PhD Studentship in Catalysis: Light Activated Iron Catalysis

This PhD is co-sponsored by AstraZeneca Discovery Chemistry (Cambridge, UK)

This is a tax-free stipend covering tuition fees and living expenses at the standard EPSRC rate (commencing at ~£14,553 per year from September 2017 for a period of 36 months).

Project Description:
This project will merge two pillars of sustainable catalysis, photocatalysis and earth abundant metal catalysis to develop bench-stable, easily handled iron catalysts which capable of catalysing a wide range of transformations including olefin hydrogenation and hydrofunctionalisation reactions. Iron catalysis has shown great potential, but suffers from a need to use highly air- and moisture sensitive catalysts and pre-catalysts for the most powerful reactions. We will introduce a step-change in iron catalysis using photocatalysis to overcome these issues and developing pre-catalysts as easy to use as palladium on charcoal.

You will be provided with high-level training across a wide range of areas including:
• Organic and inorganic synthesis and methodology
• Organometallic synthesis and characterisation (including the use of Schlenk techniques, gloveboxes and NMR spectroscopy)
• Catalyst development and optimisation including parallel reaction screening and analysis.
• Photocatalysis and photoredox chemistry
• Mechanistic investigations and physical organic/inorganic chemistry

Research Environment: This project is funded by the School of Chemistry and AstraZenca (Cambridge, UK). The successful candidate will work in the research group of Dr Stephen Thomas and include a 3-month placement at AstraZeneca’s brand new Cambridge research campus.

Eligibility: Applicants must satisfy RCUK residency rules: “to be eligible for a full award a student must have no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the studentship” (for more details see http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/skills/students/help/eligibility/). Applicants must have an undergraduate honours degree in Chemistry (at least an upper-second) and will preferably have experience of working in an organic or inorganic chemistry laboratory (e.g., research project or industrial placement).

How to apply: Please submit your application by e-mail to Dr Stephen Thomas ([Email Address Removed]) which should include:
• Cover letter, detailing your background and motivation for applying for this project • CV with the details of two personal referees
• Other information for consideration (e.g., publications)

Contact and Further Information: Interested candidates are welcome to e-mail any questions directly to Dr Stephen Thomas ([Email Address Removed]). More information about the Thomas Research Group can be found on our website (https://spthomasgroup.wordpress.com).

Deadline for applications is 31 May 2017.