Predictive molecular models of high-performance elastomers in demanding environments

High-performance elastomers enable some of the most sophisticated modern technology. They are designed to operate in the often-punishing environments such as those encountered in aerospace industries. A sudden material failure in such applications can be catastrophic and direct material testing in these environments is prohibitively expensive or entirely unfeasible. Consequently, one of the highest priorities in the field is to develop general quantitative means of predicting how materials properties of elastomers, particularly their moduli, change under diverse practically relevant thermomechanical loads, i.e., at high and fluctuating temperatures accompanied by large or repeated deformations.

The project will create a suite of such predictive models by building on the world-leading experimental and computational tools developed in the Boulatov group to study mechanochemistry of polymers in complex environments (e.g., Nature Chem. 2023, 15, 1214; Nature Commun. 2022, 13, 3154, Science 2017, 357, 299). This collaboration with a leading engineering company offers a highly-motivated student a unique opportunity to gain expertise across the range of disciplines that enable contemporary materials science, and to learn how to integrate rigorous academic research with application-focused industrial R&D in the design and application of high-value-added polymers.

A student with research and academic background in experimental or computational physical chemistry; polymer chemistry, physics or engineering; chemical engineering; polymer rheology and/or tribology; or modelling at molecular and/or up to mesoscales would be well positioned to contribute to the project from the start. During their PhD, the student will be expected, and provided with technical, organisational, and intellectual support, to expand their expertise to other relevant fields beyond the area of their pre-PhD training. The student will coordinate their research activities and regularly exchange ideas and results with the industrial partners and other collaborators.

Please apply by completing the online postgraduate research application form here: How to apply for a PhD - University of Liverpool 

Please ensure you include the project title and reference number CCPR116 when applying.