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Queen’s University Belfast Physics (qub) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Investigating the effectiveness of chemical and thermal treatment methods in the radiocarbon dating of consolidated museum artefacts, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

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This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

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Queen's university belfast: physics.

The scientific research within the School of Mathematics and Physics was highly rated in the 2021 REF peer-review exercise, with 90% of research being judged as internationally excellent or world-leading. Physics and Astronomy at Queen's is currently ranked 16th in the UK (Complete University Guide 2023) and joint 3rd for Graduate Prospects (Guardian University Guide 2023).

Physics research activity in the School is focused into three specific Research Centres; all members of academic staff belong to one of these Research Centres, listed below.

Astrophysics Research Centre (PhD/MPhil) Find out more below, or email Professor Mihalis Mathioudakis ([email protected])

Centre for Light-Matter Interactions (PhD/MPhil) Find out more below, or email Professor Marco Borghesi ([email protected])

Centre for Quantum Materials and Technologies (PhD/MPhil) Find out more below, or email Dr Amit Kumar ([email protected])

Doctor of Philosophy - PhD

Full-time, 3 years started sep 2024.

Part-Time, 6 years started Sep 2024

Master of philosophy - mphil, full-time, 2 years started sep 2024.

Part-Time, 4 years started Sep 2024

Founded in 1845 as Queen's College Belfast, one of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland, it became an independent university in 1908 and is the  ninth oldest university  in the UK. Today, Queen’s is a member of the  Russell Group , combining excellence in research and education with a student-centred ethos.

Queen’s is ranked 24th in the UK for Research Power (REF 2021/ Times Higher Education) with over 88% of research submitted by Queen’s has been assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent Power (REF 2021/ Times Higher Education). Northern Ireland has been named the safest region in the UK (UK …

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Physics: Theses

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QUB PhD theses

The McClay Library holds copies of all Queen's University PhD theses . 

A number of recent QUB PhD theses can be accessed online via the Queen's Research Portal . Please note that not all theses include the full-text (e.g. where an embargo has been applied).

Older QUB theses are held by the library in hardcopy format, and they are kept in the store. You can search for hardcopy theses in Library Search: search for a topic, then filter your search results by Resource Type: Dissertations and by Availability: Held by library . You can recognise theses by their distinctive shelfmark, which begins with T/ q e.g. T/q 1999.S4. 

If you would like to consult a hardcopy thesis, you can request that library staff fetch it from the store. Use the Request button in Library Search (you need to be signed in to Library Search). Theses may not be borrowed, but can be read in the library.

Please note: the Library does not collect QUB undergraduate and masters dissertations. Please contact the relevant School if you are trying to locate one.

Obtaining theses from other universities

Uk and ireland.

Universities listed here have agreed to make their theses freely available through EThOS. If you need a thesis from a UK or Ireland university which is not participating in the scheme, please request it through the Inter-Library Loans service.

Please note: the EThOS service is currently unavailable due to a cyber attack.

Outside UK/Ireland

The websites listed on this page provide free online access to theses. It is only possible to obtain theses which must be paid for in exceptional circumstances: please consult your Subject Librarian .

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global Collection of full-text dissertations and PhD theses from around the world, including from UK and Irish universities

EThOS EThOS (Electronic Theses Online Service) replaced the British Library Thesis Service in 2009. Theses from participating universities are digitised on demand, after which they are available for free download.

DART-Europe E-theses Portal Access to the full-text of a large and growing number of theses from over 520 universities in 27 European countries.

DiVA DiVA portal is a finding tool and an institutional repository for theses written at Swedish universities and colleges.

Netherlands Research Portal Portal for theses and other research outputs from the Netherlands.

theses.fr Aims to provide an entry point to: • all ongoing doctoral theses in France • all awarded theses in France, available in any format (print, digital, commercially published, etc.) • individuals and institutions in connection with these theses.

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North America

PQDT Open With PQDT Open, you can read the full text of US open-access dissertations and theses free of charge.

Theses Canada portal Theses Canada provides an index of all theses produced at Canadian universities and free PDFs of theses produced since 1998.

