Physical organic chemistry of mechanochemically active polymers

Description

The group’s core expertise is in polymer mechanochemistry (https://pcwww.liv.ac.uk/~boulatov/en), an emerging area of science at the interface of chemistry, physics and engineering. Polymer mechanochemistry attempts to understand and exploit how mechanical loads, which stretch, compress or shear polymeric materials, alter the chemical properties of the polymer. The group pursues both fundamental questions, such as how reaction mechanisms change in response to mechanical forces at different scales, and applications of this fundamental understanding to improve existing and create new materials, devices and processes, and to design new chemistries. These goals are achieved by integrating synthesis, measurements, quantum-chemical calculations and modelling. As a result, the group provides an excellent opportunity to learn how to exploit your expertise in physical and physical organic chemistry to bridge chemical synthesis with computations and modeling. An interested student will be offered support to learn the other subfields.

The student will be responsible for designing and undertaking detailed kinetic and mechanistic investigations of mechanochemical reactivity in solution and bulk polymeric materials. These studies usually require techniques such as sonication, high-resolution size-exclusion chromatography and mechanical characterization of bulk materials. Such studies will be done in close coordination with computational and modelling work, results of which may inform on the design of physical experiments. All group members are also offered practical assistance with developing their own projects from identifying a compelling scientific problem, through the project design, implementation and dissemination.

The complexity and multidisciplinary nature of the phenomena we study place a premium on group members learning not just technical skills but a systematic way of thinking about scientific problems, and means of applying this thinking to all aspects of research. Professional and scientific development is a high priority in the group, which is facilitated by its small size, enabling the advisor to maintain the open-door policy and to provide technical, tactical and strategic advice. Historically, the group has been particularly attractive to PhD candidates who want to gain a broad functional familiarity with the diverse tools of contemporary chemistry and learn how to integrate them into a coherent research approach suitable for addressing the most challenging scientific problems in molecular sciences.

The group invites applications from highly qualified and ambitious candidates with research background in organic synthesis, physical measurements, quantum-chemical calculations or modelling. Demonstrated research proficiency is more important than course marks. Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a good degree (equivalent to a UK First or Upper Second Class degree) in Chemistry, Materials Science or a related discipline. The available funding is limited to UK and RoI residents.

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/.

Please ensure you include the project title in your online application and quote reference CCPR070.