About the Project
A fully funded PhD opportunity to participate in the world-leading research undertaken by the EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award at the University of Sheffield.
Supervised by Prof David Lidzey and Prof Dimitry Krizhanovskii.
The University of Sheffield is one of the leading Russell Group universities in the UK. We carry out cutting-edge research with strong links to industry. When you enrol to do a PhD with us, you will be working with world-leading academics and have access to top of the range facilities. As a PhD student you will have the opportunity to gain skills not only to conduct research, but also to take your career to the next level, whether you want to stay in academia, go into industry or the public sector, or set up your own company. You will have access to a range of training and support services to help you excel in your studies and beyond.
Project Description
Next-generation electronics are moving away from rigid silicon chips toward flexible, lightweight materials that can integrate into clothing or adhere directly to human skin. This PhD project focuses on developing novel ultra-thin polymer fibres to power future technologies, such as miniature lasers and flexible wearable technologies, (as can be used in disposable light-emitting tattoos).
At the heart of this research is a technique called electrospinning, which uses high-voltage electric fields to draw liquid polymer solutions into continuous strands thousands of times thinner than a human hair. Working closely with Sheffield-based equipment manufacturer Ossila Ltd, this project will develop and refine an advanced electrospinning system capable of producing complex composite fibres. By pumping different liquid materials simultaneously through nested nozzles, the system creates concentric core-shell fibres that mirror the structure of microscopic optical cables, where an inner light-emitting polymer core is encapsulated within a protective outer shell. By carefully engineering these material combinations, light can be trapped and guided through the fibres to build flexible microscopic lasers and OLED light sources.
Throughout the project, the student will fabricate these microscopic fibre meshes and systematically characterize their structure, molecular alignment, and surface features using advanced microscopy and X-ray techniques. Building on these measurements, the student will design core-shell architectures to guide light efficiently and optimize energy or charge transfer, between molecular components ultimately assembling the fibre networks into paper-thin, stretchable prototype devices. These flexible devices hold significant potential for skin-conformal health monitors, environmental sensors, and OLED light-emitting displays.
A central feature of this studentship is a six-month industrial secondment within Ossila’s research and development team based in Sheffield. During this placement, the student will bridge the gap between academic research and commercial product design. By providing detailed feedback on how experimental materials behave during production, the student will directly contribute to developing Ossila's commercial hardware, such as improving environmental control systems for substrate temperature and humidity.
Overall, this interdisciplinary project offers multi-level training spanning physics, materials science and engineering. The successful applicant will gain hands-on expertise in advanced material synthesis, optical testing, device fabrication, and commercial equipment development, building a skill set that is tailored for industrial development or academic research.
How to apply
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact the project supervisors to discuss your interest in and suitability for the project prior to submitting your application.
Please refer to the EPSRC DLA webpage for detailed information about the EPSRC DLA and how to apply.
Applicants must ensure that they use the correct application form linked to the EPSRC DLA webpage and must submit an application for October 2027 entry. The form is unique to the EPSRC DLA. It contains the list of advertised projects from which to select, and three questions specific to the DLA.
The application deadline is 17:00 GMT 13 January 2027.
The majority of our DLA studentships will be allocated to candidates who qualify for Home fee status, in accordance with EPSRC funding regulations which place strict limits on international recruitment.
Funding Notes
The award will fund the full tuition fee and a maintenance stipend at the UKRI rate (currently £21,805 per annum) for 4 years, as well as a research grant to support costs associated with the project.
