Fully funded PhD studentship: Fundamental studies into single atom catalysts

University of Nottingham; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced stipend due to cost of living

Training in scientific skills

Collaborative research opportunities

Job summary

An esteemed educational institution in the UK is offering a fully funded PhD studentship focused on single atom catalysts. The successful candidate will gain experience with synchrotron light, X-ray techniques, and other scientific skills while working on innovative research at Diamond Light Source. The role is ideal for those with a background in chemistry or physics, starting by July 2026, with potential for an earlier start.

Qualifications

• Looking for a candidate with a background in chemistry, physics, or a related subject.
• Practical experience with high or ultra-high vacuum systems, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy is a bonus.
• Motivated to understand the 'how' and 'why' of the world around.

Responsibilities

• Deposit single metal atoms onto defective graphene supports to study their catalytic properties.
• Utilise synchrotron light to measure structural, chemical, and electronic changes.
• Gain experience in scientific communication, project management, and collaborative working.

Skills

Chemistry

Physics

Scientific programming

High vacuum systems

X‑ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Education

Background in Chemistry, Physics or related subject

Tools

X‑ray absorption techniques

Ultra‑high vacuum apparatus

Job description

Fully funded PhD studentship: Fundamental studies into single atom catalysts

Join to apply for the Fully funded PhD studentship: Fundamental studies into single atom catalysts role at University of Nottingham.

Key Details

• Area: Chemistry
• Location: UK Other
• Closing Date: Wednesday 31 December 2025
• Reference: SCI3045
• Starting date: July 2026 (earlier start dates also possible)
• Contact: Dr David Duncan ([e-mail])

About The Project

We are recruiting applicants for a fully funded PhD studentship in the School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham to work under the supervision of Dr David Duncan. The project will be strongly based at Diamond Light Source (Oxfordshire), the UK’s national synchrotron facility, where the student will be based for at least two years of the project. At Diamond, the student will be able to utilise cutting edge equipment to study single atom catalysts anchored on defective graphene substrates. Catalysis is a key industrial process that underpins not only the supply of consumer goods, but also the scale of food production required to feed the billions of people on this planet. However, catalysis is challenging to study on atomic scale, requiring the development and study of ever more realistic model systems. Single atom catalysts, where the catalytic site contains only a single metal atom supported on a heterogenous substrate, offers a tantalising prospect as a model system: it is an inherently defective system (like almost all real catalysts) that can be anchored to supports amenable to fundamental atomistic studies. This research will build upon an ongoing collaboration between the Universities of Warwick, Nottingham and QMUL and Diamond Light Source, to develop model defective graphene supports, onto which single metal atoms can be anchored.

The successful candidate will take these model defective graphene supports and deposit single metal atoms onto them to study their catalytic properties. These catalytic properties would then be correlated, using the synchrotron light, to structural, chemical and electronic changes in the single metal atom at different steps in the catalytic reaction. Using the synchrotron light we can measure minute differences in these properties, notably differences in structure with the precision of a few picometers, to yield a fundamental insight into how our catalytic system is changing through our reaction.

The candidate will gain direct experience with the use of synchrotron light, X‑ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques, structural determination techniques (like X‑ray standing waves) and X‑ray absorption techniques. The student will also gain experience in using ultra‑high vacuum apparatus, data processing and scientific programming, as well as training in more general skills such as scientific communication, project management, collaborative working, mentoring and leadership. All these skills are widely transferrable and highly sought after in a range of industrial, as well as academic career pathways. Due to the increased cost of living in Oxfordshire, the stipend for this studentship will be enhanced by £2000 per year above the UKRI minimum stipend.

About You

We are looking for someone with a background in chemistry, physics or a related subject who likes to know the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of the world around them. Any practical experience with high or ultra‑high vacuum systems, X‑ray photoelectron spectroscopy, or scientific programming would be a bonus, but is not essential. Within this role you will have the opportunity to interact with, and maybe even work with, a wide variety of different research groups that come into Diamond Light Source from around the world.

The studentship must start by July 2026, however there is an option of starting earlier, should the successful candidate prefer.

If this sounds appealing to you, then please email [e-mail] and introduce yourself. From there, we’d be happy to discuss the finer details, potential fit, or answer whatever other queries you might have.