Intelligent Nanofabrication for Nanophotonics

About the Project

Supervisory Team: Prof Kevin MacDonald, Dr Ben Mills and Prof Nikolay Zheludev

Focused ion beam (FIB) milling is a key enabling technology in physical sciences research and industrial micro/nanotech manufacturing. This project will develop and apply deep learning techniques to accelerate and improve FIB nanofabrication processes for advanced photonic materials, in turn enhancing their optical performance and energy efficiency.

FIB milling is a direct-write fabrication technique that can etch features with nanometric resolution into almost any material. It is a vital rapid-prototyping, device fabrication and characterization tool in fundamental and applied micro/nano-science/engineering research.

In this project, we aim to improve the accuracy, precision, uniformity, and reproducibility of FIB milling processes for photonic nanostructures through the application of machine learning. We have recently shown that a neural network can accurately predict the outcome of a milling process – specifically the appearance of structures etched into a thin gold film. This project will explore, develop and demonstrate ways in which networks can accrue broader ‘understanding’ of the complex nonlinear relationships among material, sample design and system parameters that affect process outcomes, to expedite or negate time consuming trial-and-error testing; and to optimize (rather than just simulate) milling processes for complex photonic nanostructures.

Our research group is a multinational team of students, postdoctoral and academic staff working together on various aspects of cutting-edge nanophotonics research. We explore, develop and demonstrate the physics and technology of novel materials light-matter interaction phenomena at sub-wavelength scales, with wide-ranging applications potential e.g. in optical metrology, sensing, super-resolution imaging, data processing, and advanced manufacturing.

Our work is supported by research grants (totalling ~£40M over the next 5 years) from the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the European Research Council and the Royal Society.

The School of Optoelectronics (ORC), is a world-leading photonics research organization. With over 90 state-of-the-art laboratories and a diverse community of around 200 researchers working in all areas of optics and photonics, it provides an outstanding interdisciplinary environment for postgraduate students.

Our extensive training programme provides knowledge and skills through photonics lectures, training for report writing, project management, time management, presentation skills and full safety training for your research area – all essential life skills for the next step in your career. For further information see our ORC postgraduate study pages.

Within this project, you will have opportunity to develop advanced skills in nanofabrication, the application of machine learning and AI, electron and optical microscopy, computational electromagnetic modelling, and experimental photonics. Our students typically publish several papers in leading academic journals and present their work at a number of major international conferences, as their research progresses.

Entry requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) in physics, materials science/engineering or another discipline relevant to the development, study, and/or application of nanostructured materials.

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

How to apply

Apply now

• programme type: research
• academic year: 2026/27
• if you will be full time or part time
• faculty: Engineering and Physical Sciences
• search for programme PhD ORC (7097)
• please add the name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application.

Applications should include:

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