The University of Bath is inviting applications for the following PhD project commencing in October 2021.
Funding is available to candidates who qualify for ‘Home’ fee status. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, the rules governing fee status have changed and, therefore, candidates from the EU/EEA are advised to check their eligibility before applying. Please see the Funding Eligibility section below for more information.
Crosslinked polymers networks are one of the most important engineering materials, usually encountered as gels and rubbers. Hydrogels are networks composed of crosslinked hydrophilic polymers, widely used in biomedicine for applications in superabsorbents, wound dressings, drug delivery, tissue engineering etc.
However, polymer networks always contain internal topological defects and irregularities, due to the statistical nature of polymerisation and crosslinking reactions used to synthesize these materials. These defects can have a detrimental effect on the network’s properties such as the elastic modulus. Since elasticity is the one of the fundamental properties of polymer networks, preparation of gels devoid of topological defects would be particularly desirable.
This project will study the impact of the internal, molecular structure of polymer networks on the elasticity and other physical properties of model hydrogels. Controlled/living radical polymerisation techniques, such as atom transfer radical polymerisation (ATRP) will be used to prepare hydrogels with precisely tuned molecular weights and molecular weight distributions of the crosslinked chains to allow synthesis of homogeneous, well-defined networks. Additionally, new methods of crosslinking allowing to suppress the formation of defects will be designed and tested.
Specifically, the project will target thermoresponsive hydrogels such as poly(ethylene glycol methacrylate) (PEGMA) or poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) with potential applications as ‘smart’ materials and controlled drug release systems. Properties of model hydrogels will be followed by gel permeation/size exclusion chromatography (GPC/SEC), NMR, oscillatory rheology, small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and thermal analysis.
This project will enable us to get a better understanding of one of the central problems in polymer science, critical for the further development of advanced polymeric materials.
Candidate requirements:
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or high Upper Second Class UK Honours degree (or the equivalent qualification gained outside the UK) in Chemistry or Materials Science and should have an interest in polymer science. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants must meet our English language entry requirement.
Enquiries and applications:
Informal enquiries are welcomed and should be directed to Dr Maciek Kopeć, [Email Address Removed]
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Chemistry (full-time).
More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.
Funding eligibility:
In order to be considered for a studentship, you must qualify as a ‘Home’ student. In determining ‘Home’ student status, we follow the UK government’s fee regulations and guidance which, when available, will be set out by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) on their website. At the time of advertising this project, the fee regulations for 2021/22 have not yet been published, but we expect (subject to confirmation) that the main categories of students generally eligible for ‘Home’ fee status will be:
- UK nationals (who have lived in the UK, EU, EEA or Switzerland continuously since September 2018)
- Irish nationals (who have lived in the UK or Ireland continuously since September 2018)
- EU/EEA applicants with settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (who have lived in the UK continuously since September 2018)
- EU/EEA applicants with pre-settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (who have lived in the UK, EU, EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar continuously since September 2018)
- Applicants with indefinite leave to enter/remain in the UK (who have been resident in the UK continuously since September 2018)
EU/EEA citizens who live outside the UK are unlikely to be eligible for ‘Home’ fees and funding.
Additional information may be found on our fee status guidance webpage, on the GOV.UK website and on the UKCISA website.
Continue with Facebook
