PhD studentship - Adaptive supramolecular materials: from molecular design to biomedical...

OPPORTUNITY DETAILS

Total reward

0 $

Nonprofit organization

University of Greenwich

Area

Central and Eastern Europe

Host Country

United Kingdom

Deadline

01 Mar 2021

Study level

Doctoral Degree

Opportunity type

PhD

Specialities

Creative Arts and Design

Opportunity funding

Full funding

Eligible Countries

This opportunity is destined for all countries

Eligible Region

All Regions

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD studentship on adaptive supramolecular materials at the University of Greenwich

PROJECT . Smart, adaptive or stimuli-responsive materials, all refer to a range of materials that are able to adapt or alter their properties such as colour, transparency, shape or stiffness, in response to changes in the surrounding conditions (e.g. temperature, pH, presence of an analyte, exposure to light, electric field, etc.). These materials are key for diverse emergent applications such as smart coatings or textiles, sensing and imaging, drug delivery, tissue engineering or soft robotics. The main objective of this research project is to develop smart organic materials (gels and nanoparticles) designed at the molecular level. The successful applicant will work with Dr Ana Castilla to design and synthesise functionalised (supramolecular) polymers and study their dynamic behaviour in response to different stimuli (e.g. interactions with anions, drugs or biomolecules). This will involve organic synthesis and studies on molecular recognition and self-assembly phenomena in solution as well as (nano)materials characterisation. The materials will be initially applied for controlled drug delivery. Other applications include water recycling, tissue engineering or sensing.

TRAINING. This project provides a multidisciplinary training opportunity. The successful candidate will be trained in organic and polymer synthesis, in a range of techniques used in the characterisation of systems in solution and materials (e.g. NMR, HPLC, DLS, rheology), and acquire relevant transferable skills (e.g. oral and written presentation of research results, research management, supervision of less experienced researchers).

APPLICANTS. A chemistry-based degree with a strong knowledge of organic chemistry is an essential requisite. Experience in supramolecular chemistry and/or materials chemistry and/or drug delivery is desirable. Good knowledge of the English language (both written and spoken) is essential. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate strong commitment to high quality research and enthusiasm for learning new methods and techniques.

Applications should be made as soon as possible.

Reading:

A. M. Castilla, E. R. Draper, M. C. Nolan, C. Brasnett, A. Seddon, L. L. E. Mears, N. Cowieson and D. J. Adams, Sci. Rep., 2017, 7, 1–10.

Y. Salinas, A. M. Castilla and M. Resmini, Polym. Chem., 2018, 9, 2271–2280.

A. M. Castilla, T. K. Ronson and J. Nitschke, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2016, 138, 2342–2351.

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