Qualification Type: | PhD |
---|---|
Location: | Reading |
Funding for: | UK Students |
Funding amount: | £19,237 for the 2024/25 academic year |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 28th March 2024 |
---|---|
Closes: | 28th June 2024 |
Reference: | DRC24-027 |
Project title: Self-Immolative Polymeric Sensors
Supervisors: Professor Wayne Hayes and Dr John Mckendrick
Project Overview: Self-immolative molecules and polymers[1] have become significant targets in organic-based material research as they offer significant potential in applications such as drug delivery, biological/chemical sensors, diagnostics, degradable polymers and degrade-on-demand adhesives. Several novel self-immolative materials have been generated at Reading that respond to specific chemical triggers.[2-4] This project targets the discovery of polymers that produce a colorimetric response to a range of chemical entities via degradative pathways to develop indicator strips for use in a variety of environments.
This industrially-funded project will provide excellent training in the field of polymeric materials – it involves organic and polymer synthesis plus detailed characterisation of new self-immolative materials. The student will work in a well-resourced research laboratory and be part of a vibrant research group. They will receive training in analytical techniques such as NMR, IR, UV spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis (DSC, TGA) plus GPC analysis to determine the composition of the new polymers, will learn how to study the physical characteristics of the materials via rheology and tensiometry and will also establish how these self-immolative polymers degrade when activated by specific chemical triggers using the above analytical methods. In addition to gaining invaluable scientific technical skills, this project will also develop the ability of the student to conduct independent research by providing training on the use of databases (such as Web of Knowledge, Scifinder Scholar, Reaxsys), presentation skills and writing reports. By the end of the PhD training, the student will be able to design and execute reactions, interpret complex analytical datasets, and summarise this information in a variety of formats (such as in presentations at group meetings or international conferences or in peer-reviewed publications).
References
[1] Polym. Chem., 2011, 2, 773-790.
[2] Organic Biomolecular Chemistry, 2015, 13, 8703-8707.
[3] Chem. Commun., 2019, 55, 5219-5222.
[4] J. Org. Chem., 2021, 86, 15, 10263–10279.
Eligibility:
Funding Details:
How to apply:
To apply click Apply for a Programme and create your account, and use the link sent by email to start the application process. During the application process please select the PhD in Chemistry
*Important notes*
Application Deadline: Applications will be considered until a candidate is selected.
Further Enquiries: For further details please contact: Professor Hayes (w.c.hayes@reading.ac.uk) or Dr John Mckendrick (j.e.mckendrick@reading.ac.uk)
Please note that, where a candidate is successful in being awarded funding, this will be confirmed via a formal studentship award letter; this will be provided separately from any Offer of Admission and will be subject to standard checks for eligibility and other criteria.
Type / Role:
Subject Area(s):
Location(s):