Semiconductor Physics Group Annual PhD Thesis Competition

This annual prize is for the PhD thesis that makes the strongest contribution to the understanding and development of semiconductor physics and technology.

Terms of reference

The Committee of the Institute of Physics Semiconductor Group offers an annual thesis prize for the author of the PhD thesis that makes the strongest contribution, in the opinion of the committee, to the understanding and development of semiconductor physics and technology.

The prize will consist of £250 and an invitation to present a talk at the UK Semiconductors Conference.

Eligibility

Applications for the 2023 prize are open to all students from an institution in the UK or Ireland, whose PhD examination has taken place between 1 August 2022 and up to the deadline for submissions (1 November 2023).

The thesis subject must be related to semiconductors, falling into at least one of the following categories:

physics in semiconductors
optical devices
electronic devices
semiconductor materials and nanostructures
mid-IR and THz
organics, organic-inorganic hybrid semiconductors and perovskites
semiconductor quantum technology

Submission format

A two-page (A4) list of major achievements obtained during the PhD, including publication list, attendance to conferences, prizes, etc.;
PDF of PhD thesis document;
Confirmation of the date of PhD examination, that the student passed and whether the thesis has also been submitted to another IOP group for a PhD thesis prize (e.g. official letter from the supervisor or the school where the examination was taken);
A one-page (A4) letter of support/reference written by an academic referee, summarising the major achievements included in the PhD thesis; and
Entries (PDF documents preferred) and any queries should be submitted by email.

Candidates should note that if a similar thesis prize is offered by another IOP group (such as the Computational Physics Group), the Committee intends to liaise with that group so that both prizes will not be awarded to the same applicant.

Rules

The PhD thesis will be judged by an expert panel according to the following criteria:

contribution to the state of the art in a field related to semiconductor physics;
research impact;
originality;
complexity;
suitability of methodology and analysis; and
clarity of main question and clarity of structure and writing.