Applying for a PhD position in my group
Update in March, 2024: We are currently finishing off our PhD selection process, but have just found out that an additional studentship may be available. If you are interested, please send an email ASAP with the subject line PhD along with your CV and any materials. Details on the project (as well as others you may be interested in), can be found here. The studentship is competitive. Home students should have a first class degree, and overseas studentships are extremely competitive, with the winning applicants often having publications.
My research is currently focused on applying tools from quantum information theory to gain a better understanding of issues in quantum gravity. Much of my work follows from the theory presented here. I'm also working on experimental tests of the quantum nature of gravity such as the one proposed here. I also take on students in quantum information theory itself, as well as quantum thermodynamics and the foundations of quantum mechanics.
1. Applications will be considered until the positions are filled. For full consideration, especially for overseas students, your application should have been received by the end of December and earlier if
possible.
You should apply via the AMOPP group
here and select "Research Degree:
Physics and
Astronomy: Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Positron Physics".
2. If you are an overseas students, then you
will need to be considered for various UCL wide studentships, including the Research Excellence
Scholarship (RES),
or China-Scholarship
Council (CSC) studentship.
These awards are very competitive, and because
they are selected by a university-wide panel, the
successful applicants have high marks, great references, and often
have awards or publications. If you'd like to be considered
for the RES, then you should email a copy of the RES cover sheet (available here),
along with a CV and transcripts to Nadia Waller (n.waller
(at) ucl.ac.uk) and cc me (j.oppenheim (at) ucl.ac.uk), by Jan 12th with the
Subject
line: "PhD RES application". You do not need to submit a research proposal or
statement, although you can do so, especially if you already have one on
hand. If you don't submit a proposal, you can write that the proposal is
with me.
3. Home students may also be eligble for the
Research
Opportunity Scholarship, or the
IOP Bell-Burnell PhD Scholarship for BAME students.
For the former, the instructions are similar that of the RES
studentship above with a deadline of Jan 12th. Consult the
Research
Opportunity Scholarship page for the appropriate form and instructions,
4. I would encourage you to notify me once you've applied,
so that I can ensure your application reaches me. Do this either by cc'ing me
in your email applying for the RES or ROS studentship, or by emailing
j.oppenheim at ucl.ac.uk, with "PhD" somewhere in the subject
line, and with "CSC", "overseas", "EU" or "home" (e.g. with presettled status) in brackets immediately afterwards. This will help me
see who
should be considered
for a CSC or overseas
studentship. I encourage you to attach a CV, along with any information about your research interests, and any other materials (publications, drafts, thesis, transcripts).
If you are applying for a CSC or overseas studentship and want to highlight any awards or upcoming publications, that also helps since the committee is
UCL-wide and takes these into consideration.
I should also apologise in advance that due to the volume of email I get, I'm generally not able to respond, but I will go through all emails and
applications I receive during the selection process.
5. You can also apply to the center for Doctoral Training in Quantum Technologies and I do sometimes take on students from that program. Details can be found at the UCL's Center for Doctoral Training in Quantum Technologies site The first year of the program includes some course work, and matching of students and research supervisors happens towards the end of the program's first year.
Best of luck!