Modelling energy transfer during irradiation of matter by swift particles: Stochastic quantum descriptions of correlations

Deadline for applications: 5 March 2021

Starting date: 1 July 2021

Duration: Four years

Enquiries to: [Email Address Removed]

Website: http://titus.phy.qub.ac.uk/irradiation-of-matter

About the project

Applications are invited for a four-year PhD position in the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen's University Belfast (QUB). The student will work as part of a research project that aims to model irradiation of biological molecules in the presence of solvents and metal nanoparticles (MNPs). Such irradiation processes occur over a wide range of time and length scales and so a range of theoretical and computational approaches are required that bridge these different regimes. The team involved in this work have developed a range of techniques to do this and the goal of this project is to join these methods together into a unified approach.

Project 1: Stochastic quantum descriptions of correlations

Supervisors: Dr Daniel Dundas, Dr Myrta Gruening, Dr Lorenzo Stella

The first PhD student will implement stochastic methods for describing correlations beyond the standard mean-field description of time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in order to describe the initial energy absorption processes. As part of this work, the student will spend time in Toulouse with the group of Prof. Eric Suraud to learn about the stochastic methods in more detail.

The student will study photon irradiation of nucleobases and radiosensitiser molecules in the presence of solvents and MNPs.

More information about the project and the studentship can be found here: http://titus.phy.qub.ac.uk/irradiation-of-matter.

Applicants must demonstrate a first or upper second-class honours degree or an equivalent academic qualification, preferably in Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, or Mathematics. 

All applications must be submitted before the deadline through the QUB online application portal: https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/user/u_login.php. Please state clearly in your application which project you are applying for.

The deadline for applications is 5 March 2021. Short-listed candidates will be contacted shortly after the deadline.

For further information and queries, please email Dr D. Dundas ([Email Address Removed]).