To complete a postgraduate research programme, you’ll need to be dedicated and passionate about your area of study. But it’ll be well worth it. Being a doctoral student is challenging, yet incredibly rewarding. You are expected to carry out a programme of research in a particular area under the supervision of a primary supervisor and one or more co-supervisors. A PhD is the most internationally recognised research qualification, and is the most commonly pursued research degree at Leeds. Typically, throughout your PhD you will undertake research in different stages across years one, two and three. However, your research degree may be longer depending on the project you have chosen.The Materials Characterisation group focuses on the use and development of advanced characterisation methods to accurately measure and understand a range of materials. Our interests encompass both hard and soft matter, a range of lengthscales (atomic to device) and a multitude of techniques. Our research is inherently multidisciplinary and currently have extensive funding from RCUK, EU and industrial partners for projects. We collaborate extensively, with all other research groups within the School, across the University and externally. Within the School we lead and utilise the extensive characterisation facilities including electron microscopy (LEMAS), X-ray spectroscopy (VXSF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), light microscopy, materials testing, physical measurements and analytical laboratories.