High Power Laser Development

About the Project

About the PhD Project

Are you passionate about developing novel research and keen to shape the future of energy transfer technologies in areas such as, laser interactions, plasma physics, materials science and engineering? We are recruiting a motivated PhD candidate to undertake an exciting project within the EPSRC Energy Transfer Technologies Doctoral Training Hub. As a student of the Hub, you will receive an enhanced stipend of £25,805 per year, plus additional funds of £7,000 a year for travel, conferences and research equipment. This project is co-funded by QinetiQ.

The studentship will focus on creating high-energy, high repetition-rate lasers. You will work with optical fibre lasers and combine the output of these systems using polarisation combination to create one output beam. The aim is to harness the advantages of chirped pulsed amplifier Yb lasers over other solid-state systems by using a combination of techniques to increase the energy output. This performance is not possible with the current systems, and so this project involves working at the forefront of laser technology to make a difference.

The main objectives of this project are:

• Investigation of current systems, and how we can improve the performance levels to make a difference in the field.
• Research into optical fibre lasers and how we can combine the output to create one beam using polarisation.
• Development of innovative systems and methods at the forefront of laser technologies.

The Hub

The Doctoral Hub specialises in developing research and training the next generation of leaders in energy transfer technologies for defence and related sectors. The successful candidate will be based at the University of Liverpool, and throughout their PhD will benefit from the support and expertise of our diverse academic community, a community of students working towards similar goals, as well as our specialist industrial network.

Please check the hub website for further details: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/energy-transfer-skills-training-hub

Why Join Us?

• Industrial Collaboration: Each PhD student within the Hub is partnered with an industry collaborator, providing placement opportunities to work and train alongside industry experts
• Comprehensive Training: The Hub offers a blend of academic and industrial training, preparing you for diverse career pathways in research or industry
• Cohort Experience: Build your research network through inclusion in a vibrant cohort of PhD students that conduct research with academic leaders across leading UK institutions. Engage in online and face-to-face activities, including cohort-building events and collaborative learning exercises
• Funding: A generous fully funded studentship (no fees and a monthly personal payment) with additional support for conferences, travel, training, consumables and extended placement with industry collaborators.

Key Details

• Host Institution: University of Liverpool
• Industry Partner: QinetiQ
• PhD Duration: 4 years
• Start Date: 1st October 2026 or as soon as possible after
• Enhanced stipend of £25,805

The industrial partner, QinetiQ, is a major international company that develops innovative solutions to current and future challenges in defence and security. The partner will provide PhD supervision, a placement and be part of the larger Hub community benefiting in the diverse academic and industrial network offered by the Hub.

Eligibility

PhD Candidates must hold a minimum of an upper Second-Class UK Honours degree or international equivalent in physics or a relevant engineering discipline. Candidates must be UK Nationals and be willing to apply for and able to obtain Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this PhD project before you apply. For further information, contact Dr. Laura Corner laura.corner@liverpool.ac.uk

How to apply

How to apply for a PhD | Postgraduate research | University of Liverpool

Funding Notes

The generous funding package includes full tuition fees and an enhanced stipend of £24,780 per annum. Additional support is available for conference attendance, specialised training, travel to industrial partners, and extended placements with industry collaborators. This studentship is open to UK Nationals and is available for home students only.