prof Robert Bowman | |
| Measuring photon pairs | Dr. Matteo Clerici | ||
|
Molecule Based Magnets |
Dr. Solveig Felton | ||
|
Thermal Behaviour of Nanostructured Magnetic Materials |
Prof Stephen McVitie | Dr. Solveig Felton | |
| Characterisation of integrated photonic chips | Prof Marc Sorel | ||
|
Quantum Dot Photonic Crystal Surface Emitting Laser |
Prof Richard Hogg, Dr. David Childs | Dr. Bob Pollard | |
| Christopher Lambert |
High thermal stability plasmonic materials – beyond noble metals – for HAMR antennae |
Dr. Donald Maclaren | Prof Robert Bowman |
| Will Lee | |||
|
Novel Materials Synthesis for HAMR Plasmonics |
Prof Robert Hadfield | Prof Robert Bowman | |
| Hugh Littlehailes | Intermetallic plasmonic antennas | Dr. Donald Maclaren | Dr Fumin Huang |
| Development of 25Gbit/s distributed feedback (DFB) laser devices | Prof Anthony Kelly | Prof Marty Gregg | |
|
Development of a multispectral laser scanner in silicon photonics |
Prof Marc Sorel | Dr Amit Kumar | |
| Making and characterising atomic scale 1D P-N junctions for nanoscale logic gates | Dr. Ian Maclaren | Prof Marty Gregg | |
|
Structure and Ferroic Ordering at Conducting Domain Walls |
Prof Marc Sorel | ||
|
Integration of Novel Materials for Improved HAMR 3.0 ADC and Reliability |
Marcus Mooney, Seagate | Prof Robert Bowman | |
| Advanced epitaxial solutions for compound semiconductor component integration | Prof Marc Sorel | Prof Robert Bowman | |
| Advanced materials for photonic integration | Prof Marc Sorel | Prof Robert Bowman | |
|
Bringing Ab-Initio Design Into the Lab: Temperature Dependence of Plasmonic Response |
Dr. Lorenzo Stella , Dr. Myrta Grūning | ||
| Thomas O'Connor | Boron containing alloys of III-Nitride semiconductors for Ultraviolet emission |
Dr. Stefan Schulz Tyndall National Institute, UCC |
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Exploring domain cross-talk and cycling effects in polycrystalline ferroics |
Dr. Damien McGrouther | Dr. Miryam Arredondo-Arechavala | |
| Nicola Parry | |||
| Serene Pauly | |||
| High power single mode Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) | Prof Richard Hogg, Dr. Evgeny Zibik Zürich | ||
| Peter Read | Next Generation Laser Development | Prof Anthony Kelly | |
|
Manipulation and Exploitation of the Dynamic Processes of Skyrmions |
Dr. Damien McGrouther,Prof Stephen McVitie | ||
|
Novel Materials Synthesis for HAMR Plasmonics |
Prof Robert Hadfield | Prof Robert Bowman | |
|
Integrated Photonic Devices for Smart Gas Sensors |
Prof Marc Sorel | ||
| The effect high temperatures have on plasmonic functionality | Dr. Donald Maclaren | ||
| Nicholas Stephen |
Investigating GaAs metamorphic lasers |
Dr Emanuule Pelucchi Tyndall National Institute, UCC | Dr Miryam Arredondo-Arechavala |
|
Mapping Plasmonic Excitations of Patterned TiN Nano-elements in the Scanning-transmission Electron Microscope |
Dr. Donald Maclaren | Prof Robert Bowman |
Centre for Plasma Physics
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musharei Abdullal A Alanazi |
Particles produced plasma |
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| Suhail Albakheet |
Studies in sub-lethal effects of highly pulsed ion beams |
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| Asmaa Mohammad S Ali |
Respiratory Motion Management during radiation therapy |
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| Matthew Charlwood |
Photo-ionised Plasmas in the Laboratory |
Prof. David Riley |
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| Conor Fagan |
Proton Radiography Investigations of Laser-Plasma Interaction Dynamics in High-Intensity Regimes |
Dr. Colin Brown (AWE) |
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| Colm Fitzpatrick |
Applications of High Harmonics Generated from Intense Laser-Plasma Interactions |
Dr Brendan Dromey | Dr Mark Yeung |
| Benjamin Greenwood |
Compact, laser-driven ion beamlines for interdisciplinary applications |
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| Fayza Adel Hanafy Hassan |
Spectroscopic investigation of cold technological plasmas |
Dr. Thomas Field | Prof. David Riley |
| Chloe Ho |
Compact, high brightness neutron beamline using intense lasers |
Dr. Satyabrata Kar | Prof. Marco Borghesi, Dr. Rob Clarke(CLF) |
| Cormac Hyland | XUV Probing of Warm Dense Aluminium | Prof. David Riley | |
| Jonathan Kennedy | Ultrabright Sources of Attosecond Pulses | Dr Mark Yeung | |
|
Laboratory Astrophysics using High Repetition Rate Lasers |
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| Sinéad A. Mannion |
