PhD: Actinide Speciation via Multiconfigurational Chemistry

Nuclear Inst; Manchester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded PhD

Tax-free stipend

Job summary

The University of Manchester invites applications for a 3.5-year PhD project focused on actinide speciation in solution, aiming to develop multiconfigurational approaches that account for solvent effects and coordinating ligands. You will compare simulations with experimental data to interpret X-ray spectra of heavy elements.

The stipend is tax-free and funded by UKRI at £21,805 for 2026/27, with tuition fees paid; start date is October 2027.

Qualifications

• At least a 2:1 honours degree or MSc in Chemistry, Physics or related discipline.
• Strong interest in actinide chemistry and spectroscopy.
• Willingness to develop and apply multiconfigurational electronic structure methods.

Responsibilities

• Develop multiconfigurational approaches to study actinide speciation in solution.
• Account for solvent effects and coordinating ligands in simulations.
• Compare simulations with experimental data to interpret spectra of actinide species.

Skills

Actinide chemistry

Spectroscopy interpretation

Computational methods

Education

2:1 honours or MSc in Chemistry/Physics

Tools

Relativistic methods software

X-ray spectroscopy

Job description

The University of Manchester invites applications for a 3.5-year PhD project focused on actinide speciation in solution, aiming to develop multiconfigurational approaches that account for solvent effects and coordinating ligands. You will compare simulations with experimental data to interpret X-ray spectra of heavy elements.

The stipend is tax-free and funded by UKRI at £21,805 for 2026/27, with tuition fees paid; start date is October 2027.