PhD in Improved Forensic Analysis by Pure Shift NMR Spectroscopy

Direct funding to this project is provided by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). Funding covers stipend (including top up above standard rates), home (UK) tuition fees, project consumables and travel. The stipend for this project will initially be £22,822 p.a, this is £4200 p.a. above the standard UKRI rate.

This PhD project aims to advance the understanding and application of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods in the analysis of complex samples. Our primary focus will be the use of pure shift NMR methods to analyse samples containing bio-toxins or related materials important in forensics and the Defence industry. This will lay the groundwork for rapid identification and/or quantification of targeted components of mixtures.

While NMR is renowned for its applications in structure elucidation, it often falls short when we used for analysis of complex biological and chemical mixtures. Crucial signals are often obscured in conventional ¹H NMR spectra, partly as a result of the loss of information arising because of signal overlap caused by spin-spin couplings. As a result, information on mixture components is often hidden.

Since 2007, work on ultrahigh resolution NMR methods in the Manchester NMR methodology group has improved the ability of the NMR spectroscopist to access information from signals that are highly overlapped in conventional ¹H NMR spectra. Broadband homonuclear decoupling or ‘pure shift’ NMR methods have been developed and applied to conventional NMR techniques including TOCSY, COSY, NOESY, ROESY, diffusion measurements, and HSQC, significantly improving their resolution. The advances in resolution made possible by pure shift methods have expanded the chemical space accessible to NMR analysis, and have far exceeded those from magnet development.

This project seeks to further these cutting-edge pure shift NMR methods and adapt them for optimal use with complex mixtures containing biotoxins and related materials of interest to the Defence industry.

This in an Industrial studentship funded by DSTL. The student will be based in the NMR Methodology Group at the University of Manchester with placements at DSTL Porton Down. The project will provide access for an outstanding PhD student to a first-rate, challenging research training experience, within the context of a mutually beneficial research collaboration between academia, government and industry. The student will use world-class research facilities in the Department of Chemistry and at DSTL, including cutting-edge chemical characterisation instrumentation. This PhD project will provide extensive training in a range of industrially-focused research methods, allowing the student to acquire a broad set of skills in practical NMR spectroscopy, spin physics, statistical data analysis, software production and scientific programming, and can be tailored to suit individual preferences.

We welcome applications to join a diverse team which aims to train world class scientists with a broad range of skills, and fosters a lively exchange of ideas, viewpoints, and innovation. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. If you possess a strong interest in the field of NMR and a commitment to advancing research, we encourage you to join us.

A provisional sift will be completed on 18^th August 2023 but the post will remain open until filled. We hope to start the project on 1^st October 2023.

We strongly recommend that you contact Dr. Ralph Adams (ralph.adams@manchester.ac.uk) to discuss this project before you apply.

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