Thanks for clicking on this link, happy to hear that you are interested in joining our group. There are various ways of joining our group and a non-exhaustive list beyond any job that is advertised on the University Jobs page can be found below. If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.
For Undergraduate Summer/Winter/Anytime Projects (potentially also remotely) FILLED FOR SUMMER 2024
We have hosted several undergraduate students to conduct small, contained projects in our group, and will continue to offer such opportunities. Sometimes we advertise specific projects below and you can always drop us an email stating your general interest. Past topics included improving one of our measurement setups, coding, conducting a literature review, analysing existing datasets, simulating optical properties of organic solar cells, calculating the environmental footprint of organic solar cells, and carrying out a defined series of experiments. All projects are designed with the goal of creating a win-win, and you can be sure that we have genuine interest in a successful project. This way you will have the best (learning) experience. We offer on-site and remote projects, with remote projects typically focusing on simulations.
We strongly encourage applications from students belonging to under-represented groups. In terms of funding, MPLS/EPSRC has some Vacation Bursaries for the summer and for Oxford students, sometimes Colleges have summer project funding, and there is the Rank Prize Undergrad Vacation Grant. We still need to figure out how this would work for remote undergraduate projects, but this should not stop you from asking. For students from the EU, as far as we are aware, we now cannot host Erasmus+ students, which we have done successfully in the past, any more, but some Universities have exchange schemes that help.
Depending on the particular topic, the requirements for the candidate can range from e.g. experience with python, FreeCAD, electronics and open source hardware to a solid understanding of optics or semiconductor physics. However, not all projects require previous experience or special skills. We do want someone who has a keen interest in renewable energies and more than anything, we are looking for an enthusiastic person willing to learn and work independently.
When you reach out to us, briefly introduce yourself and tell us why you would like to work with us. Please also send along a CV as this will help us to see which projects are suitable. We will then arrange a call to discuss project and funding options.
For a Master Project
While the Department of Physics in Oxford does not offer a stand-alone Master course in experimental physics, sometimes students spend parts of their Master project in Oxford while being enrolled (and eventually graduating) at another University in the UK or elsewhere. If you are interested in such a project, please speak to your Master project supervisor first and ask them to contact us so we can see whether we can make it work. Exchange is an essential part of research and strongly encouraged.
As PhD (or DPhil, as it is called here) Student
The application process for DPhil places is very formal and structured here in Oxford. The intake of new DPhil students is always in October of a year and the application process starts roughly 10-12 months before that. Our topics and the details of the application process, including specific deadlines can be found on a Central Physics Page. The University has information on fees and funding opportunities on its own pages. Note: applications can only be received through the official university application pages, not by email.
Through a Fellowship
Many fellowships, in particular postdoctoral fellowships, are advertised that require an academic host. These schemes are all very competitive, so a well prepared proposal is essential, and this usually takes some time... Our excellent Research Facilitation Team maintains a webpage that lists many of the fellowship options, including timelines and further information, however not all. Many countries have their own fellowship programmes that allow postdoctoral researchers to spent time abroad. For example, there is the DFG Walter Benjamin Fellowship in Germany that allow going abroad to e.g. join our team. With the UK signing up to EU Horizon Europe, we are again host postdoctoral fellowships via the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which was up in the air for a bit due to Brexit...
As Visiting Researcher
Oxford is a great place for a sabbatical, but even shorter research stays are worthwhile in our opinion and we have hosted researchers for a few months to a year in the past. Key to a successful visit in our lab is matching interests, mutually added value as well as sufficient time and capacities in our laboratories. Hence, a good planning is required, in particular with respect to timing and required resources. Before contacting us, please have a close look at our research focus as well as publications on our webpage. In terms of funding the visit, there are several support programmes both in the UK, e.g. via Newton Fund Mobility scheme, and other countries.