Our seventh cohort of 15 students joined us in September 2025!
Nerys Griffith
Hi, my name is Nerys, and I’m from Swansea in South Wales. I graduated with a first class bachelor’s degree in Physics from Cardiff University in 2018, following which I completed a PGCE at Cardiff Metropolitan University. I started teaching at a Welsh-medium secondary school in 2019, where I went on to become the youngest and first female Head of Physics in the school’s history.
Eager to make science relevant and engaging, I organised many extracurricular experiences for my students. It was through workshops and outreach projects that I became more aware of developments in technology and the career opportunities that came with them; largely inspiring my career change. Having taken a keen interest in semiconductors during my undergraduate degree, the CDT felt like the perfect way to reintroduce myself to academia and research, and prepare for work in such an exciting field!
In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, cooking, keeping active with weight training, pilates and running and relaxing with a good book.
Jeremy Owusu Boamah
Hello, my name is Jeremy Owusu Boamah, and I grew up in Northamptonshire. I obtained an Integrated Masters in Physics from the University of Leicester in 2025. My research experience spans projects ranging from molecular experiments in the Knowles Lab to environmental monitoring at Space Park Leicester, where I developed a strong appreciation for transforming scientific discoveries into impactful technologies. Having studied condensed matter physics at the undergraduate level, I am particularly excited to join this CDT program to cultivate my theoretical knowledge to the fabrication and characterisation of advanced semiconductor materials.
I look forward to deepening my expertise and contributing to innovative research in this rapidly evolving industry.
Rhys Gruffudd Jones
Hello, my name is Rhys and I’m from Penrhyndeudraeth, a village in north west Wales. I graduated with a BSc Physics with Astronomy from Cardiff University in 2025. During the course of my degree I developed an interest in condensed matter physics through the many modules that are offered on the subject at Cardiff University. My final year dissertation project focused on the numerical modelling of metasurfaces, which further increased my interest in compound semiconductors, especially the more theoretical and numerical aspects of their study. After graduating I have started research on using coupled wave theory to model photonic crystal lasers. I look forward to continuing with that research as part of the CDT program, as well as developing further understanding of other aspects of compound semiconductor physics.
Outside of physics I enjoy playing rugby as well as playing the cornet in a brass band!
Sam Lyle
Hi! I’m Sam and I’m from Northern Ireland. I completed an integrated masters in physics at Queen’s University Belfast where in my final year project I manufactured and investigated magnetic multilayers using ferromagnetic resonance. I’m looking forward to using these skills in my research and learning more hands-on lab skills throughout the CDT program at Cardiff University. In my free time I love hiking, cliff-diving, trying new things, cooking and socialising with friends. I can’t wait to begin the next step in my academic journey in compound semiconductors and meet everyone in my cohort!