PhD Studentship - (UoM-Peking) Uranium and Thorium in Arene-Trigonal-Donor Environments

Metal-ligand multiple bonding is a burgeoning area for making chemically novel structural motifs, probing chemical bonding, and being applied to catalysis, some of which defines the state-of-the-art in element bond forming reactions. Most metal-ligand multiple bonds involve transition metals, but in recent years we have advanced f-element, and in particular actinide, metal-ligand multiple bonding by realising unprecedented bonding combinations (e.g. Nat. Commun. 2025, 16, 7136; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 137, e202419987; Nat. Chem. 2024, 16, 780-790; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2024, 146, 4098-4111; Nat. Commun. 2023, 14, 4657; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023, 145, 21766-21784; Nat. Chem. 2022, 14, 342-349; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 9764-9774; Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 5649; Nat. Commun. 2021, 12, 4832; Nat. Commun. 2020, 11, 337). Nevertheless, there are still many actinide-ligand multiple bonds whose synthesis and in-depth characterisation would represent major milestones.

Building on recent preliminary results confirming the utility of a new ligand class in f-element chemistry, this PhD will target the synthesis of unprecedented actinide-ligand multiple bonds and explore their characterisation through in-depth experimental (reactivity, spectroscopic, magnetic) and computational (single- and multi-reference methods) characterisation.

The successful applicant will be a highly motivated, outstanding chemist ready to undertake research in the field of actinide synthesis, structural, spectroscopic, magnetic, and computational characterisation.

In addition to the wide range of transferable skills developed during a PhD, the appointed researcher will learn and use: (i) Schlenk and glove box techniques; (ii) characterisation methods, e.g. crystallography, NMR, IR, Raman, UV/Vis/NIR, and EPR spectroscopies, magnetometry, XAS/XANES/RIXS, and quantum chemical calculations; (iii) reactivity studies supported by analytical characterisation and modelling methods.

You will benefit from a joint supervisory team that comprises Prof. Liddle (Manchester, synthesis), Dr Baker (Manchester, XAS/XANES/RIXS), Prof. Jiang (Peking, computational), and Prof. Huang (Peking, synthesis), and also experience the diverse cultures and opportunities that come from living in the two vibrant cities that are Manchester and Beijing.

Manchester entry is open to UK and international students. Chinese nationals from Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong, including dual nationals, should apply through Peking.

For full eligibly and funding information, please see our dedicated page here PhD dual award - Manchester and Peking University | Science and Engineering Faculty

NB: All projects advertised under the UoM-Peking University dual award scheme are competition-funded and not all projects advertised will offer a place on the programme.

Please contact the main supervisor Prof Steve Liddle in advance of an application to discuss your experience and 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.

To be considered for this project, you must complete a formal application through our online application portal. If you already have an applicant account, this link will directly open an application for the Manchester-Peking programme. If you don’t already have an applicant account, please follow the instructions here.

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project as displayed on this page including UoM-Peking at the beginning, the name of your supervisor, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. Please, enter “Dual award funding” in the field asking about how you’re planning on funding your research.

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