Phillip Bentley

Background

About Phillip Bentley

I am a highly motivated PhD specialising in experimental physics and the use of ultra-high vacuum systems, where my research has focused on the study of surface properties of various spintronic materials as probed using a spin-polarised metastable helium beam. I have five years of experience in ultra-high vacuum techniques including: ultraviolet and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy, metastable de-excitation spectroscopy (MDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning Auger microscopy (SAM), photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) and spin-polarised metastable emission electron microscopy (SPMEEM) as well as having experience in using density functional theory (DFT) to solve complex systems and support experimentally obtained data. My time as a postgraduate student has led to collaborations both on a national and international level, with responsibilities such as: handling samples, explaining, processing and storing data, and discussing expectations. In particular, I have been fortunate to work at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), Tsukuba, Japan multiple times including two internships and one research visit, where some of the data collected there has led to a couple of publications which are currently in preparation. I am experienced in assisting others with setting and meeting research goals, including direct instruction in a laboratory setting and training in equipment use and have previous experience assisting with departmental visits, providing tours for groups of prospective students.