Ultrafast Magnetisation Dynamics for Future Data Storage

About the Project

Project Description:

The College of Business, Technology and Engineering draws on talents, expertise and facilities across Sheffield Hallam University. The vision is to be the leading provider of applied research excellence delivering business, materials, computing, science and engineering innovations meeting the development needs of industry.

This project is part of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship scheme, in which the successful applicant will undertake certain teaching duties associated with the student experience, in addition to working towards a PhD qualification. They will contribute up to 180 hours of support for research or teaching related activity per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship and there is no additional payment.

PhD Research Topic:

How can we use light to switch magnetisation in a fraction of a billionth of a second? And how can computational physics help turn this into a practical route toward future data-storage technologies?

This fully funded PhD offers the chance to work at the cutting edge of computational magnetism, ultrafast magnetisation dynamics, and optical control of materials. You will develop new theoretical and computational models to understand how ferromagnetic materials can be switched efficiently using magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and related ultrafast processes on picosecond timescales.

This is an exciting and timely area of research. Ultrafast magnetic switching is attracting growing interest because it could open new routes to faster, more energy-efficient, and higher-density information technologies. At the same time, key physical mechanisms remain poorly understood. This PhD will give you the opportunity to help answer those questions and shape an emerging field with both fundamental scientific importance and strong technological relevance.

As the successful candidate, you will build and apply computational models of laser-driven magnetisation dynamics, explore how material properties influence switching behaviour, run simulations, analyse results, and work closely with collaborators to compare theory with experiment. Your research will not remain purely abstract: the models you develop will be tested against measurements in real materials through collaboration with leading experimental groups.

The project brings together a strong and distinctive research environment across Sheffield Hallam University, the University of York, Radboud University, and the University of Manchester. You will benefit from access to the national HIMPS facility for magnetic thin-film growth, expertise in computational magnetism and theory, state-of-the-art ultrafast laser experiments, and advanced magnetic characterisation. This combination gives you a rare opportunity to work at the interface of theory, computation, experiment, and application.

A major strength of the project is its link with Seagate Technology, a global leader in magnetic data storage. This gives the PhD an important industrial dimension and connects your work to real challenges in next-generation storage technologies. For students who want their research to combine scientific depth with practical relevance, this is a particularly strong opportunity.

During the PhD, you will develop advanced skills in computational physics, scientific programming, numerical modelling, magnetism, ultrafast dynamics, data analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration. You will also gain experience presenting research, working across theory and experiment, and contributing to a project with clear potential for high-impact outcomes. In addition, you will receive dedicated training in high-performance computing and will have access to advanced computational facilities, including, where appropriate, UK national supercomputing resources.

Graduates from this area go on to careers in advanced materials research, data‑storage and photonics industries, computational modelling, high‑performance computing, and academic research, giving you strong prospects in both industry and academia.

We welcome applications from strong candidates with backgrounds in physics, materials science, computational science, photonics, or related disciplines. This project would particularly suit students with an interest in modelling, simulation, magnetism, optics, or advanced materials.

For an informal discussion about the project, please contact Dr Sergiu Ruta (Sergiu.ruta@shu.ac.uk).

Eligibility

Applicants should hold at least a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in Physics, computing, material science or a related discipline.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals from groups underrepresented in postgraduate research, including but not limited to women, LGBTQ+, and minoritised ethnic groups.

Information for international applicants

English language requirements of IELTS 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in all test areas (or equivalent) are mandatory if English is not your first language. Qualifications should have been taken within the last two years.

How to apply

To apply for this GTA scholarship, please use our online application form.

You must ensure that you upload:

1. A personal statement (up to 2 pages maximum) detailing your interest in the project and how your experience in academia, industry, research or social activities makes you the best candidate (Please upload this in place of a proposal). We’re looking for evidence of:
   • motivation and curiosity for postgraduate research
   • analytical and technical expertise related to the research proposal
   • ability to communicate clearly
   • planning and organisational skills
   • ability to work independently and collaborate with others
   • commitment to integrity and responsible research
   • resilience to setbacks and challenges
   • where you might contribute to teaching
2. Two letters of reference, or details of two referees, at least one from an academic and both dated within the last 2 years
3. Copy of your highest degree certificate
4. Non-UK applicants must submit IELTS results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years and a copy of their passport

If you are applying for multiple GTA projects, please clearly list them all in your application. You will need to submit a tailored personal statement for each project.

Application deadline: 07 May 2026

Start date: October 2026

Interviews: TBC

Funding Notes

The GTA scholarship is for 3.5 years of full-time study and provides tuition fees at both the UK (home) and international level plus a maintenance bursary in line with guidance from UK Research and Innovation and the Living Wage Foundation (for illustrative purposes, the Sheffield Hallam University bursary for 25/26 is £22152). GTA scholarships are open to both UK (home) and international applicants.