Accelerated Design of Magnetic Metamaterials for Conformal and Tuneable Antennas Applications, Industrial PhD in Physics (Fully-Funded Studentship) – UK Nationals ONLY Ref: 5840

Supervisors

Professor Alastair Hibbins, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter

Professor Feodor Ogrin, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter

Dr Simon Berry: Industrial Supervisor at QinetiQ

This is an Industrial PhD Studentship, fully funded via an Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and QinetiQ. Applications are restricted to UK Nationals or UK Dual-Nationals.

It includes payment of postgraduate tuition fees, a training budget, and an uplifted personal tax-free stipend of at least £21,805 per year for 4 years (48 months) full-time, or pro-rata for part-time study with a minimum of 0.8FT .Starting no later than October 2026.

At the University of Exeter, we’re looking for people who have a passion for science, with ambition to apply their own ideas, perspectives, and their personal skillset – within a welcoming, flexible and inclusive environment – to the discovery and development of new metamaterials, and to be part of the team that helps drive these innovations towards commercial success across a range of sectors.

What You Will Get from this PhD Studentship

·       A fully funded industry-led PhD studentship to grow your experience of research and professional life in and around the Physical Sciences.

·       Experience of commercial research and development (R&D) in an industry environment and the option to explore a future in the UK defence and security sector.

·       A collaborative, supportive and inclusive team environment where your work and study are seen and have meaning, with the potential to create positive real-world impact and change lives for the better.

·       Personally tailored training opportunities and the chance to learn and utilise resources from a deep pool of connections in academia, industry, policy, and government, to develop your career alongside the fundamental science.

What You Will Do in this Research Project

Designing metamaterials to exhibit specific electromagnetic behaviours remains a challenge due to the vast number of possible material compositions and geometries. Recent advances in AI, and particularly in inverse design, offer an opportunity to accelerate this process.

In this project, you will design and build novel 3D nanoscale magnetic metamaterials with the aim of developing new miniaturised communications technologies, opening opportunities for innovative systems integration. This is an area with huge commercial value, and with the opportunity to create positive impact across many sectors, including defence and security, telecoms, and healthcare.

You will use a unique materials modelling tool, MaxLLG, and utilise supercomputing facilities to train AI algorithms with a large database of materials composition and geometry solutions. From these you will create bespoke nanoparticle structures, tuning their magnetic properties to build highly sensitive, frequency selective, conformable antennas and integrate them into tiny, next-generation communication systems.

You will gain experience and skills in micro and nanofabrication, electromagnetic and micromagnetic computational modelling, theoretical and experimental analysis of electromagnetic properties of metamaterials, as well as the fundamentals of microwave technologies and communication devices.

The Environment Where You Will Work

If your application for this Industrial PhD Scholarship is successful, you will join the University of Exeter Centre for Metamaterials Research & Innovation (CMRI) in the Department of Physics & Astronomy, and you will be a key member of the multi-institution MetaHUB team – a £20 million investment exploring 3D Nanoscale Metamaterials for a Sustainable Future.

You will work in a hybrid environment, predominantly based in our laboratories and offices in Exeter, but with occasional periods of work at one or more of QinetiQ’s facilities in the UK, where you will conduct security sensitive work under the direction of your industrial supervisor and their team. You may be required to undergo UK national security vetting and obtain clearance to undertake this studentship – funds are budgeted into the studentship to pay for this; you will not have to cover the cost of this yourself. Travel to other industry partner sites is likely, as well as other national and sometimes international travel for related research and engagement work. Some office-based tasks can be undertaken at home if you choose. 

You will work collaboratively, sharing your knowledge and skills with – and learning from – the wider CMRI and MetaHUB research teams as well as our national partners. You will have the opportunity to engage with other projects and activities to expand your experience and help deliver multiple joint outcomes.

All facilities and equipment required to undertake this PhD studentship (including computing equipment) will be provided by the university and/or its partners.  

Exeter Are Keen to Welcome Applications from the Widest Range of Qualified Applicants.

With our new Metamaterials initiative, we are committed to addressing a range of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIA) challenges faced by the Engineering, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences (EMPS) community. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates, and wish to particularly encourage applications from women, from Black and Minority Ethnic candidates, from disabled people, and from people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, all of whom are underrepresented at this level. We are committed to nurturing teams that comprise people who have the widest range of personal experiences and backgrounds, making MetaHUB a launchpad to strengthen the research and development sectors that we feed into. Together, we tackle a range of challenges affecting all society, in a manner that draws on diverse perspectives from across our society.

