Generously funded Scientia PhD Scholarships are available to study topological electronics in atomically thin materials. The research project will involve the fabrication and study of 2D topological materials.
In 2010, the Nobel prize in physics was awarded for groundbreaking experiments on the atomically thin two-dimensional material graphene, which Geim and Novoselov showed could be made with sticky tape! Later, in 2016 the prize was awarded for the theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.
These two fields have recently come together, opening a new avenue for the study of topological electronics in atomically thin materials, with potential applications in future low-energy electronics and topologically protected quantum computers.
This experimental research project will fabricate and study 2D topological materials such as monolayer WTe2, a topological 2D material that can be exfoliated to form atomically thin devices that exhibit semiconducting, superconducting, topological insulating, and ferroelectric states.
The successful applicants will work in the national ARC Centre of Excellence FLEET and learn fabrication of electronic devices using state-of-the-art systems both in the FLEET labs and ANFF-UNSW clean-rooms. The successful applicants will also use advanced low-temperature and high magnetic field measurement systems in QED labs to perform quantum transport measurement and examine the transport properties.
The scholarship is fully funded for 4 years (including all university tuition fees, AUS$40k (US$30k) annually for living expenses, and an additional research/travel budget), and is open to applicants from any nationality. Applicants should have a good academic record (2:1 or 1st class).
The Scientia program is for future leaders, so applicants who can demonstrate their excellence and enthusiasm in science or leadership through activities such as research internships, scientific publications, teaching activities, competitive sports, industrial experience, leadership in sports or social clubs, voluntary work, etc, are strongly encouraged.
Women and minorities are strongly supported by FLEET and encouraged to apply.
Prospective applicants should contact Alex.Hamilton@unsw.edu.au and feixiang.xiang@unsw.edu.au by 12 July 2019. Details of the application process are here.