PhD Studentship: Nanoscale Electrochemistry and Healthcare Systems

Electrochemistry is an enabling science that addresses key problems of major societal relevance, spanning from energy conversion (e.g. fuel cells and solar cells) and energy storage (battery and water splitting technologies), to the development of advanced analytical tools for environmental monitoring and point-of-care medical diagnostics.

This PhD project aims to draw together different spectrum of interfacial science using nanoscale electrochemical approach (i) for the investigation of physicochemical processes at living cells (eg. brain cancer cells) and functional biomaterials (ii) establishing principles and methods to understand the interfacial heterogeneous process or mechanism of the cells and materials (iii) developing strategies to enhance the performance of functional materials for healthcare devices.

This project will provide a platform that will address an important general problem in biotechnology, provides a great opportunity for considerable advances in fundamental measurement science and surface/interfacial science, modelling of electrochemical systems and also develop functional devices for the applications of biomedical device.

This is an ideal project for a PhD student who enjoys problem solving and interdisciplinary research, involving chemistry, biotechnology, microscopy, modelling, and data analysis. There will be a chance to learn many desirable scientific skills of wide applicability, embracing electrochemical methods, microscopy, instrumentation, surface chemistry, scientific programming and data visualization, as well as key transferable skills.

This project is suitable for students with a background in the Life Science, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence. The successful applicants must have (or expect to obtain) at least the equivalent of a UK first or upper second-class degree in a relevant discipline/subject area. The studentship will commence in September 2023 (although an earlier start is possible based on your availability). Funding may be available on a competitive basis to exceptional student of any citizenship. Applications are welcome to those able to support themselves or with funding already arranged. Such applications will go through the same level of academic assessment.