chemistry PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

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)

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

PhD in Chemistry: Developing innovative organofluorine chemistry

Supervisor: Dr M Tredwell

PhD in Chemistry - Developing innovative organofluorine chemistry. Dr Matthew Tredwell is looking for a PhD student to develop innovative organofluorine chemistry. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD 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)

Electron Driven Chemistry in the Interstellar Medium

Supervisors: Dr C Anstoter, Dr E Campbell

A PhD studentship is available joint between the groups of Cate Anstöter and Ewen Campbell, School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, see https://isla-edi.com/ . Read more

30 August 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (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)

University of Otago Department of Chemistry

Design and synthesis of chemical tools to interrogate cannabinoid receptors - synthetic, medicinal chemistry

Research project. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary team at the University of Otago, to undertake research developing chemical probes for the cannabinoid receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Read more

Supervisor: Dr AJ Vernall

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

Ammonia futures – the changing face of atmospheric nitrogen emissions

Supervisors: Dr S Moller, Prof A C Lewis

Introduction. Air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to human health, and impacts biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Read more

24 May 2024 PhD Research Project 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)

University of Warwick Department of Chemistry

Atomistic Simulations of Surface Chemistry underpinning the Atomic-Scale Processing of Materials for AI-driven Nanoelectronics Applications

Project description. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) and atomic layer etching (ALE) are crucial technologies in semiconductor processing, especially as nanoelectronics devices become smaller and more complex. Read more

Supervisor: Dr BK Karasulu

3 May 2024 PhD Research Project 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

University of St Andrews School of Chemistry

PhD position in synthetic inorganic/organometallic chemistry: New reactivity from unusual molecular main group compounds

The chemistry of the main group elements has seen some remarkable advances in the past years. Read more

Supervisor: Dr A Stasch

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

PhD in Chemistry: Applications of main group Lewis acids in synthetic organic chemistry

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

Applications of main group Lewis acids in synthetic organic chemistry. This project will investigate the use of boron or aluminium Lewis acids in transformations typically catalysed by transition metals. Read more

Supervisor: Prof R Melen

Victoria University of Wellington School of Chemical and Physical Sciences

Last chance to apply

PhD Scholarship in Materials Science or Chemical Engineering for the Development of Novel Controlled-Release Fertilisers and Manufacturing Processes

Project Overview. Read more

Supervisor: Prof J Johnston

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

PhD in Chemistry: Medicinal Chemistry of Nucleotide Analogues

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

Nucleoside analogues (NAs) are an important class of antiviral and anticancer agents commonly used in the therapy of many different viral infections and cancer conditions. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Serpi

Dalhousie University Chemistry

PhD Position in Fundamental and Applied Chemistry of PN Cages

Background. Our group explores geometrically interesting molecules for fundamental and functional chemistry. One area of focus is the development of scaffolds from which substituents can be reliably extended with well-defined bond angles and lengths. Read more

Supervisor: Prof S Chitnis

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

University of Leeds Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

PhD Studentship in Planetary/Interstellar Chemistry

Research Group: School of Chemistry

The School of Chemistry is offering a PhD studentship, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), in the general areas of planetary and interstellar chemistry. Read more

Supervisors: Prof D Heard, Prof J Plane, Prof D Marsh

8 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Umeå University Chemistry Department

Fully funded PhD student position in structural biology of viruses

PhD position in the structural biology of viruses. The Department of Chemistry is opening a PhD position in Chemistry with a specialization in structural biology. Read more

Supervisor: Dr M Renner

2 June 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Development of an ambient mass spectrometry platform for rapid mass spectrometry characterisation of proteins

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

A PhD studentship is available in the group of Dr. Read more

Supervisor: Dr D Clarke

University of Birmingham School of Chemistry

Mechanochemistry and the mechanical bond – sustainable methods for the synthesis of functional rotaxanes and catenanes

Background. Molecules are mechanically bonded if they are composed of two covalent subcomponents that are threaded through one another such that they can never separate even though there is no covalent bond between them. Read more

Supervisors: Prof S Goldup, Dr D C Crawford

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

Imperial College London Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Chemistry of near zero or negative emissions concrete produced from waste CO2, end-of-life concrete, and electricity

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship funded by the European Research Council Starting Grant project titled “Decarbonising cementitious materials through carbon capture and utilisation (CO24Cem)”. Read more

Supervisor: Dr R Myers

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

University of Southampton Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences

Covalent inhibition of streptococcal glucan sucrases to disrupt oral biofilm development

Supervisory Team: Dr Seung Lee (School of Chemistry), Prof. Jeremy Webb (School of Biological Sciences and national Biofilms Innovation Centre), Prof. Read more

Supervisor: Dr SS Lee

31 August 2024 PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Imperial College London Department of Chemistry

Fully-funded PhD position available in synthetic organometallic chemistry for functional materials at the Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London

Start date. Oct 2024. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Project summary. Read more

Supervisor: Prof N Long

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

Direct analysis ion mobility mass spectrometry for rapid profiling of edible fats and oils to combat food adulteration

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

Background. Food safety and authenticity are generally taken for granted, yet food adulteration is one of the most significant challenges faced in the UK, with the total impact of food crime on the UK estimated to be between £409 million and £1.96 billion per year [Food Standards Agency, 2023]. Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Mosely

PhD in Chemistry: Computational design of new heterogeneous catalysts to support net zero: conversion of CO2 to methanol

Supervisor: Dr A Logsdail

Computational design of new heterogeneous catalysts to support net zero. conversion of CO2 to methanol . PhD Supervisor. Dr. Read more

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

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)

Swansea University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Chemistry / Physics: Fully Funded EPSRC DTP PhD Scholarship: Towards Organic Quantum Memristors

Funding providers: EPSRC Quantum Technologies DTP. Subject areas: Chemistry and Physics. Project start date: . Read more

Supervisor: Dr J Ryan

20 May 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Synergistic Experimental and Data-driven Catalyst Development for Sustainable Synthesis

Supervisors: Prof S Thomas, Dr E Solel Moroshko

The Thomas Group in collaboration with GSK and Dr Ephrath Solel Moroshko are now recruiting a motivated PhD student to develop a new method for the discovery and application of sustainable catalysis. Read more

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

University of Sheffield Department of Chemistry

Self-assembled sensors for bio-signalling molecules

In this multi-discplinary project involving organic synthesis, coordination chemistry, biological chemistry, photophysics and electrochemistry , transition metal-templated self-assembly will be used to construct supramolecular structures intended to act as hosts and electrochemical/optical sensors for biological signalling models. Read more

Supervisor: Prof JA Thomas

1 July 2024 PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)