PhD (via MPhil) Studentship in School of Natural Sciences

Applications are invited for a PhD (via MPhil) studentship within the School of Centre for Smart Materials within the School of Natural Sciences, based at the Preston (UK) Campus. The studentship is tenable for up to 3.5 years full-time (subject to satisfactory progress). The studentship will provide an annual stipend of £17,668 for 3.5 years. Both UK/Home and EU/International Applicants may apply but Tuition Fees will only be covered at the UK/Home rate for up to 3.5 years. EU/International Applicants would be expected to pay the difference between the UK/Home fee rate and EU/International fee rate. Other Allowances include up to £5,000 per annum bench fees.

It is expected the successful applicant will commence March 2023.

Project Title: Stimuli-Responsive Decontamination Materials (SRDMs).

Project Description:

Decommissioning of civil and nuclear structures, plant and equipment is a £multi-million operation in the UK and increasing year on year. In many situations buildings and plant require decontamination to allow decommissioning to start/continue. Decontamination of inaccessible plant/equipment is a major challenge; our non-invasive approach, which replicates natural stimuli responsive materials (SRMs), also known as “smart” materials will overcome these restrictions. Our approach is to apply the SRM as a film/coating/gel to the contaminated surface, the SRM will contain metal complexing agents capable of removing contamination from various non-porous inaccessible surfaces, e.g. narrow bore pipes, then trigger its de-attachment once the surface has been decontaminated. The radionuclide loaded SRM can be collected and treated, if necessary, prior to disposal.

Flexibility, strong adhesive properties which can be influenced by appropriate stimuli, quick uptake of radionuclides, are the major considerations in the formulation of our SRDM’s.

Further information

Informal project related enquiries about the post can be made to Prof H Eccles, heccles@uclan.ac.uk

For the application form and full details go to: www.uclan.ac.uk/research/research-degrees/studentships

Completed application forms should be returned to the Research Admissions email researchadmissions@uclan.ac.uk quoting the studentship reference number DTC34

Proposed Interview Date: TBC

Current UCLAN research students will not be eligible to apply for this research studentship

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