PhD Studentship: Next-Generation Hair Repair Products

Award Summary

100% home fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £21,805 (subject to minor change)

Overview

Human hair possesses a complex, hierarchical structure that is readily damaged during routine styling treatments involving heat, chemical processing, and mechanical stress. The global hair care market is a highly innovative and dynamic sector, estimated at more than £100 billion and growing at over 6% every year. This project aims to deliver a step-change in hair care technology by developing new strategies to form covalent bonds within hair fibres, moving beyond current approaches that rely primarily on hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. While these weaker interactions can provide temporary repair, they are inherently fragile and often lost after repeated washing. Drawing inspiration from contemporary organic chemistry, this project will explore methods to permanently restore structural integrity by covalently repairing damaged bonds within hair. The project will investigate chemistries for the selective covalent modification of the hair surface, enabling durable repair and functional enhancement. A key focus will be the development of reactions that are not only effective, but also safe, non-toxic, and fully compatible with existing hair care routines. This interdisciplinary project will appeal to candidates interested in applying fundamental chemistry to real-world challenges. The student will benefit from close collaboration with scientists at Procter & Gamble Hair Care in Cincinnati.

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

September 2026

Award Duration

3 Years

Application Closing Date

30th June 2026

Sponsor

Procter & Gamble

Supervisors

Prof David A Fulton (Newcastle University)

Dr Sonja Knowles (Procter & Gamble)

Eligibility Criteria

Home applicants are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship.

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum A 2:1 MChem, or international equivalent, in chemistry or a related subject. We will also consider applicants on an individual basis with BSc qualifications if they have additional relevant experience.

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal 

Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.  

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:   

• search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8100F
• select ‘PhD Chemistry (full time)  as the programme of study 

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:  

• a ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form  
• the studentship code SNES309 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field  
• attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code SNES309 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
• attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications

Contact Details

For informal enquiries and further details, contact david.fulton@ncl.ac.uk

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