In order to achieve a more sustainable future and improve environmental outcomes, the recycling and re-use of materials are becoming ever more important. A major pitfall in current high-performance polymers is the inability to reprocess and re-use crosslinked material networks after their useful service life. The PhD project will investigate new polymers with functional groups forming dynamic covalent bonds. This will involve the investigation of various organic functional group transformations and polymerisations to synthesise and characterise the properties of new monomers, (pre)polymers, and crosslinked polymer networks.
We are seeking a talented, highly motivated scientist with a passion for organic synthesis/polymer chemistry and sustainability to join the research team of an EPSRC Manufacturing Fellow at the University of Sheffield. We are a relatively new expanding academic group, aiming to capitalise on 25 years of industrial experience to perform high quality science on materials that are both commercially viable and have a positive impact on society. The team is a diverse, ambitious group of polymer chemists and material scientists that is actively growing.
The Department and the University have a range of facilities available, allowing the successful candidate to gain experience in a wide range of experimental and analytical techniques. The project gives the successful candidate the chance to work on fundamental science with industrial relevance where they will learn skills appropriate for a future career in academia or industry. They will be involved in collaborations across the University and likely to have the opportunity of interaction with industrial partners as their PhD develops.
The student undertaking this project will also have the opportunity to be a University of Sheffield Grantham scholar and to take advantage of the programme of sustainability training offered. The Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures focuses on advancing sustainability research and connecting it with the policy debate around how humans can live in a more sustainable way (grantham.sheffield.ac.uk).
Grantham scholars combine outstanding intellect with a strong commitment to public engagement, leadership and action. These ambitious individuals undertake interdisciplinary PhD research projects to help solve the challenges of sustainability. They will be supported by the Centre through a unique training programme, designed to equip them with the skills to become policy advocates and leaders in sustainability matters.
The Grantham Scholar training programme • Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures (sheffield.ac.uk)
• Applicants should have a first or upper second-class degree at MChem level in Chemistry or an MSc in a relevant discipline.
• All applicants should provide: a CV with 2 references including a covering letter (maximum 1 side of A4) outlining their motivation, skills and experience; a presentation on their current research (2 slides) and a paper of interest to themselves (1 slide).
For informal enquiries or further details about this post, applicants are encouraged to contact Professor Andrew Slark on 07793 261268 (preferred) or e-mail at [Email Address Removed]
All formal applications are to be submitted via the Postgraduate application portal:
Postgraduate Online Application Form (sheffield.ac.uk)