We are looking for PhD candidates interested in organic synthesis, supramolecular self-assembly and sensing applications. This project will investigate the dynamic self-assembly of amphiphiles to create liposomes that are able to accomplish sensing and degradation tasks. These smart liposomes will be used to detect target pollutants in wastewater (e.g. antibiotics, urea) and selectively degrade them to safe products. This interdisciplinary project requires knowledge of organic chemistry for the synthesis of the components of the smart liposomes, supramolecular chemistry for studying the self-assembly processes, and analytical chemistry for studying sensing and release phenomena using UV and fluorescence spectroscopy.
This project will begin with lab-scale experiments and lead to field experiments with real wastewater samples. The student will spend 6 months at Acquedotto del Fiora S.P.A. where this technology will be trialled in real wastewater treatment plants.
The project will be conducted primarily at the Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy at Università degli Studi di Siena (Italy), with the possibility to spend 6-12 months at a partner lab in Auckland, New Zealand.
Information about the supervisors can be found here:
https://docenti.unisi.it/en/chen-0
https://jchenresearch.wordpress.com/research/
https://docenti.unisi.it/it/rossi-17
This opportunity consists of a fully-funded PhD scholarship for 3 years. Please send your CV and a cover letter to Dr Jack Chen ([Email Address Removed]) by the 3rd of November 2021 if interested.
Related Publications:
Pablo Solís Muñana†, Giulio Ragazzon†, Julien Dupont, Chloe Z.‐J. Ren, Leonard J. Prins, Jack L.‐Y. Chen. Substrate‐Induced Self‐Assembly of Cooperative Catalysts. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2018, 57, 16469-16474. link
Chloe Z.-J. Ren, Pablo Solís Muñana, Julien Dupont, Silvia S. Zhou, Jack L.-Y. Chen. Reversible Formation of a Light-responsive Catalyst by Utilizing Intermolecular Cooperative Effects. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 15254-15258. link
Chloe Z.-J. Ren, Pablo Solís Muñana, Gregory G. Warr, Jack L.-Y. Chen. Dynamic and Modular Formation of a Synergistic Transphosphorylation Catalyst. ACS Catal. 2020, 10, 8395-8401. link
Continue with Facebook
