Physics, Ph.D.

COURSE OVERVIEW

You will undertake a physics research project over two years (MPhil) or three years (PhD), supported by our globally esteemed researchers.

The project will be shaped by your participation in research activities such as seminars, workshops, laboratory activity and fieldwork, as well as your involvement in one of our established research groups. Swansea is a research-led University and physics makes a significant contribution, meaning you will benefit from the considerable experience and skills of our expert staff.

We have three main research groups.

The Atomic, Molecular and Quantum Physics Group (AMQP) is supported by grants from EPSRC, the EU, The Royal Society, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and various industrial and government sources.

The areas of research are:

• Analytical laser spectroscopy,
• Ultrafast Dynamics, Imaging and Microscopy, Optomechanics
• Antihydrogen, positronium and positrons
• Cold atom physics
• Nano-scale physics and the life sciences

The Applied Physics and Materials (APM) Group is supported by grants from the European Union, Welsh Government, National Science Foundation, Australian Research Council, Welsh European Funding Office, and EPSRC.

The areas of research include:

• Biophotonics: Nano- and micro-structured materials, biomimetics, analyte sensing and light-tissue interaction
• Nanomedicine
• Sustainable Advanced Materials: next-generation semiconductors, bioelectronic materials and devices, optoelectronics including photodetection, solar energy conversion, advanced electro-optics and transport physics of disordered solids

The Particle Physics and Cosmology Theory (PPCT) Group is one of the five largest particle physics groups in the UK. It is supported mainly by STFC, but also has grants from EPSRC, the EU, the Royal Society and the Leverhulme Trust.

The areas of research include:

• Amplitudes in gauge and supergravity theories
• Hot and Dense matter, High-performance computing
• Gauge/string duality, Higher spin holography, Integrability, Large-N gauge theories, supersymmetry and duality
• Holography and lattice theories in physics beyond the Standard Model
• Quantum fields in curved spacetime and theoretical cosmology

Career Opportunities

Having a PhD demonstrates that graduates can work effectively in a team, formulate, explore and communicate complex ideas and manage advanced tasks. Jobs in academia (eg postdoctoral research, lecturing), education, government, management, the public or private sector are possible. Examples include administrators, counsellors, marketing specialists, scientific consultants, scientists, and, researchers.

The Postgraduate Research Office Skills Development Team offer support and a training framework for example in creating a researcher profile based upon publications and setting up your own business. The Swansea Employability Academy assists students in future career opportunities, improving CVs, job applications and interview skills.