Members

Principal Investigator

Dr Bo Hou is a Reader at the School of Physics and Astronomy at Cardiff University. He received his PhD degree from the University of Bristol (2010–2014) and worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford (2014–2018, Wolfson College) and as a Senior Research Associate in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge (2018-2020, St Edmund’s College).

 

 

 

 

Lab manager

Dr Aisling Stewart (July 2023-Present)

PhD in Physics Chemistry, Heriot-Watt University, UK

My name is Aisling Stewart. I am originally from Portsmouth. I trained as a chemist and did my undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, specialising in gas-phase collisions, before moving to Wales. I enjoy walking, ice skating, and learning languages in my spare time.

 

 

 

Postdoctoral research associate

Dr Louis Renjun Liu (Feb 2023-Present)

EPSRC Funded

PhD in applied physics and materials engineering, University of Macau, Macau

Master in microelectronics and solid-state electronics, Jilin University, China

 

 

 

Publications: 

  1. Renjun Liu et al., “Numerical Simulation of Electrically Pumped Active VCSEL Diodes Based on Metal Halide Perovskite“, InfoScience 2024 DOI: 10.1002/inc2.12027 accepted.
  2. Renjun Liu et al., “Sputtering grown wide band gap AlN thin films for high power capacitors“, IEEE Xplore 2024 IEEE Workshop on Wide Bandgap Power Devices and Applications in Europe (WiPDA-Europe), accepted.

 

Dr Chandra Kant (Oct 2023-Present)

Leverhulme Trust funded

PhD in Material Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, India

Master of Technology from the Department of Physics, Indian Institute Technology (IIT), Delhi, India

 

 

 

PhD students

Diyar Mousa Othman (Oct 2020-Present)

Project title: Integrated Colloidal Quantum Dot (QD) smart optoelectronic devices for the Internet of Things (IoT). 

External-supervisor: Prof. Julia A. Weinstein (University of Sheffield)

My name is Diyar Mousa Othman. I am from Cyprus and I graduated with a BSc in Physics from the University of Manchester in 2020. My dissertation was on the Future of Energy. In my summer break after second year, I did a summer internship at Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre.

Funder: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing and Huawei Cambridge

Publications: 

1. Diyar Mousa Othman, et. al., “Photonics Design Theory Enhancing Light Extraction Efficiency in Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diodes”, JPhys Materials 2022, https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7639/ac9e77 

2. Diyar Mousa Othman, et. al., “Solution-Processed Colloidal Quantum Dots for Internet of Things”, Nanoscale 2024, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4NR00203B

 

 

Alexander Osypiw (Oct 2021-Present)

Project title: Colloidal Quantum Dots for Visible-Light Communications

Second supervisor: Prof. Peter M Smowton

Third supervisor: Dr Stefano Leoni (School of Chemistry)

My name is Alexander Osypiw. I have achieved a Master degree in Physics at Aberystwyth University. I have done projects on quantum chemistry calculations for laser cooling molecules and radiation dose-dependent infrared photoluminescence of feldspar. 

Funder: EPSRC DTP

Publications:

  1. Alexander R. C. Osypiw et al., Solution-processed colloidal quantum dots for light emissionMater. Adv., 2022,3, 6773-6790. https://doi.org/10.1039/D2MA00375A 

Munerah Almajed (Oct 2021-Present)

Project title: Compound semiconductors for Emerging Transparent Photovoltaics

Second supervisor: Prof. Gao Min (School of Engineering)

My name is Munerah Amajed, I achieved a bachelor’s degree in Physics at Qassim University. This was followed by a physics Master’s degree obtained from Cardiff University. By undertaking these studies, I have acquired extensive knowledge about the emerging areas of research in physics. In addition, An area of particular interest to me is compound semiconductor and optoelectronics applications. As a result of my studies to date, I already have a good grasp of this domain, but I anticipate that undertaking a PhD in physics would help me to pursue my interests further. 

Funder: Royal Embassy Of Saudi Arabia

Publications: 

William Solari (Oct 2022-Present)

Project title: Inkjet-printed Filter-less narrowband colloidal Quantum Dot photodetectors and image sensors

Second supervisor: Prof. Peter M Smowton

My name is William Solari. I received a master’s degree in Physics from the University of Bath. My master’s project was on the electrodeposition of 2D materials, in particular MoS2. In my spare time, I like to do archery and music, and I also enjoy cinematography.

Funder: EPSRC DTP

Publications: 

1. William Solari, et. al., “Image Sensors and Photodetectors Based on Low-Carbon Footprint Solution-Processed Semiconductors”, Adv. Sensor Res. 2400059. https://doi.org/10.1002/adsr.202400059

Kiran Sushil (Oct 2022-Present)

Project title: QD transistors and matrix arrays for wafer scale integration

External-supervisor: Prof. Julia A. Weinstein (University of Sheffield)

My name is Kiran Sushil, and I come from London. I graduated from the University of Lancaster with a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and am now conducting a research project into the wafer-scale integration of QD transistor devices. I have a great interest in computing and processors, as well as an extended interest in solar energy solutions and development. My other interests involve guitar, basketball and tennis.

Funder: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing and Lumentum UK 

 

Hong Ji (Oct 2023-Present)

Project title: Colloidal Quantum Dots Photovoltaic Light-Emitting Field-Effect Transistors

Second supervisor: Prof. Peter M Smowton

My name is Hong Ji. I am from China and graduated with a BSc in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Liverpool in 2020. I attended the University of Warwick for my MSc program, then joined Durham University for my MRes program.

