Synthetic Chemistry (equality) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

31 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Dr Chris Coxon, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, https://www.chem.ed.ac.uk/staff/academic-staff/dr-christopher-r-coxon. Read more

Supervisor: Dr C Coxon

Synthesis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons for Quantum and Electronic Devices

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Iain Wright School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Dr Iain A. Wright | School of Chemistry (ed.ac.uk). Read more

Supervisor: Dr I Wright

Design and Synthesis of Peptide-derived Receptors for Binding Small Molecules

Supervisors: Prof S L Cockroft, Dr AL Lilienkampf

A PhD studentship is available in the groups of Prof. Scott Cockroft and Dr Annamaria Lilienkampf School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh; https://www.cockroft.chem.ed.ac.uk in collaboration with DSTL. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

The Physical Organic Chemistry of Non-covalent interactions and Solvent Effects

Supervisor: Prof S L Cockroft

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Professor Scott Cockroft, School of Chemistry, the University of Edinburgh, see https://www.cockroft.chem.ed.ac.uk. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Bond Activation with Main Group Bimetallic Bonds

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Dr Stephanie Urwin (School of Chemistry, The University of Edinburgh; https://www.chem.ed.ac.uk/staff/academic-staff/dr-stephanie-j-urwin. Read more

Supervisor: Dr S Urwin

The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

(MRC DTP CASE) Prediction of substrate binding geometry and strength in promiscuous enzymes: computational chemistry applicable to the design of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals

We are often taught about the power of enzymes to select particular substrates from the biological milieu and of their ability to perform highly selective reactions on those substrates. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Leach, Dr S De Visser, Dr C Trujillo

13 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Bringing Palladium Chemistry into the Biocatalytic Toolbox.

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Dr Amanda Jarvis, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, (https://www.amandajarvis.co.uk/ ). Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Jarvis

The University of Manchester Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Targeting the mechanism of small GTPase splice variant RAC1B using ligand design

RAC1 is a small GTPase protein that functions as a key signalling node downstream of various microenvironmental signalling pathways. Read more

Supervisors: Dr RB Bryce, Dr S Butterworth, Dr T Jowitt, Dr A Ucar

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Tailoring Unspecific Peroxygenases (UPOs) for Applications in Synthetic Organic Chemistry

Supervisors: Prof G J Grogan, Dr W Unsworth, Dr J Cartwright

Background. The oxygenation of organic compounds presents an ongoing challenge to synthetic chemistry as conventional reagents present difficulties with toxicity, harsh conditions and poor selectivity. Read more

20 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Photonics for Net Zero Enabled by Patternable Boron-Phosphide Polymers

Supervisors: Prof A S Weller, Dr Y Wang

The manipulation of light in optoelectronic devices is a cornerstone for the delivery of Net Zero, for example in low-energy optical computing (silicon-photonics) and green hydrogen generation from water (photocatalysis). Read more

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Organic Synthesis and Self-Assembly of State-Independent Electrolyte Materials

Supervisor: Dr P McGonigal

Ideal electrolytes for energy devices such as batteries and solar cells would (i) be lightweight and flexible, (ii) exhibit thermal stability, (iii) be non-volatile (to reduce fire risk), (iv) provide good interfacial contact with electrodes, (v) be amenable to processing and recycling, (vi) have high ionic conductivities, and (vii) be made from cheap, renewable feedstocks. Read more

30 June 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Synthesis of macrocycles and medium-sized rings via new ring expansion approaches

Supervisor: Dr W Unsworth

Summary. Macrocycles (12+ membered rings) and medium-sized rings (8–11-membered) are cyclic molecules with great potential in many scientific fields and technologies – especially in medicinal chemistry. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Last chance to apply

Development of advanced scintillation materials for next generation radiation dosimetry and health monitoring

Ionising radiation is a part and parcel of nuclear energy production, medical radiotherapy and radiography, space exploration and security screening. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Romanov, Dr A Baidak

30 April 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Development of new retrosynthetic disconnections through radical-nucleophilic substitution

Background. Nucleophilic substitution is arguably the most important class of reaction in organic synthesis. Indeed, these reactions are used every day to synthesise new pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, polymers and natural products. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M James

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Last chance to apply

Mechanochemistry with mechanical bonds

Any force developed at the macroscopic scale can induce dramatic changes at the molecular scale, even breaking covalent bonds.[1] Indeed, mechanical force is a formidable source of energy that, with its ability to distort, bend and stretch chemical bonds, is unique in its ability to promote reaction pathways that are otherwise inaccessible to traditional methods of activation. Read more

Supervisor: Prof G De Bo

26 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Department of Materials

High Entropy 2D Materials for Efficient Water Splitting - Postgraduate Research Teaching Associate (PGRTA) Scholarship

