PhD position in Ultrafast Imaging of Solvation, University of Cambridge, UK (Deadline:02.12.2025)

Imaging ultrafast solvation in electrochemical systems

Understanding how atoms and electrons move on ultrafast timescales is central to both the biosphere and modern technology — from photosynthesis to batteries, catalysts, and computing materials. Ultrafast laser spectroscopies allow scientists to observe these dynamics on their natural attosecond to picosecond timescales, but their application to complex electrochemical environments remains limited. This PhD project aims to push those boundaries by developing new ultrafast spectroscopic and microscopic techniques to directly track solvation dynamics at solid–liquid interfaces, especially relevant for Li-ion batteries.

Based in the iCCD Lab (https://www.iccd-lab.com/; supervision of Raj Pandya, Cambridge Chemistry) the work will be primarily experimental and involve building novel ultrafast (visible/infrared) laser setups in combination with electrochemical protocols to tease out elementary interfacial dynamics. The project will suit a student excited by hands-on optics and instrumentation, eager to explore clean energy materials/electrochemistry. Experience in experimental laser spectroscopy/imaging, instrumentation control, or electrochemistry would be helpful, though by no means essential.

The studentship provides a maintenance grant, and tuition fees at the UK/home rate. Exceptional overseas applicants will also be considered. Full details of the University’s entrance requirements are specified on the following link: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk.

To make an informal enquiry or to discuss projects in more detail, please contact Raj Pandya (raj.pandya@warwick.ac.uk). To apply, please submit an application through the University Applicant Portal: www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/pcchpdpch.

There is an internal deadline of 2nd December, with interviews aiming to be held in early January. For home candidates it may be possible to consider applications beyond this date.

The position is for an October 2026 start date and will explore the construction and application of new experiments for imaging ultrafast solvation at electrochemical solid-liquid interfaces.