PhD studentship in Autonomous Wearable Biosensor Powered by an Eco-Friendly Perovskite Solar Cell

About the Project

Supervisors: Dr. Mojtaba Abdi Jalebi (UCL), Dr. Le Yang (IMRE, A*STAR, Singapore)

Application deadline: 15 April 2025

Interview date: TBC 

Start date: 22 September 2025

Location: London (1.5 years), Singapore (2 years)

Subject areas: Wearable biosensors, Energy harvesting, Eco-friendly perovskite solar cells, Personalized healthcare, Flexible electronics, Sustainable power systems, Optoelectronic materials

The studentship

This position is fully funded by the UCL-A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore) Collaborative Programme via the Centre for Doctoral Training in Molecular Modelling and Materials Science (M3S CDT) at UCL. The student will be registered for a PhD at UCL where he/she will spend year one followed by second and third years of the PhD at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE) of A*STAR in Singapore, then return to UCL for the final six months to write up the thesis. If successful, the PhD will be awarded from UCL. The studentship will cover tuition fees at the home rate, and an annual stipend of no less than £21237 increasingly annually with inflation (tax free) pro rata in years 1 and 4. During years 2 and 3, the student will receive a stipend of S$3200 per month directly from A*STAR. In addition, A*STAR will provide the student a one-off relocation allowance.

The Project

This PhD project aims to develop an eco-friendly, self-powered wearable biosensor system by combining energy harvesting technologies with advanced wearable design. Traditional wearable devices rely on bulky, unsustainable batteries, which limit scalability and usability. The project proposes using lead-free perovskite solar cells to address this issue, ensuring continuous, non-invasive monitoring of biomarkers like glucose, pH, and sodium ions.

The research will focus on enhancing the performance of lead-free perovskite materials, addressing factors that limit efficiency and stability. Techniques such as transient absorption spectroscopy and luminescence measurements will be employed to study the optoelectronic properties of perovskite thin films, with the goal of achieving high power conversion efficiency under various lighting conditions.

The second phase integrates these perovskite cells with wearable biosensors, utilizing flexible electronics and microfluidic technologies to monitor sweat biomarkers and skin temperature. A major challenge is ensuring seamless integration of the power system with sensor arrays while maintaining accuracy and wearability.

Collaborating across UCL and ASTAR, the project combines expertise in thin-film technologies, spectroscopy, wearable biosensor design, and integration. By merging materials science, wearable technology, and sustainability, this research aims to advance self-powered wearable electronics for personalized healthcare and diagnostics.

The Candidate 

The applicants should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first or upper second-class integrated Masters degree (MSci, MChem, MEng etc.) or a 2:1 minimum BSc plus a stand-alone Masters degree with at least a Merit in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science, Materials Engineering or a related discipline. The successful applicant will demonstrate strong interest and self-motivation in the subject, good experimental practice and the ability to think analytically and creatively. Good computer skills, plus good presentation and writing skills in English, are required. Previous research experience in contributing to a collaborative interdisciplinary research environment is highly desirable but not necessary as training will be provided.

Interested candidates should initially contact the supervisors Dr Abdi Jalebi (m.jalebi@ucl.ac.uk) and Dr Le Yang (yang_le@imre.a-star.edu.sg) with a CV, a degree transcript and a motivation letter expressing interest in the project. Informal inquiries are encouraged. 

Please note that a suitable applicant will first be required to complete MS Form entitled Application for Research: degree Chemistry programme. In addition, it is essential that suitable applicants complete an electronic application form at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/research-degrees/chemistry-mphil-phd (Select Research degree: Chemistry programme) prior to the application deadline and advise their referees to submit their references as soon as they possibly can. All shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview no more than 4 weeks after the application deadline. Any admissions queries should be directed to Dr. Zhimei Du (z.du@ucl.ac.uk).

Funding Notes

Applications are welcome from UK nationals, EU students with settled/pre-settled status and students with indefinite leave to remain or enter. Please note that the studentship only covers home fees. The updated rules for eligibility for home fees for next year are available on View Website.

Previous PhD Studentships:

PhD studentship in Eco-friendly flexible perovskite solar cells for wearable electronics

About the Project

Applications are invited for a funded PhD studentship to join the Functional Materials and Optoelectronic Device group led by Dr Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi at the Institute for Materials Discovery (https://www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-for-materials-discovery/FMED), University College London.

This is a funded exciting project through UCL EPSRC DTP studentship, to begin in October 2024, which aims to discover, design and characterise emerging non-toxic semiconductors and optimise them for next generation of eco-friendly solar cells for wearable electronics at the UCL Institute for Materials Discovery.

Solar energy technology offers a promising avenue for reducing our fossil fuel dependency and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Halide perovskites emerge as an enticing candidate for the next generation of high-performance solar cells, boasting remarkable power conversion efficiencies exceeding 26%. Particularly intriguing are lightweight and flexible perovskite photovoltaic devices, which have garnered significant attention for potential applications in wearable electronics, miniaturized drones, blimps, high-resolution screens, and aerospace electronics. However, widespread commercial use of these halide perovskites faces several challenges, including issues related to lead toxicity, sensitivity to air and moisture, and phase instability. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, such as strength and toughness, require in-depth investigation, with bendability being a critical characteristic for functional layers in wearable devices before entering the flexible electronics market. This project will concentrate on designing, synthesizing, and processing eco-friendly materials, including lead-free halide perovskites, for use as absorber layers. It will also explore new types of charge transport electrodes, interfacial interlayers, and encapsulation materials for flexible solar cells. The research will involve characterizing thin films and solar cells using advanced techniques such as time-resolved photoluminescence and impedance spectroscopy, as well as structural and morphological analysis to correlate charge transport properties with material structure and solar cell performance and stability.