MetaHUB is working alongside the EPSRC EDI Hub+ to be a beacon for EDIA in the EMPS community, and we expect the whole MetaHUB team to actively demonstrate a meaningful commitment to EDIA at all times.

You can find out more about where you will work in the CMRI here, its character, ethos, and who’s in the team currently.  The team are housed in the Physics Building, with multi-occupancy offices and solo study spaces available for PhD students. The building is equipped with lifts to all floors, has a locked refrigerator reserved for the safe storage of expressed milk to support nursing parents, and has step-free access to a multi-use private quiet space in the neighbouring building. The University of Exeter's Streatham Campus houses a multi-faith centre, with prayer rooms and ablution spaces. We have extensive experience of adapting our laboratory and office spaces, as well as our working practices, to meet the needs of every member of our staff and student community.

Exeter Physics & Astronomy is an inclusive community, with existing peer support networks for women, LGBTQ+, and ethnic minority staff and students who call the department home. The departmental EDI Committee also work closely with University-wide staff and student networks and they organise bi-weekly departmental "EDI Lunch & Learn" seminars to build intersectional allyship through the increased awareness of EDI issues, initiatives and interventions.

Entry requirements

You must have obtained, or be about to obtain (graduated before August 2026), a First (1:1) or Upper Second-Class (2:1) UK Honours degree (e.g. BSc, MSc, MPhys, etc.), or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant area of Physical Science, Materials Science, or Engineering.

This is an experimental and computational project where you will use a variety of methodologies – from first principles of electromagnetic phenomena (Maxwell equations), magnetisation dynamics (Landau-Lifshits-Gilbert formalism) and finite difference time domain (FDTD) algorithms, with deep AI optimisation to produce hierarchal 3D lattice structures – so you should be able to demonstrate some computational capabilities (e.g. evidencing a 2:1 or higher in relevant computational modules, or through examples of projects where you have applied your computational skills & knowledge).

You should be prepared to learn lithographic fabrication, deposition techniques, optical and electron beam microscopy and other techniques used in a cleanroom environment.

Training in all experimental, fabrication and computational techniques (including in AI & various programming languages) will be provided throughout the PhD.

How to apply

Apply now

Closing Date for Applications: 23:59GMT on 19 APRIL 2026

You must be a UK National or a UK Dual-National to be eligible to apply.

Reference Number: 5840

In the application process you will be asked to upload several documents (see below). All application documents must be submitted in English and include the reference number, your surname, and the name of the document within the filename (e.g. “1234_Smith_CV.pdf”, “1234_Smith_Cover-Letter.pdf”, “1234_Smith_Transcript.pdf”). Please note our preferred file format is PDF.

·       CV

·       Letter of Application (Maximum two pages of A4 – outlining your academic interests, prior research experience & reasons for wishing to undertake this project).

·       Certified translated copies of your degree transcript(s) giving full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained (this should be an interim transcript if you are still studying).

·       Names & Email Addresses of two referees familiar with your academic work. You are not required to obtain references yourself. We will request references directly from your referees if you are shortlisted.

Expected Selection Process

If you are selected to be considered for this PhD position, you can expect a flexible selection process involving:

·       a 30-minute online interview (via Teams or Zoom) after week commencing 27 APRIL 2026

·       advance notice of interview questions

·       advance notification of the two or three people who will sit on the interview panel (links to bios & a profile photo), including their role in regard of the panel, i.e. what themes/questions they will each cover

·       a 10-minute presentation covering why you think you are a good fit for the project and outlining the skills you bring to the role. You should pre-record this presentation in a style and format of your choice, submitted in an appropriate video file format (.mp4, .wmv, .avi, .mkv, etc.) to PGRApplicants@exeter.ac.uk before the interview.

We are committed to making the selection process accessible to the widest range of interviewees and if you are selected, when our postgraduate recruitment team contacts you, they will happily discuss adjustments to help you showcase your skillset to the best of your ability during the interview – for example, flexible dates and times for interviews to fit your commitments, including a shorter or longer interview session.

Further, if you are successful in securing the role, you will receive a full induction by the research team, an introduction to the range of support and peer groups available at Exeter, and an opportunity to discuss flexible working arrangements.

Summary