We invite applications for a fully-funded Ph.D. position to conduct cutting-edge research in the field of high entropy 2D materials for water splitting, building upon our recent publications in the field (Chemistry of Materials 35 (19), 7904-7914; Advanced Science, 2204488). Read more

Supervisor: Dr D Lewis

3 May 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Northumbria University Faculty of Health and Life Sciences

Last chance to apply

Polymeric materials in extreme environments: An exploration of polymer network structure in high-performance epoxy-amine thermosets for use in marine environments (Ref:RDFC24/HLS/APP/UNTHANK)

This fully funded PhD studentship will explore the fundamental material, molecular and network-forming properties that deliver optimal performance in epoxy-amine thermoset polymer coatings. Read more

Supervisors: Prof M Unthank, Dr M Sims

29 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

Northumbria University Faculty of Engineering and Environment

Operando Photoelectrochemical-X-Ray-Spectroscopies-Led Rational Discovery of New Pyrochlore Oxides for Water Electrolysis (DIA24/EE/MPEE/TIWARI)

The Scientific Premise. Amid escalating climate changes linked to global warming, the quest to efficiently convert solar energy into chemical fuel has never been more critical. Read more

Supervisor: Dr D Tiwari

7 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

EPSRC - Light-coupled NMR to design novel photo-driven chemistry and materials

Over the last decade, visible light-driven chemistry has come to the forefront of modern organic synthesis, chemical biology, and materials science, providing a powerful platform through which to rapidly construct new and complex molecules. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Golovanov, Dr L Natrajan, Dr A Trowbridge

1 October 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Cooperative catalysis using iron-based Organometallic frustrated Lewis pairs

Frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) has led to major advances in the field of small molecule activation and catalysis, being considered as one of the most exciting modern-day developments in main group chemistry. Read more

Supervisor: Dr D Willcox

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Targeting glycans on the outside of cells, as new therapeutics

Most drugs have intracellular targets (proteins etc). This creates a barrier to how to target a cell, and then get the drug inside the cell. Read more

Supervisor: Prof m Gibson

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

EPSRC - Synthesis of Supramolecules to Perform Light-Switchable Quantum Gates

An EPSRC DTG-sponsored PhD studentship is available to undertake research in making supramolecules to perform two-qubit gates by EPR spectroscopy in a collaborative project between three research groups at Manchester Chemistry. Read more

Supervisors: Dr A Bowen, Prof R Winpenny, Prof E McInnes

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Last chance to apply

(University of Manchester - University of Tokyo Dual Award) Diversifying Antitumor Drugs through the Integration of Synthetic Biology and Chemo-enzymatic Approaches

Ecteinascidin 743 (ET-743, Trabectedin) is a marine-derived natural organic compound approved for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. Read more

Supervisors: Prof E Takano, Prof H Oguri

29 April 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Photoredox molecular editing for enhanced drug discovery

Molecular editing platforms, the process by which single atoms can be inserted or deleted selectively in or around a molecule’s skeleton, are transformative to synthetic chemists across industry and academia for the streamlined development of new drugs. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Trowbridge

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of St Andrews School of Chemistry

PhD position in Organometallic Catalysis: New Catalytic Methods for Green Organic Synthesis / CO2 utilisation / Plastic Recycling

About the Project. Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position to work in the lab of Dr. Amit Kumar at the School of Chemistry, University of St. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Kumar

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

A new twist on catalysis: folded oligomers with organometallic termini

A key feature of biological systems is the storage and transmission of information across multi-nanometre distances, which maintains the complex chemical networks and functions within cells. Read more

Supervisor: Dr S Webb

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

High-throughput biomaterials discovery

Polymer biomaterials have revolutionised a range of areas from drug delivery, to antimicrobials, to cellular cryopreservation. There are 1000’s of possible monomer combinations, molecular weights and architectures to be explored, and even small differences can dramatically change their properties. Read more

Supervisor: Prof m Gibson

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

The University of Manchester Department of Chemistry

Degradable and resorbable polymeric cryoprotectants

Extremophiles have evolved to survive in the world’s coldest environments, through the production of specialised macromolecules, such as antifreeze proteins and ‘ice nucleating proteins. Read more

Supervisor: Prof m Gibson

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

University of Cambridge Department of Chemistry

PhD Studentship in Chemistry for Catalytic CO2 Utilisation

A PhD studentship is available at the University of Cambridge, starting in October 2025 under the supervision of Professor Erwin Reisner in the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry. Read more

Supervisor: Prof E Reisner

29 November 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Cardiff University Cardiff School of Chemistry

PhD in Chemistry: Improving protease performance

An industrially funded studentship is available in the research group of Regius Professor Graham Hutchings and Professor Stuart Taylor together with Professor Nigel Richards to work on protease enzymes. Read more

Supervisors: Prof G J Hutchings, Prof S Taylor

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)