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 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
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:
- Alexander R. C. Osypiw et al., “Solution-processed colloidal quantum dots for light emission“, Mater. 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:
1. Liu, T., Almutairi, M.M.S., Ma, J. et al. “Solution-Processed Thin Film Transparent Photovoltaics: Present Challenges and Future Development“, Nano-Micro Lett. 17, 49 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40820-024-01547-6
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)
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 (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
Robert Dimitrov (OCT 2024-Present)
Project title: Development of High-Speed Indium Phosphide Quantum Dot Neuromorphic Chips for Real-Time Processing in Event-Based Camera Systems
Co-supervisor: Dr Ze Ji (School of Engineering)
External-supervisor: Dr Huanqing Ye (University of Manchester)
I’m Robert Dimitrov. I am originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, and have been based in the UK since 2016. After completing my BSc in Physics at Cardiff University with a VMware Professional Placement , I joined the EPSRC CDT with MSc in CS Electronics at Cardiff University. My MSc project involves fabricating Quantum Dot (QD) field effect transistors for neuromorphic computing systems.
My PhD research project would focus on developing high speed neuromorphic chips using Indium Phosphide (InP) Quantum Dots for real-time processing in event-based camera systems.
My research would be supervised by Dr Bo Hou (PHYSX) and Dr Ze Ji (ENGIN) at Cardiff University, and Dr Huanqing Ye at the University of Manchester. Outside academia, I enjoy rock climbing, riding my electric longboard, keeping up with AI developments and Robotics.
Funder: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Compound Semiconductor Manufacturing
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
Staff members
Post-Doctoral Research Associates
Dr Louis Renjun Liu (Feb 2023-April 2025)
Publications:
- Renjun Liu et al., “Numerical Simulation of Electrically Pumped Active VCSEL Diodes Based on Metal Halide Perovskite“, InfoScience 2024, e12027. https://doi.org/10.1002/inc2.12027
- 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), IEEE pp. 1-3., (10.1109/WiPDAEurope62087.2024.10797419)
- Renjun Liu et al., “Modulating d33 Coefficients Through In-Situ AgF and Ag2O Growth in PVDF Composites for High-Performance Piezoelectric Nanogenerators“, Advanced Materials Technologies 2025 10.1002/admt.202500012.
PhD students
Dr Diyar Mousa Othman (Oct 2020-Feb 2025)
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
Master students
Hao Chen Cheng (Nov 2023-May 2024)
Harry Horniman (Master of Physics, 2022-2023)
Weitong Yue (Master of Science, 2021-2022)
Rui Zheng (Master of Science, 2021-2022)
Undergraduate students
Ioan Benjamin Jones (Bachelor of Physics, 2020-2023)
Molly Charlotte Cross (Bachelor of Physics, 2020-2023)
Noah Frederick Dodson (2021-2023)
Jonny Varley (Bachelor of Physics, 2022-2023)
Joel Alexander James (Bachelor of Physics, 2022-2023)
Archibald Khan Atabey (2020-2022)
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)
Academic visitors and others
Farhana Akter (Oct 2021- Oct 2022)
Xiaoyu Wen (Oct 2021-Oct 2023)
Benxuan Li (academic visitor, 2020-2023)
Shijie Zhan (academic visitor, 2020-2021)
Anirudh Bansal (Oct 2023-June 2024)