Trove Trove documents Australia’s research effort, bringing together articles, books, theses and data sets. Currently Trove includes the details of more than 300,000 theses submitted in, or relating to, Australia. Search tips for finding theses via Trove

South Africa

National ETD Portal Full-text access to South African theses and dissertations.

NDLTD (Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations) The NDLTD Union Catalog contains more than one million records of electronic theses and dissertations.

OATD (Open Access Theses and Dissertations) An international database giving free access to over 2 million theses and dissertations.

EBSCO Open Dissertations This database gives free access to the full text of open access dissertations and theses.

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• Last Updated: Aug 23, 2024 10:35 AM
• URL: https://libguides.qub.ac.uk/physics

Physical Review E

Covering statistical, nonlinear, biological, and soft matter physics.

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Competition between slicing and buckling underlies the erratic nature of paper cuts

Sif fink arnbjerg-nielsen, matthew d. biviano, and kaare h. jensen, phys. rev. e 110 , 025003 – published 23 august 2024.

• No Citing Articles
• Supplemental Material
• INTRODUCTION
• DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

By enabling the dissemination and storage of information, paper has been central to human culture for more than a millennium. Its use is, however, associated with a common injury: the paper cut. Surprisingly, the physics underpinning a flexible sheet of paper slicing into soft tissues remains unresolved. In particular, the unpredictable occurrence of paper cuts, often restricted to a limited thickness range, has not been explained. Here we visualize and quantify the motion, deformation, and stresses during paper cuts, uncovering a remarkably complex relationship between cutting, geometry, and material properties. A model based on the hypothesis that a competition between slicing and buckling controls the probability of initiating a paper cut is developed and successfully validated. This explains why paper with a specific thickness is most hazardous ( 65 µ m , corresponding, e.g., to dot matrix paper) and suggests a probabilistic interpretation of irregular occurrence of paper cuts. Stimulated by these findings, we finally show how a recyclable cutting tool can harness the surprising power of paper.

• Received 31 January 2024
• Revised 24 May 2024
• Accepted 19 June 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.110.025003

©2024 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

• Research Areas
• Physical Systems

Authors & Affiliations

• Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark , DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
• * Contact author: [email protected]

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Supplemental material (subscription required), references (subscription required).

Vol. 110, Iss. 2 — August 2024

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The physics of paper cuts. (a) Paper cuts are a common injury that can occur if skin contacts a sheet of paper (thickness t , area density ρ ). It causes significant pain and discomfort and is often associated with a slicing motion (arrow). The underlying physical processes remain poorly understood. (b) However, it is well established that cuts frequently occur in the thickness range of t = 0.05 − 0.1 mm (this range includes magazines and office paper) [ 5 ], whereas thinner and thicker paper is relatively safe. We propose that a competition between slicing and buckling determines which paper types can cut. If the sheet is too thin, it buckles and loses structural integrity before initiating a fracture. In contrast, thicker sheets smoothly indent the surface and distribute the load over a greater area. The slicing motion enhances the likelihood of cutting, which peaks at the most hazardous thickness t h ≈ 65 µ m (see Fig.  2 ).

Experimental setup and data classification scheme. (a) Schematic of the experiment used to quantify contact processes between a soft solid and a sheet of paper in relative motion. The standardized paper and gelatin samples were held by 3D-printed clamps. The vertical indentation depth, d , the speed (arrow), and the slicing angle ϕ of the paper sheet were controlled using a micromanipulator. A video of each experiment was recorded and the stresses [normal ( σ n ) and tangential ( σ t ) to the gelatin surface] were measured using two load cells. (b–d) Representative data illustrating three regimes. (b) Thin paper ( t = 30 µ m , ϕ = 15 ∘ ) buckles because the normal load exceeds the buckling threshold σ b before reaching peak applied stress, σ a > σ b . (c) Intermediate paper ( t = 65 µ m , ϕ = 15 ∘ ) cuts because the cutting threshold σ n , c is exceeded before reaching σ b or σ a . (d) Finally, thick paper ( t = 220 µ m , ϕ = 15 ∘ ) indents the surface because the dispersed normal force is insufficient to breach the surface or buckle the paper. (See also Supplemental Video S1 [ 14 ] and additional details in the text.)