Applicants should possess, or be on track to achieve, a first or upper second-class Honours degree or its equivalent in materials science/engineering, chemistry, physics, electrical/chemical engineering, or related fields, with a minimum of four years of university level study. The successful candidate will conduct research in the state-of-the-art Functional Materials and Energy Device group, led by Dr. Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi at the Institute for Materials Discovery at UCL. This highly interdisciplinary research will involve collaboration with national and international academic and industrial partners, fostering a dynamic, collaborative, and diverse environment among a team of talented researchers.

The group’s research focuses on the structure, optical and electronic properties of advanced functional materials particularly emerging semiconductors including metal halide perovskites, nanostructured metal oxides and other organic semiconductors and incorporating them in optoelectronic devices such as solar photovoltaics (PV), photodetectors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as well as photo(electrochemical) devices for production of green fuels. We actively involve in exploitation of the academic research into actual products and bridging the gap between fundamental science and technology exploitation with active industrial collaborations for technology transfer into multiple emerging markets including photovoltaics, the Internet of things (IoT) and consumer electronics. There are also opportunities to participate in outreach and media activities, and dissemination via conferences and workshops.

The successful candidate will conduct research in the state-of-the-art new Materials Discovery laboratory (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/institute-for-materials-discovery) with a well-funded consumables budget and access to a wide range of experimental facilities. This highly interdisciplinary research will involve many national and international academic and industrial collaborations. The group provides a dynamic, collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with diverse, talented researchers.

Applications must include a full CV, research proposal (2-page maximum) and covering letter providing information on why you would be suitable for this opportunity and funding. Applications to be sent directly to Dr Mojtaba Abdi-Jalebi (m.jalebi@ucl.ac.uk).

The project is expected to begin around October 2024. Application deadline: 13:00 UK time on 08 January 2024

Key Facts

• Value: Fees, Stipend (at least £21,622 per year), Research Training Support Grant
• Duration: Up to 4 years (thesis to be submitted within funded period)
• Eligible Fee Status: Home, International (EPSRC caps the number of International fee status students at 30%)
• Study Mode: Full or Part time (at least 50% FTE) [Note: Part time is not available to International students]
• Primary Selection Criteria: Academic merit
• Available To: Prospective students only
• Round 1 Application Deadline: 13:00 UK time on 08 January 2024

Funding Notes

All studentships are fully funded for 4 years. They provide: 

• 4 years fees (Home rate) (International students will receive a UCL award to cover the home/international fee difference) 
• Maintenance stipend at the UCL EPSRC DTP enhanced rate (ie £1,000 above the UKRI London-weighted rate; this was £21,622 in 2023/24, and rises each year) 
• Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of £4,800. This is to cover additional costs of training eg courses, project costs, conferences, travel 

Students will be registered for 4 years and are expected to submit their thesis within the 4 year funded period. The project should be designed and supervised to facilitate this. 

For part time students the stipend and duration will be adjusted pro-rata (e.g. a 50% FTE student will receive 50% of stipend for up to 8 years). 

Student Eligibility

• You must fulfil the academic entry requirements for UCL
• You must fulfil any additional academic entry requirements for the department you will be hosted by
• These studentships are open to those with Home and International fee status (including EU); however, the number of students with International fee status which can be recruited is capped according to the EPSRC terms and conditions so competition for International places is particularly strong.

An official fee status assessment by UCL admissions will be required for all successful candidates. However, the following guidance is provided to help you determine whether you will be Home or International category for EPSRC funding:

• UK nationals are Home category, provided they meet residency requirements.
• EU nationals with settled status are Home category.
• EU nationals with pre-settled status are Home category, provided they meet residency requirements.
• Irish nationals living in UK or Ireland are Home category
• Those who have indefinite leave to remain or enter are Home category.
• All others are classified as International category.

Residency requirements for UK nationals:

• living in UK, EEA, or Switzerland on 31-Dec-2020 and lived in UK, EEA, Switzerland, or Gibraltar for at least 3 years immediately before the studentship begins
• lived continuously in UK, EEA, Switzerland, or Gibraltar between 31-Dec-2020 and the start of the studentship

Residency requirements for EU, EEA, or Swiss nationals with pre-settled status:

• living in UK by 31-Dec-2020 (a requirement to receive pre-settled status)
• living in UK, EEA, Switzerland, or Gibraltar for at least 3 years immediately before the studentship begins

Note: These studentships are open to those with Home and International fee status (including EU); however, the number of students with International fee status which can be recruited is capped according to the EPSRC terms and conditions.

Link to apply:  Apply for a UCL EPSRC DTP studentship | UCL EPSRC Doctoral Training - UCL – University College London