Postgraduate Scholarship in Low Dimensional Magnetic Metal-Organic Frameworks

A fully funded three year PhD position, supported by the Leverhulme Trust, is available in inorganic materials chemistry exploring the magnetism of low dimensional and frustrated lanthanide metal-organic frameworks.

Metal-organic frameworks, which combine inorganic and organic building blocks in the same extended solid, have recently emerged with fascinating magnetic and electronic properties. This is facilitated by their tremendous compositional flexibility, leading to unique architectures that enable low dimensional and frustrated magnetic properties to be combined in new ways. This enables the emergence of exotic magnetic states not found in other materials. This is linked to promising applications as magnetic cooling materials that could facilitate cooling MRIs and scientific instrumentation based on cryomagnets to 4 K, reducing our dependence on scarce and expensive helium. This project will achieve a detailed understanding of the structure and dynamics of these important materials for the first time, assisting their development for magnetic cooling applications.

The successful candidate will be based at the University of Kent’s main campus in Canterbury in the Functional Materials Group of the School of Physical Sciences. This is a rapidly growing department offering a fresh and exciting research environment, whose multidisciplinary expertise and wide variety of advanced instrumentation is an excellent match to the project. The studentship is part of a joint project with Professor Andrew Goodwin at the University of Oxford and regular visits to his group are planned as part of this close collaboration. The project will involve synthesis and characterisation of lanthanide frameworks, with a particular focus on powder and single crystal X-ray diffraction and magnetic property measurements. The research will also involve extensive use of neutron scattering facilities, both within the UK and internationally, with opportunities to learn cutting edge techniques at these facilities.

This PhD Studentship is due to start in January 2019.

Webpage(s): https://www.kent.ac.uk/physical-sciences/staff/profiles/academics/paul-saines.html

How to Apply: To apply please go to [https://www.kent.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/18/chemistry].

You will need to apply through the online application form on the main University website. Please note that you will be expected to provide personal details, education and employment history and supporting documentation (Curriculum Vitae, transcript of results, two academic references).

Interviews to be held between: 8th-18th of October 2018