PhD Studentship: Developing Novel Light-Induced In-Situ Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) Methods

Application deadline: All year round (as long as possible)
Research theme: Chemistry (Physical and Analytical Chemistry)

How to apply: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-fap

This studentship is funded through the Photon Science Institute at the University of Manchester, it is open to both UK and International Students and will cover full fees and a stipend at the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25)

Light-induced in-situ Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) studies are a growing field in both continuous wave and pulsed EPR. It can be used to monitor photoactivated chemical and biochemical reactions involving radical reagents, projects or intermediates. Alternatively, light can be used to generate excited molecular states, such as triplets, that can act as spin-labels in biological structural determination and may have important roles to play in future quantum algorithms.

However, delivery of light into the EPR spectrometer is typically via small optical windows or optical fibres leading to significant This project will investigate applications of a novel, general in situ light delivery method for EPR. Based on work initially optimised for NMR(Communications Chemistry, 2022, 5, 90), it uses the walls of the sample tube as both a light guide and a scattering zone to illuminate the sample, leading to more efficient and uniform illumination than illumination traditional methods. Initial proof-of-principle EPR experiments have shown significant improvements over current common methodology (Chem. Commun., 2024, 60, 1012-1015).

Work on this project will take place within the UK’s National Research Facility for EPR and will build on these results, integrating this technology into different EPR spectrometers to facilitate novel experiments. In the first phase, we will develop and test chemical systems that will be used to benchmark the technology and test different treatments for the tube and scattering zone, aiming to achieve higher efficiency of light scattering/illumination using a range of optically activated chemical and biochemical reaction systems for validation. Further applications will integrate this methodology with more advanced measurement capabilities. We aim to integrate time-resolved laser or LED excitation to study the time resolution of the experimental systems. Experiments may also include applications to biological systems including determining distances at the molecular level (Methods in Enzymology, 2022, 666, 171-231) or applications to optically addressable chemical systems with the potential to be used as molecular qubits.

Applicants are expected to hold, or about to obtain, a minimum upper second class undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics, Natural Science or a related discipline or a Masters degree at a similar level in a relevant subject. Experience in Magnetic Resonance, specifically Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, or the use of light sources including lasers is desirable.

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this project before you apply. Contact information and websites are provided below:

Dr Alice Bowen: alice.bowen@manchester.ac.uk
https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/alice.bowen
https://www.chemistry.manchester.ac.uk/epr/

Dr Alexander Golovanov: alexander.golovanov@manchester.ac.uk
https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/a.golovanov

Prof. David Collision: David.collision@manchester.ac.uk
https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/david.collison

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