Application of Plastic Electronic Materials

Plastic electronics encompasses the materials science, chemistry and physics of molecular electronic materials and the application of such materials to displays, lighting, flexible thin film electronics, solar energy conversion, sensors, communications, smart textiles and biomedicine.

Graduate destinations

Students will be well trained in all aspects of physics, engineering, material science with a focus on semiconducting materials and optoelectronics.

This training will provide a springboard for a career in academia and industrial research organisations and the financial sector.

The programme was established to train PhD students in the area of plastic electronics. The field is a growth area, with the emerging industries in organic photovoltaics and lighting having enormous potential in the context of environmentally friendly low-carbon electricity and energy efficiency. The subject is inherently interdisciplinary, encompassing basic physics, optoelectronics, physical and materials chemistry, device engineering and modelling, as well as the design, synthesis and processing of molecular electronic materials.

To train PhD students successfully across these fields, the CDT academic cohort comprises over 30 academics, from the Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, the University of Oxford and Queen Mary University of London.

Students accepted into the CDT program will register for their first year with Imperial College London, who will award an MRes degree upon successful completion of a course that includes both formally taught elements and a nine-month research project.

For acceptance into the course based on an Oxford-led project, the student will spend this nine-month project with the indicated supervisors at the University of Oxford.

Subject to successful completion of the MRes, the student will then be enrolled for a DPhil (PhD) program at the University of Oxford for a further three years, during which they will carry out the research project chosen at admissions point. Successful completion of this part of the CDT program will result in the award of a DPhil (PhD) degree in either physics, materials or engineering science from the University of Oxford.

The CDT website will list projects available for the coming academic year by the preceding January. Please note that entry into the University of Oxford's graduate programme for DPhil studies for years two to four of the programme requires the choice of a research project led by an Oxford supervisor at the point of admission into the CDT programme.

Decisions on admissions into the programme are made by a CDT team involving academics from both Imperial College and the University of Oxford.

To apply for the Plastic Electronics CDT programme (MRes+PhD; 4 years), you need to make an application for "Postgraduate Masters - to be Followed by Research" in the Physics Department. Please use the course code F3U8B. Prospective students are encouraged to identify project(s) that they are interested in from the current list of available projects, and to contact the primary supervisor directly before submitting an application.

• To apply for a postgraduate research programme (e.g. a PhD) please complete our postgraduate research application form. Applications are only accepted online.
• You are strongly advised to contact a potential supervisor before making a formal application. You may wish to provide the supervisor with a copy of your Curriculum Vitae and indicate what your proposed topic of study is, the potential start date and how you propose to fund the project.
• You can submit one application form only. Each application form will allow you to choose up to two programme to apply to; these will be processed according to your stated preference.
• You will be asked to register the name and contact details of two academic referees. 
• It will greatly enhance the processing of your application if you are able to submit scanned copies of your educational certificates and transcripts at the same time as your application.
• If you are completing a Staff Research application, you will need to ensure you submit a scanned copy of your contract with Imperial at the same time as your application. 

Supporting Statement

• No more than 1 page long (11-12 point text size)
• At the beginning, make it clear why you are interested in the Plastic Electronics Course, and what your relevant experience is
• Clearly state what research areas/projects you are most interested in
• Clearly provide a summary of relevant previous research project(s) that you have undertaken

CV (Curriculum Vitae)

• Note that the word "resumé" is not used in the UK
• no more than 2 pages long
• do not include: date of birth/age, marital status, gender, height, weight, nationality... 
• do include: academic qualifications and degree classification/grade (final and predicted); information about previous research project(s) and supervisors; information about any time spent in industry; experience with relevant analytical/synthetic techniques, programming, etc.

Interviews

Interviews are expected to run between February and May; if you are selected for interview you will be contacted by email. Each MRes and CDT studentship is aligned with a particular project. If you have not been selected for a particular project your application has been unsuccessful. Around 8 projects are available each year for fully-funded CDT studentships; other projects are available for MRes or self-funded CDT students. Find out more about funding.

Both the MRes and the CDT courses start at the beginning of October each year; it is not possible to start at any other time.

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