Validation of Atmospheric-Pressure Plasma Jets using Finite Element Analysis |
Dr. Thomas Field | Prof. David Riley |
| Conor McAnespie |
The applications of laser-driven particle accelerators for ultra-high dose-rate radiotherapy |
Dr. Gianluca Sarri | Dr Stephen McMahon |
| Sean McCallum |
Calorimetry techniques for absolute dosimetry of laser-driven ion beams |
Prof. Marco Borghesi | Dr. Francesco Romano (NPL/INFN), Dr. Anna Subiel (NPL) |
| Orla McCusker |
Laser-driven acceleration and control of high energy ion beams |
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| Carla McDonnell |
Characterising an atmospheric pressure helium plasma jet |
Prof. David Riley | Dr. Thomas Field |
| Jyotirup Sarma |
Ion Acceleration and Related Phenomena in Laser Plasma Interaction |
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| Rachel E. Smith |
Ultrafast Lensless Imaging in the Extreme-Ultraviolet |
Dr Mark Yeung | Dr Brendan Dromey |
Centre for Nanostructured Media
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jesi Maguire |
Novel Functional Behaviour in Nanoscale Ferroelectrics |
Prof. Marty Gregg | Dr. Raymond McQuaid |
| Conor McCluskey |
Investigation of topological defects in ferroelectrics |
Dr. Raymond McQuaid | |
| Tamsin O' Reilly |
Exploring domain cross-talk and cycling effects in polycrystalline ferroics |
Dr Miryam Arredondo-Arechavala | Dr Damien McGrouther |
|
Ferroelastic Domain Dynamics by In-Situ Techniques |
Dr Miryam Arredondo-Arechavala | Prof. Marty Gregg | |
|
Ferroelectric domain wall memristors as artificial synapses |
Prof. Marty Gregg | Dr. Amit Kumar |
Centre for Theoretical Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheron Blair |
Universal resources for quantum information processing over continuous variables |
Dr Alessandro Ferraro | Prof. Mauro Paternostro |
| Jack Cassidy |
Many-body Theory of Positron Interactions with Molecules |
Dr. Dermot Green | Dr. Myrta Grüning |
| Andrew Conroy |
Calculation of electron-impact excitation cross-sections for neutral iron-peak species |
Dr. Catherine Ramsbottom | Prof. Francis Keenan |
| Jarod Gouldie |
Relativistic Dirac R-matrix photoionisation calculations through to their implementation with stellar opacity |
Dr Connor Balance | Dr Stuart Sim |
| Jaroslav Hofierka |
Many-Body Theory of Positron Interactions |
Dr. Myrta Grüning | |
| Lynda Hutcheson |
Ultrafast Spectroscopy of Relativistic Processes |
Dr. Andrew Brown | Prof. Hugo van der Hart |
| Heather Leitch |
Heat Transport in Quantum Devices |
Dr Gabriele De Chiara | |
| Peter McConnell |
Non- Linear gates enabling Universal Quantum Computation with continuous variables |
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| Luke Roantree |
Attosecond Spin-Orbit Spectroscopy |
Dr. Andrew Brown | Prof. Hugo van der Hart |
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Ultracold Quantum Thermo-machines |
Prof. Mauro Paternostro | Dr Gabriele De Chiara |
Mathematical Science Research Centre
| Name of Student | PhD Research Theme or PhD Thesis Title | Principal Supervisor | Secondary Supervisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gareth Boreland |
Information theoretic parameters for graphs and operator systems |
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| Melanie Campell |
Everything Changes Over Time: Transforming Joint Modelling Methodology |
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| Karys Dickson |
Accretive Operators |
Dr. Petr Siegl | |
| Dulan Dias |
Artificial Intelligence as a Health Intervention for Managing Patient Discharge Decision Processes |
Prof Adele Marshall | Dr Aleksandar Novakovic |
| Ethan Hawthorne |
Preservers on Operator Systems |
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| Jonathan Henderson |
Point Pattern Analysis of Retinal Ganglion Cell loss in Glaucoma |
Dr Andrea Munaro | |
| Nathan Kirk |
Uniform Distribution in Compact Topological Groups with Application to Quasi-Monte Carlo Integration |
Dr Florian Pausinger | Dr Ying-Fen Lin |
| Tasha Montgomery |
Algebraic K-theory of projective spaces associated with strongly graded rings. |
Prof Ivan Todorov | |
| Donal O’Cofaigh |
Linear Preservers |
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| Michael Rosbotham |
Cohomological Dimensions for C*-algebras |
Dr Martin Mathieu | Dr Gabriele De Chiara |
| Niall Taggart |
Unitary Homotopy Calculus |
Dr. David Barnes | |
| Emel Yavuz |
Equivariant Orthogonal Calculus |
Dr. David Barnes | Dr. Lisa McFetridge |