A competition between slicing and buckling governs paper cuts. The phase diagram shows the outcome of each experiment (dots) as a function of thickness t and slicing angle ϕ . The outcome of a cutting attempt depends on how the thresholds relate to each other. If ϕ < ϕ h , then there exists a range of thicknesses for which σ n , c is lower than both σ a and σ b where cutting is observed. When the slicing angle ϕ is sufficiently small, nearly all types of paper cuts (red shaded domain, label: cutting). However, the probability peaks at the most hazardous thickness t h ≈ 65 µ m (between printed magazines and office paper) and angle ϕ h ≈ 20 ∘ . Outside this zone, the peak applied stress either exceeds the buckling limit (label: buckling) or simply causes an indentation (label: indentation) (top right). The mechanical model [Eqs. ( 1, 2, 3, 4 )] is consistent with observations (solid lines mark model transitions between domains). Error bars: t ± 5 µ m and ϕ ± 2 ∘ . See additional details in the text.

The Papermachete uses discarded traction sections of dot-matrix paper as a blade. (a) Technical drawing and (b) photograph of the recyclable paper-knife. The single-use paper blade is fixed in the clip by magnets while the handle facilitates convenient use. (c) The Papermachete can cut into a variety of plant- and animal-based products. The cuts were performed by hand at the slicing angle of ϕ ≈ 10 ∘ at speeds of approximately 1 cm/s in the direction of the arrow.

Definitions of surface characteristics after the experiment. The horizontal line is the edge and is included to demonstrate the cut into the sample.

Measured maximum applied stress σ a plotted as a function of relative indentation depth d / t (dots). An unweighted least-squares to Eq. ( 2 ) yields the estimate E s = 3.13 ± 0.08 kPa (solid line).

Experimentally measured buckling force compared to Euler's beam equation, which stipulates F b ∼ E p t 3 w / h 2 . Here, E p is the paper's elastic modulus, t and w its thickness and width, and h the free height of the sheet (Fig.  1 in the text). Data compare reasonably well with the simple model.

The normal stress σ n , c required for the onset of cutting diminishes with slicing angle ϕ . Our experimental data (blue) as well as data from Reyssat et al. [ 11 ] are not inconsistent with a linear fit according to Eq. ( 7 ): (solid line) derived from the numerical model proposed [ 11 ]. The fitted slope is the material parameter σ t , c = 0.84 ± 0.06 MPa.

Phase diagram constructed for paper height h = 28 mm (i.e., twice the height used to construct the phase diagram in Fig.  3 ). Peaks at the most hazardous thickness t h ≈ 105 µ m m (between printed magazines and office paper) and angle ϕ h ≈ 12 ∘ .

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Applying to the Biological Engineering PhD program

Thank you for your interest in MIT BE – we want to receive your application! This page explains the application process and provides information specific to our program that you may use to strengthen your application. Our evaluation process begins with your electronic application folder and proceeds through an on-site interview.

We believe that our diverse, welcoming, and collaborative community fosters the most effective environment for training students to conduct world-class research. To maintain and further strengthen our culture, we depend on continuing to receive applications representing a broad range of academic and personal backgrounds. From 2019-2022, we invited applicants from 64 different undergraduate institutions holding and expecting bachelors degrees in many different disciplines to interview for admission. Of applicants invited to interview from 2019-2022, about 52% self-identified as female, and more than 18% self-identified as underrepresented minorities (as defined by MIT). Many students join the program immediately after completing their undergraduate studies, while others have already received advanced degrees or acquired post-baccalaureate professional experience.

The guidance below is intended to help prospective students understand the aspects of academic preparation and experience that poise applicants for success in our program and how to present this information effectively in their application materials. This guidance is not intended to describe any “ideal” application profile or minimum standards for admission (no quantitative standards exist). Every complete application received is reviewed holistically by BE faculty.

Application to MIT BE is competitive, with fewer than 10% of applicants receiving an offer to interview each year (we offer admission to the majority of interviewees). Applicants holding international undergraduate degrees may apply, and such applicants received about 3% of the interview offers made from 2019-2022. Interview offers are communicated asynchronously to applicants in January and February each year.

