PhD Studentship: The Thinnest Sensors: 2D Materials in Liquid Solution University of Warwick
Two-dimensional (2D) materials—such as graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, and MXenes—offer unprecedented surface-to-volume ratios, rendering them uniquely sensitive to their surrounding environment. When submerged in liquid solutions, their electrical and optical properties change dynamically in response to local ionic concentrations, molecular binding events, and chemical reactions, forming the foundation for next-generation biosensors and chemical detectors.
This PhD research project focuses on developing multiscale, physics-informed computational models to simulate and understand the behavior of 2D materials in liquid environments. The project will bridge atomistic molecular dynamics simulations with continuum electro-hydrodynamic frameworks to investigate how liquid interfaces, double-layer formation, and molecular interactions influence electronic transport in 2D sensing channels.
The project is supervised by academic leads in the Department of Physics and is hosted by HetSys (Centre for Doctoral Training in Modelling of Heterogeneous Systems) at the University of Warwick. HetSys is an interdisciplinary PhD programme designed to train researchers in computational, mathematical, and data-driven methods applied to real-world challenges across science and engineering.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to UK students (funding specific to UK/home applicants).
Applicants should hold or expect to obtain a strong undergraduate (1st Class or 2:1 honours) or Master’s degree in Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, or a related quantitative discipline.
Required expertise/skills
Strong analytical background in computational physics, theoretical chemistry, or materials modelling.
Experience or keen interest in molecular dynamics simulations, electronic structure calculations, or multiscale continuum modelling.
Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in scientific computing (e.g., Python, C++, or Fortran).
Sound understanding of physical chemistry principles, liquid-solid interfaces, or electrostatics at the nanoscale.
Excellent verbal and written technical communication skills for interdisciplinary research collaboration.
Salary details Fully funded PhD Studentship for UK applicants, covering full University tuition fees, a research training and travel budget, and a tax-free stipend to cover living costs (standard UKRI rate of £21,805 per annum for 2026/2027, equivalent to the national living wage).
Application Deadline 28th August 2026