University of Glasgow: College of Science and Engineering Graduate School

Read our latest Grad School newsletter for tips from alumni, recipes from across the world and info about our fantastic students' achievements!

Graduate School News & Views November 2021 Welcome to the November edition of Graduate School News and Views.

PhD Studentships and Taught Masters in Physics and Astronomy

The University of Glasgow is home to an internationally-leading research portfolio, an enviable graduate training programme and a long-standing reputation for excellence, making it an incredibly vibrant environment for physics and astronomy studies. Located in one of the UK’s friendliest and most liveable cities, the University of Glasgow welcomes applicants for postgraduate research and taught masters. Research students have access to state-of-the-art local facilities, and many participate in multi-national, large-scale collaborative projects. The postgraduate experience is enhanced by the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA), which blends the best resources and expertise from many institutions to provide a training experience with a competitive advantage. Applicants for both postgraduate research and taught masters are potentially eligible for a range of scholarships to support their study, including the James McCune Smith Scholarships for Black UK PhD students.

Research Groups
*Astronomy & Astrophysics
*Solar physics theory
*Observational solar physics
*Plasma physics low- and high-temperature theory and computation
*Radio astronomy

Astronomy & Physics Education
*Student learning experience and engagement
*Sense of belonging and identity
*Teaching and learning practical skills in the post-covid area
*Equality, diversity and inclusion in the curriculum

Extreme Light
*Computational and artificial intelligence techniques for imaging
*Single photon imaging for life sciences, bio-imaging and healthcare
*Imaging with entanglement
*Fundamentals of quantum physics in curved spacetime

Imaging Concepts Group
*Computational and hyperspectral imaging
*In vivo retinal imaging and oximetry
*Microscopy and biophotonic imaging
*Optical manipulation

Institute for Gravitational Research
*Gravitational wave (GW) data analysis, and applications to cosmology, tests of gravity and compact-object astrophysics
*Materials for use as mirrors and suspensions in GW detectors
*Enhancing the sensitivity of future GW detectors using cryogenics
*Optical systems to be used in space-based GW detectors

Materials & Condensed Matter Physics
*Development of barocaloric materials for zero-carbon heat pumps
*Fabrication and analysis of functional nanomaterials for device technologies
*Nanopatterned and skyrmionic magnetic materials for spintronic applications
*Development of advanced electron microscopy techniques using fast pixelated detectors

Nuclear & Hadron Physics
*Investigating the quark structure of the nucleon through quantum chromodynamics (QCD)
*Spectroscopy of strongly interacting particles and the search for exotic states of matter
*Development of advanced particle detector technology
*Industrial, medical and other applications of nuclear science

Optics
*Atom cooling and trapping for quantum technologies
*Optics with complex vector light fields
*Quantum optics, single-photon imaging and ranging
*Transformation optics beyond lenses and mirrors

Particle Physics Experiment
*Higgs, top quark, precision QCD, and beyond Standard Model physics searches
*ATLAS, LHCb, NA62 and T2K experiments
*Future neutrino and linear collider experiments
*Development of detector systems

Particle Physics Theory
*Precision tests of the Standard Model through QCD
*Searches for new physics through rare weak decays of hadrons
*Phenomenology for the Large Hadron Collider
*Beyond the Standard Model physics, Higgs and top quark physics

Quantum Theory
*Foundations of quantum theory, quantum optics and quantum information
*Molecular and atomic light matter interactions
*Non-equilibrium quantum fields and analogue models of gravity and cosmology
*Quantum measurements and quantum algorithms

PhD scholarships, funding & admissions
Email: [email protected]
More information and links to online application: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/research/postgraduate/

Taught Masters program
Email: [email protected]
More information and links to online application: http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/physics/postgraduate

Life in Glasgow
More information and links to guides to university life:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/studentlife/

James McCune Smith Scholarships

We’re excited to announce applications for the James McCune Smith Scholarships are NOW OPEN! James McCune Smith graduated from in 1837 as the first African American to receive a medical degree.

We have 10 PhD Scholarships across the University with funding for 4 years. Scholars will commence in October 2022.

Students will receive a 6-month placement in industry, a mentorship outside academia, leadership training and conference support and have other networking opportunities.

Scholarships are open to UK students of Black African/ Black Caribbean/ Black Other heritage.

Check eligibility & application info at https://www.gla.ac.uk/mccune-smith-scholarships

An amazing event. So proud of all our presenters!

Science Slam 8 Prepare for an evening of discovery and exploration with Science Slam 8! The phenomenal Sian Bevan will take you on a guided tour to meet some of the College...

Meet the Science Slam 8 Presenters!

