EPSRC Project Proposals 2025/26 - PhD Studentship - Tailoring Novel Behaviours in Liquid Crystal Elastomers Through Design

Project Link: Tailoring Novel Behaviours in Liquid Crystal Elastomers Through Design | Project Opportunities | PhD | University of Leeds

Number of Positions: 1

Eligibility: UK Only

Funding: School of Physics & Astronomy Scholarship, providing the award of full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (currently £20,780 in academic session 2025/26) per year for 3.5 years.

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Dr Thomas Raistrick: t.j.raistrick@leeds.ac.uk

Co-Supervisor’s full name and email address

Dr Mamatha Nagaraj: M.Nagaraj@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

Liquid crystal elastomers are an exciting class of soft materials that combine the orientational order of liquid crystals with the elasticity of polymers. This gives rise to remarkable properties such as mechanical anisotropy, programmable shape change, auxeticity (some of these materials expand when you stretch them!), and stimuli-responsive behaviour. These properties make liquid crystal elastomers exciting candidate materials in applications such as optics, soft robotics, medical devices, and energy solutions. However, significant challenges remain before liquid crystal elastomers can realise their potential; many reported behaviours are strongly dependent on sample preparation and alignment and current fabrication routes restrict sample geometries thus limiting current applications.

This PhD project will explore designing and engineering novel behaviours and responses into LCEs, from understanding their fundamental molecular organisation to creating functional materials with applications towards advanced technologies. There will be a particular focus on patterning of the liquid crystal elastomer surface or bulk to elicit a desired response relevant to an application. Potential applications include next-generation metamaterials, optical devices, and energy solutions. Using a combination of experimental approaches, including optical microscopy, profilometry, X-ray scattering, mechanical testing and spectroscopy, you will investigate how molecular structure and processing routes control material parameters.

The project will provide training relevant for a career in soft matter physics and materials science with opportunities to collaborate across disciplines. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated student with a background in physics, engineering, materials science, or a related discipline, who is keen to develop experimental skills while contributing to cutting-edge research in soft advanced materials.

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

A first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.

Subject Area 

Materials Science, Applied Physics, Optical Physics

Advert information