Join Our Team

We’re always keen to hear from motivated students and researchers interested in joining, visiting, or collaborating with our group.

Our work combines atomic-scale experiment and theory to understand semiconductors and 2D materials, within a collaborative and supportive research environment.

If you’re a prospective PhD student – or an MSci/undergraduate looking for a project – please email Professor Schofield with your CV and transcript. We can discuss possible project directions and, for PhD students, identify the funding route that best suits your background and goals. A few of the main schemes are listed below.

We also host international visitors and collaborators. Previous postdocs and PhD visitors have joined us from the UK, Australia, India, France, and the USA. If you’re interested in exploring a joint visit or applying for funding together, please feel free to get in touch.

UCL EPSRC Landscape Award (UELA)

We’re excited to announce a fully funded PhD studentship available through the UCL EPSRC Landscape Award (UELA), focused on quantum properties of defects in two-dimensional (2D) materials.

• Project: Mapping the Quantum Landscape of 2D Materials, One Atom at a Time (Project ID: 2531bd1677)
• Funding: Four year studentship with full tuition fees + enhanced stipend (at least £23,466 in 2026/27) + Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) for consumables and travel.
• Eligibility: Open to both UK Home and International applicants who meet UCL’s PhD entry requirements.
• Application timeline: Applications are open now. Deadline 13:00 UK time, Monday 05-Jan-2026
• How to apply: Contact us early to discuss your interests and supervision before submitting your application through the main UELA page. Note, that, unlike all other UCL studentship schemes, your application to this scheme will be anonymised at the point that you submit your application and through the initial shortlisting stage.

This experimental PhD will explore how individual atomic defects in 2D materials give rise to remarkable quantum behaviour — including single-photon emission and spin localisation — using ultrahigh-vacuum cryogenic scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and complementary techniques. The project offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of condensed matter physics, surface science, and quantum technologies.

UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (RES)

We encourage applications to the UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (RES), which supports outstanding PhD students from any country.

• Funding: Full tuition fees + stipend for 4 years
• Eligibility: First-class (or expected first-class) undergraduate degree or equivalent, with strong potential for research excellence
• Application timeline: Usually January (check official page for current deadline)
• How to apply: Contact us well ahead of the deadline to discuss project options and support for your application

China Scholarship Council – UCL Joint Research Scholarship

We welcome applications through the China Scholarship Council – UCL Joint Research Scholarship.

• Funding: Full tuition fees + stipend (per CSC/UCL scheme terms)
• Eligibility: Citizens of the People’s Republic of China who meet CSC and UCL requirements
• Application timeline: Usually early January (check official page for current deadline)
• How to apply: Contact us well in advance of the deadline to discuss potential projects

UCL EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Quantum Computation and Quantum Communications (QC2)

Another route into our group is through the UCL EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Quantum Computation and Quantum Communications (QC2).

• Funding: Fully funded PhD studentships (tuition + stipend)
• Structure: 1 year of taught courses, followed by a 3-year PhD research project
• Eligibility: Open to UK and international students (see CDT website for details)
• How to apply: Contact us to discuss potential projects. Apply directly through the CDT; in your application you can express an interest in joining our group.

UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS)

We encourage eligible candidates to consider the UCL Research Opportunity Scholarship (ROS), which supports Black, Asian and minority ethnic postgraduate researchers and includes a mentoring programme delivered with the Windsor Fellowship.

• Funding: Full tuition fees + stipend
• Eligibility: Applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who are eligible for UK/Home fees and are UK-permanent residents
• Application timeline: Usually January (check official page for current deadline)
• How to apply: Contact us well ahead of the deadline to discuss suitable projects and nomination steps

Other schemes or self-funded

We also welcome enquiries about other funding sources or self-funding.

• Funding: External schemes, self-funding, or other opportunities may be advertised here in future.
• Application timeline: Semi-flexible
• How to apply: Please get in touch with us to discuss possible options