Computation and Theory of Designer Soft Materials

A PhD place is available on a project themed on designer soft materials, using computation and theory.

Supervisor:

Dr Dwaipayan Chakrabarti, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham

Project description:

The overarching theme of the Chakrabarti group’s research is optimal design of soft materials for self-assembly, exploiting anisotropic interactions. The group is particularly interested in designing novel photonic, phononic, optoelectronic and viscoelastic materials. A few relevant publications are as follows:

1.    A. Neophytou, D. Chakrabarti and F. Sciortino, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 118, e2109776118 (2021).

2.    A. Neophytou, V. N. Manoharan and D. Chakrabarti, ACS Nano 15, 2668 (2021).

3.    A. B. Rao, J. Shaw, A. Neophytou, D. Morphew, F. Sciortino, R. L. Johnston and D. Chakrabarti, ACS Nano 14, 5348 (2020).

4.    D. Morphew, J. Shaw, C. Avins and D. Chakrabarti, ACS Nano 12, 2355 (2018).

PhD projects are currently available in the following areas:

(i)    Programming self-assembly of novel colloidal photonic band gap materials

(ii)    Designing ferroelectric columnar liquid crystals

The successful applicant will develop, adapt and apply a variety of methods for computational materials science and those underpinned by the theoretical framework of statistical mechanics.

The Chakrabarti group has active collaborations with a number of groups from within and beyond the UK and hosts students from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Topological Design at the University of Birmingham.

Person specification:

Applicants must have a Master’s degree in chemistry / physics / materials science / chemical engineering or in a related discipline at the upper second class level, the normal requirement being at least 65% overall degree mark, and an interest in theoretical and computational studies. Programming experience is desirable, but not essential.

How to apply:

For further details on the project and informal enquiry please visit http://www.stchem.bham.ac.uk/~dchakrabarti/ and contact Dr Dwaipayan Chakrabarti at [Email Address Removed]. For general information on Chemistry PhD at the University of Birmingham, please visit http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/courses/research/chemistry/chemistry-phd.aspx

Apply online at https://pga.bham.ac.uk/lpages/EPS006.htm.

Application deadline:

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Apply by 21 February, 2022 to receive full consideration for admission into the PhD programme for the 2022-23 academic year.

Funding Notes

This PhD studentship may be fully funded for suitable home and international students covering tuition fees and providing an annual stipend at the standard Research Councils UK rate up to three and half years.