Graphene-based silicon photonic photodetectors for mid-infrared wavelengths

About the Project

Supervisory Team: Dr Milos Nedeljkovic and Professor Callum Littlejohns

This project’s aim is to explore the integration of graphene with Silicon Photonic circuits to create fast and sensitive photodetectors for the mid-infrared (mid-IR) region, a key wavelength range for detecting gases and molecules.

You'll be responsible for designing, fabricating, and testing these new devices. The resulting detectors will enable powerful systems miniaturised onto silicon chips for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring, medical diagnosis, food quality monitoring, and free-space optical communications. This is an excellent opportunity to join a vibrant and collaborative research community.

You'll join the Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), one of the world’s leading photonics research centres, and home to nearly 70 advanced laboratories and one of the best academic cleanroom complexes in Europe. You'll also join the Silicon Photonics Group and you'll work closely with the Cornerstone team, who deliver a Silicon Photonics prototyping service that helps drive academic and industrial innovation in the UK and beyond.

The project will benefit from collaboration with other partners of the EU’s PIXEurope initiative, including the University of Cambridge. Throughout the project, you will have the chance to receive hands-on training in photonic design and simulation, cleanroom fabrication, and optoelectronic device characterisation. This project would suit applicants with a background in physics, photonics, or electronic engineering, who are motivated to develop their skills in advanced photonic device research and fabrication.

Entry requirements

You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in one of the following:

• physics
• photonics
• electronic engineering

Fees and funding

Full scholarships include tuition fees, a stipend at the UKRI rate plus 10% ORC enhancement tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years (totalling £22,858 for 2025/26, rising annually) and a budget of £4200 for things like conference travel.

UK, EU and Horizon Europe students are eligible for scholarships. CSC students are eligible for fee waivers. Funding for other international applicants is very limited and highly competitive. Overseas students who have secured or are seeking external funding are welcome to apply.

For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.

Additionally, this project will have access to the following project's resources and project partners:

• PIXEurope (EU initiative)
• C-PIC (EPSRC IKC)
• MISSION (EPSRC Programme Grant)

How to apply

Apply now

You need to:

• choose programme type (Research), 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
• select Full time or Part time
• search for programme PhD ORC (7097)
• add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application

Applications should include:

• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts and certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)