 

Funder: Leverhulme Trust

 

Dadimuni De Silva (June 2023 – Present)

My name is Dadimuni De Silva, I am a DPhil student at the University of Cambridge. My research on performance enhancement of hybrid photovoltaics and I am co-supervised by Prof Gehan Amaratunga (University of Cambridge) and Dr Bo Hou (Cardiff University). At Cardiff, my research work focuses on quantum dot synthesis and hybrid solar cell device fabrications and characterisations.

Funder: EPSRC

 

 
 
 
Serena Nor Erkizan (Oct 2023-Present)
 
Project title: Developing surfAce enhaNCEd infrared absorption photonics Quantum Devices for multiple vibrational modes imaging (DANCE-QD)
 
Second supervisor: Prof. Peter M Smowton
 
She holds BSc and MSc degrees in Physics from Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi (Turkey) specialising in Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy. During her MSc research, she studied highly sensitive SERS substrates produced by femtosecond laser writing and metal-assisted chemical etching. 
 
Funder: EPSRC DTP
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sri Datta Aneesh (Oct 2023-Present )
 
Project title: QD light emitting transistors for efficient wavelength division multiplexing
 
Hello. My name is Sri Datta Aneesh and I am from Hyderabad, India. I did my undergraduate degree in electronics and communication engineering, and I also did a master’s degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Bristol.
I will be working on developing quantum dot light-emitting transistors for enhanced wavelength division multiplexing. I would like to see myself in the roles that drive innovation and research in the future.
Beyond research, my cherished interests lie in classical music, painting, reading nonfiction, and travel. Looking forward to all the learnings ahead.
 

 

 

Luri Wan (Oct 2023-Present)

Project title: Nanoscale Biosensing with Nonlinear Optical Microscopy

Lead supervisor: Prof. Paola Borri

Co-supervisor: Prof. Wolfgang Langbein

 

 

Funder: Cardiff-CSC

 

Mart Wecyk

Mart Wecyk (Oct 2023-Present)

Project title: Heavy-metal-free colloidal quantum wells as efficient and spectrally narrow emitters for displays, biomarkers and single photon sources

Lead supervisor: Dr Francesco Masia

Co-supervisor: Prof. Wolfgang Langbein

Co-supervisor: Prof. Paola Borri

 

Funder: EPSRC DTP

 

Angelos Seizas (Oct 2024-Present)

Project title: Quantum Efficiency Metrology of Solution-Processed Quantum Dot Optoelectronics

My name is Angelos Seizas. I come from Greece and my quest in life is to fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a theoretical physicist. Through sheer determination and a passion of science, I overcame many personal obstacles and I am where I am now. I graduated with a Master in Physics from Cardiff University. I have done projects on non-Hermitian degeneracies in open quantum wells and critical phenomena in single-emitter light-matter systems.
My main interests in physics are quantum field theory, particle physics, interpretations of quantum mechanics, quantum optics, quantum theory of solids and basically anything quantum-related. Other interests of mine include philosophy, languages and winemaking.

Funder: EPSRC DTP

 

 

Master and Project students

 

Undergraduate students

Abel Aditya (2024-)

Jasmine May Brina (2024-)

Math Gwilym Hughes (2024-)

Rhys Dafydd Jones (2024-)

Louis Timothy Risbridger (2024-)

Cameron Richard Bradley (2023-)

Ethan Robert Atkins (2023-)

Oisin Lludd Pennant (2023-)

Harri Joseph Davies (2023-)

Emma Sarling (2022-)

Shahdad Saharkhiz (2022-)

Phoebe Samantha Rozee (2022-)

Evan Eldridge (2021-)

Alumni

Anup Grewal (Master of Physics, 2023-2024)
 
Faizah Sughayyir N Almutairi (Master of Science, 2023-2024)
 
Elis Anthony Pitcher (Bachelor of Physics, 2021-2024)
 
Hao Chen Cheng (Nov 2023-May 2024)
 
My name is Hao Chen Cheng. I come from Taiwan. I am a postgraduate student working on quantum dot devices with spin manipulation. I am co-supervised by Prof Gehan Amaratunga (University of Cambridge, Zhe Jiang University) and Dr Bo Hou (Cardiff University).

 

 

 

Anirudh Bansal (Oct 2023-June 2024)

Amelia Jane Bowe (Bachelor of Physics2020-2023)

Ioan Benjamin Jones (Bachelor of Physics2020-2023)

Molly Charlotte Cross (Bachelor of Physics2020-2023)

Noah Frederick Dodson (2021-2023)

Jonny Varley (Bachelor of Physics, 2022-2023) 

Joel Alexander James (Bachelor of Physics, 2022-2023)

Matt Almond (Master of Physics, 2022-2023)

Harry Horniman (Master of Physics, 2022-2023)

Benxuan Li (academic visitor, 2020-2023)

Shijie Zhan (academic visitor, 2020-2021)

Archibald Khan Atabey (2020-2022)

Farhana Akter (Oct 2021- Oct 2022)

Xiaoyu Wen (Oct 2021-Oct 2023)

Weitong Yue (Master of Science, 2021-2022)

Rui Zheng (Master of Science, 2021-2022)

Thomas Andrew Laws (Bachelor of Physics, 2021-2022)

Catrin Lines (Bachelor of Physics, 2020-2021)

Rhys Harmour (Bachelor of Physics, 2020-2021)

Oliver Sowden (Bachelor of Physics, 2020-2021)

Oskar Money-Kyrl(Master of Physics, 2020-2021)