Use and development of time-resolved direct electron detectors for imaging and spectroscopy of functional materials

About the Project

Start date: 01/10/2026

Are you interested in materials physics, data science, or computational physics? Could a PhD working with next-generation cutting edge detectors for electron microscopy be for you? If so, please read on!

Over the past decade, new electron detectors have revolutionised transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Such detectors offer higher speed and sensitivity with noise-less readout. As a result, they have enabled major advances in electron microscopy driving progress across many areas of materials science and structural biology.

The Glasgow Materials & Condensed Matter Physics group is soon to commission a world-leading Iliad scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), equipped with one of the first next-generation direct electron detectors, the Merlin T4. The Merlin T4 offers orders of magnitude higher speed and even higher sensitivity over existing direct electron detectors. The combination of the Merlin T4 with the advanced capabilities of the Iliad STEM, provides a unique platform for developing new experimental approaches for materials science studies.

In this project you will be trained to use our world-class electron microscopes and materials characterisation tools. Specifically, you will then pioneer the utilisation of the new microscope, enabling and applying its unique capabilities for the study of magnetic materials including nanostructures. Magnetic materials play a central role in proposed future low-power computing, neuromorphic architectures, and quantum technologies, making a detailed understanding of the magnetic textures and dynamics increasingly important.

Within this project we envisage new research avenues that we are keen to advance, notably:

• time-resolved Lorentz TEM imaging to probe magnetic dynamics, including magnons;
• quantitative imaging of complex topological spin textures such as skyrmions.

While centred on these core themes, the exact direction of the project is expected to evolve over time, giving the successful candidate opportunities to develop techniques and research questions in line with emerging results and analysis.

It should be noted that applicants are sought with a strong interest in experimental physics, instrumentation and data analysis. Furthermore, due to the nature of the project, this would ideally suit a candidate with strong coding skills as the detector generates large datasets requiring sophisticated processing and efficient data handing.

Whilst noting the above, candidates from a broad physics background with an interest in developing their computational skills are encouraged to apply.

See https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/research/groups/mcmp/ for further details.

How to Apply: Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply: http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/.