PhD Studentship - Adaptive Kinetic Spectral Deconvolution

Research theme: NMR Methodology

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

Please advertise to UK only as the only EU students with settles status can apply and we are not able to accept applications from students who do not have settled status.

This 3.5 year PhD project is fully funded by Department of Chemistry DTP and JEOL (UK) Ltd, home students, and EU students with settled status, are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

A 3.5-year PhD studentship in advanced NMR and data analysis is available in the University of Manchester’s NMR Methodology group, under the supervision of Dr Ralph Adams, Prof. Mathias Nilsson, and Prof. Gareth Morris, with industrial partnership support from JEOL (UK) Ltd. 

NMR spectroscopy is a powerful and widely used technique for probing molecular structure, dynamics, and chemical processes across the physical, chemical, and life sciences. In this project, NMR will be coupled with computational methods to reveal detailed information about how complex chemical mixtures evolve over time in reaction environments.

The project will focus on developing and applying new approaches for analysing time-resolved NMR spectroscopy. Allowing spectra and time-course data to be extracted which will provide insights into chemical reaction mechanisms, particularly in complex, multi-component systems where conventional analysis methods struggle. The work is inherently interdisciplinary, combining elements of experimental NMR, chemical kinetics, mathematical modelling, and computational data analysis, and the precise direction of the project can be shaped in part by the interests and strengths of the student appointed. The student will be based in an environment with state-of-the-art NMR facilities, strong links to industry, and an active research community in spectroscopy and methodology development. 

The NMR Methodology group at Manchester specialises in the development of new NMR methods and data analysis approaches, alongside their application to challenging chemical problems. The group combines pulse sequence design, experimental NMR, and computational approaches, including modelling, AI, and machine learning to simplify highly complex chemical problems. These methods are applied across a broad range of chemistry, with a strong emphasis on building general tools that can be used widely by the NMR and chemistry communities.

This project would suit motivated students from Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Data Science, or related disciplines with an interest in spectroscopy, modelling, and quantitative analysis of complex scientific data.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact the main supervisor, Dr Ralph Adams - ralph.adams@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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