Our 8th and final presenter is Habib Nassar:

Hi, my name is Habib and I'm currently pursuing a PhD in electronics and electrical engineering. I’m born and raised in Amman, Jordan, and I came to the UK in 2013 to start my higher education journey. I received my BEng degree in electronics and communication engineering from the University of York in 2016. It was a rocky start to my relationship with my degree topic, but a strong affinity grew over the years. This culminated in a strong interest in signal processing of biological electrical signals in the body which eventually led to a move to Glasgow to undertake an MSc in biomedical engineering. After finishing my masters, I decided I wanted to further study ways in which the bridging of electronics and biomedical engineering can best help people around the world. To this end, I've focused my research into the development of low-cost prosthetic hands with embedded sensors and electronics. The idea is that the addition of sensors in prosthetics can better aid amputees in performing daily activities independently.

As much as I like working in the lab, you'll very often find me in one of my two favourite places: the football pitch or on top of a Scottish mountain (at least on days when Liverpool aren't playing). I'm also enthusiastic about hip-hop lyricism so expect to be treated to a rhyme or two at the Science Slam. See you there!

Meet the Science Slam 8 Presenters

Introducing Asam Ahmed, our 7th Science Slam presenter:

I come from a developing country, Libya, located in North Africa. I grew up in a small village. Libya has a new infrastructure taking place which is a gate for Africa to most European countries.

After obtaining my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, it was while studying Mechanical Engineering that I became fascinated with renewable energy and its amazing possibilities and receiving encouragement from my tutors and my family.

This passion led me to do a master’s degree in Advanced Mechanical Engineering at Sheffield Hallam University and has now brought me to the University of Glasgow to do my Ph.D.

Meet the Science Slam 8 Presenters

Introducing Laura Jenkins:

"Hello, my name is Laura. I’m currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Glasgow. My interest in planetary sciences started when I was about four years old, when I declared the planet Venus my favourite “star.” When my dad pointed out that the really bright object in the sky was not a star, but a planet, I promptly declared Venus my favourite planet. I’ve been fascinated with outer space ever since.

I did both my B.Sc. and M.Sc. at the University of Western Ontario, where I studied the effects of impact events on martian meteorites. I’ve recently moved to Scotland to pursue my Ph.D. and am now studying post-hydration heating in meteorites that come from the asteroid belt. After I obtain my Ph.D., I hope to pursue a career doing research in the area of planetary sciences.

Come and hear more about Laura's research on 25.06!

Meet the Science Slam 8 Presenters

Introducing our 5th presenter, Faye Davies:

Hi, I'm a Master of Research Student from the School of Geographical and Earth science (GES), I did my undergraduate bachelor's degree at the University of Derby Geology wanting to study early Earth and plate tectonics until I discovered all about the fun and exciting world of planetary geology, where I would get to study rocks from space instead of those from Earth which sounded like a lot more fun, which brought me to Glasgow for my masters of research and my current research project which is focusing on a specific type of meteorite and what it can tell us.

When I am not looking at rocks from outer space, I enjoy hiking, exploring the great outdoors or sitting with my nose in a good book. I am also part of the committee for the PhD Society and volunteer with UKSEDS.

Meet the Science Slam 8 Presenters!

Introducing Christian Chapman-Bird

After completing my undergraduate degree at the University of Glasgow in 2020, I began my PhD at the Institute for Gravitational Research studying gravitational waves - ripples in spacetime emitted by highly energetic and dense astrophysical phenomena such as inspiralling black holes. My research focuses on the rapid identification of long-duration signals in gravitational wave data. I am also investigating how we may use gravitational wave observations with the upcoming Laser Interferometer Space Antenna to probe the formation and evolution of massive black holes.

Outside of my work I enjoy bouldering, skiing and tormenting my neighbours with piano playing. I also occasionally venture to darker skies to photograph nebulae and galaxies (whenever Scotland’s weather permits!).

Meet the Science Slam 8 Presenters!

I am Wenhui Zhang and I come from China. I am now a first-year PhD student in the School of Mathematics and Statistics. I also did my undergraduate in statistics at the University of Glasgow. As a science that tries to discover inherent quantitative relationships among different data and makes rational statistical inferences by applying relevant theories and methodologies, statistics have been widely applied in modern society, with its impact penetrating into almost all fields of the society. I am fascinated by divergent statistical methods and models to solve practical problems and to present and analyze data in different ways. Statistics are used to predict everything from weekly weather reports to preferred ice cream flavours at certain times of the day. Therefore, if I could actually harness this power to help others achieve their own professional dreams, it would also be a dream come true for me.

Other than stats, I enjoy playing ball games, baking and reading novels.

Book your Science Slam ticket to hear Wenhui's talk!
tinyurl.com/w95kcjjv https://pic.twitter.com/i8SnSWJbnb

Science Slam 8

8 years ago we ran the first ever UK Science Slam event and this year we are back (online) with our 8th Science Slam!! We have 7 wonderful presenters lined up and they will be sharing their research on meteors, monsoons, gravitational waves, solar sails and much, much more.

You can reserve your ticket at tinyurl.com/w95kcjjv

Please join us to listen to some fascinating and exciting talks from our brilliant students!