PhD Vacancies

This page lists current vacancies, but you should also contact those members of staff whose research interests you to discuss possible projects that will be available in the near future (e-mail accounts are given in the staff pages).

There are 30 new PhD studentships offered every year in the department across a broad range of subject areas, fully funded by EPSRC, BBSRC, charities and industry. Whatever your interests, we have research opportunites that will provide you with the range of experience you want and equip you with the expertise you will need in your future career.

Polyurethane recycling, processing and composites. Modelling and Scattering studies of structure development

We are looking to recruit a motivated and determined student as part of our PhD programme to study routes for the reprocessing of polyurethane, converting a low cost waste into high value fibre and composite materials. The work will require creativity, determination and the ability to network and communicate effectively. A major part of the project will be to re-process the material and study the structure by electron microscopy, small angle scattering and AFM. The small angle studies will be modelled using software developed as part of the project. No familiarity with programming is required, but a solid maths background is necessary.

The project will require an understanding of polymer chemistry and polymer physics. The project will involve a small amount of synthetic chemistry, to prepare model systems. The bulk of the work will focus on the characterisation and modelling effort.

You will be taught how to use a range of techniques such as the use of rheology, both shear and extensional; the determination of degradation products by GPC, IR and NMR; surface analysis by optical microscopy, AFM and IR; bulk morphology by SAXS/WAXS and electron microscopy; and mechanical properties by DMTA and tensile testing.

The successful candidate would be expected to have either an undergraduate degree or MSc in Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science or Polymer science. Additionally good written and spoken English are essential, as is an ability to think creatively. Key skills required would be an inquiring mind with attention to detail; the ability to
work independently; the ability to assimilate ideas from the literature and translate these to your research. Desirable qualities would be the ability to assemble mechanical components, good manual dexterity and a willingness to learn new skills outside the traditional disciplinary boundaries. Details of computer skills should
form part of your CV.

A passport and the ability to travel, possibly at short notice would be desirable as some of the work may be undertaken at large scale facilities such as the ESRF in Grenoble France. A driving license is not essential.

Future Employability:
Knowledge of polyurethanes and the relationships between formulation, structure and properties is highly desirable in the workplace. All our PhD students with PU experience have been offered well paid employment
before graduating. This is an excellent opportunity to gain a direct insight into industrial and academic research.

For more information please email Dr Patrick Fairclough: - p.fairclough@sheffield.ac.uk

Also more information can be found here: - www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply

Structural studies on luminescent probes for quadruplex DNA

As part of a new White Rose Doctoral Training centre in Mechanistic Biology, the above PhD in the research groups of Dr Jim A Thomas and Prof Mike Williamson (MBB) is now available for next academic year.

Quadruplex DNA is emerging as a physiologically important form of DNA involved in gene regulation. We have synthesised a compound that is transported into cells and luminesces when bound to quadruplex DNA in the antiparallel ‘basket’ form, thereby pinpointing its cellular location. The aim of the project is to synthesise a second generation compound that has even better specificity for basket structure, use it in cellular assays, and determine the structure of the complex through high-field NMR studies.

If you are interested in this project, please contact Dr Jim Thomas in the first instance.