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This PhD project is part of the Marie Curie Initial Training Network SEACOAT, in which 6 leading Universities and 2 companies are collaborating to understand biointerfacial processes involved in marine biofouling. The network involves research in 3 complementary, interdisciplinary themes: Surface Engineering, Surface Analytics and Bioadhesion (see http://www.biosciences.bham.ac.uk/SEACOAT for more information). The successful applicant will be appointed for 3 years to a salaried staff position as a Training Fellow, and will receive a salary with social security benefits, mobility and yearly travel allowances and a career exploratory allowance. The training fellow will be based primarily in Birmingham and will receive a Birmingham PhD. However, the fellow is also required to undertake secondments and visits to other Partners (Heidelberg, ETH Zurich and Newcastle) to learn and apply specific techniques.
The project involves the design and preparation of switchable surfaces based on self-assembled monolayers formed from stimuli-responsive peptides, in which dynamic changes in surface properties (charge/wettability) are induced by an electrical potential. Surface-bound switchable peptides will undergo externally controlled conformational changes exposing either neutral or charged moieties at the surface-liquid interface. These are expected to influence the adhesion of biofouling organisms and the fellow will conduct adhesion bioassays with bacteria and algae in the Birmingham biological labs. Secondments to Heidelberg and ETH will investigate molecular surface properties by sum-frequency spectroscopy and protein adsorption by OWLS respectively.
Funding Notes:
A first degree (BSc or Masters) in Engineering, Chemistry, Material Sciences, Physics or Biology is required. Applications including CV and detailed education with grades should be addressed to Dr Paula Mendes or Prof. Jon Preece. The EU Marie Curie Training Network rules for funding and eligibility are strictly followed. The position is available to citizens of any country other than the UK. In addition, you must not have spent more than 12 months working or studying in the UK in the last 3 years.
The SEACOAT consortium operates an Equal Opportunities policy.