Evaluation of applications for PhD study in BE particularly focuses on:

• Evidence of strong academic preparation and demonstrated interest in both a quantitative discipline and a biological discipline
• Evidence of aptitude for and experience/accomplishment in scientific or engineering research
• Explanation of interest in pursuing a career that leverages PhD-level training in Biological Engineering under the guidance of MIT BE faculty advisors

Academic preparation. Success in the challenging coursework and research components of the MIT BE PhD program requires a strong academic background in both biology and quantitative engineering or science. While many successful applicants hold undergraduate engineering degrees and have completed substantial coursework in biology, there are many different ways to demonstrate the academic preparation needed. Applicants whose principal degree is quantitative, computational, engineering, or in the physical sciences can bolster their training in biology by taking core biology courses like biochemistry, genetics, and cell biology. Applicants whose principal degree is in a life science field can acquire quantitative training in courses beyond calculus, biostatistics, and programming/informatics such as differential equations, linear algebra, and advanced courses in probability, statistics, analysis, and computer science.

Understanding that every applicant’s personal and college experience is unique and that grading practices differ, BE has no minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement. We strongly consider the factors other than GPA described on this page in our admissions process. However, most applicants receiving an interview offer have a GPA in the A range (>3.6 on an A = 4.0 scale), and from 2019-2022 the median GPA of interviewees was 3.94. Many applicants with high GPAs do not receive interview invitations, and applicants with GPAs below the A range may be competitive for admission in our holistic evaluation process given other extraordinary aspects of their academic record, experiences, and achievements detailed in their application materials.

Applicant statement. This application component is a free-form opportunity to introduce yourself in writing to the admissions committee, explain your interest in Biological Engineering at MIT, and contextualize other application components including your academic record, research experience, and letters of recommendation. The admissions committee wants to hear why PhD-level training in Biological Engineering under the mentorship of MIT BE faculty is right for you, which research groups you may be interested in joining, how you have prepared to receive PhD training, and how this training may power your aspirations for the future. The MIT BE Communications Lab CommKit has additional content on writing statements of purpose . While not a particular focus of our evaluation, the statement is an opportunity to directly demonstrate your writing skills and attention to detail.

Letters of recommendation provide crucial evidence of research aptitude in successful applications. The most impactful support letters come from your faculty research supervisor(s) who know you well and have substantial experience advising PhD students. Support letters from other research supervisors, academic advisors, or course instructors may also be included. You can find general guidance (not specific to applications to study in the BE PhD program) on requesting letters of recommendation and on support letter content from the Biological Engineering Communication Lab.

To apply , go to the online application and create a user id and password. You do not need to complete the entire application in one sitting. You may begin the application, save it, and return to it at a later time using your user ID and password.

Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications ahead of the deadline and are responsible for ensuring that all admissions credentials are submitted on time. Your application will not be reviewed until all materials have been received. There is no separate application for financial support; all admitted applicants are offered a full support package.

The BE Department does not require the standardized Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test as part of our application process, but will consider scores if provided by the applicant.

To apply follow these steps.

1. Fill out the online application by 23:59, EST, December 15.

You will be providing the following information:

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• Three or more names and email addresses of letter writers
• Scanned copies of your College Transcripts
• For international students, scanned copies of your IELTS scores
• Academic preparation and research/work experience
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• Credit card payment of $90 (Information on requesting a fee waiver is here )

2. Arrange for submission of the following (official reports only):

Scanned PDF transcripts and IELTS scores are considered unofficial documents but are sufficient for review purposes. Official documents are required before an admissions decision can be made. Please have any test scores electronically transmitted to MIT Admissions and mail official copies of your transcript(s) to:

MIT Department of Biological Engineering

77 Massachusetts Avenue, Bldg. 16-267

Cambridge, MA 02139

For international students:

IELTS scores should also be electronically sent directly to MIT.

• To register for a test, visit the IETLS website.
• IELTS does not require a code. Please write “Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology”. No address is required as scores are reported electronically.
• If you are an international student, you should take the IELTS test by November 15. The Department of Biological Engineering does not waive this requirement.

The IELTS is waived for applicants who are citizens of Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, or the United Kingdom, or for applicants who have or will earn a BS degree at a US university.

To answer questions related to the application process, the Department will be holding two webinars this fall, the first on September 26 from 2PM – 3:30PM ET and the second on October 21 from 12:30PM – 2PM ET.