Phd-Jobs in United States

Application deadline: 31/07/2025

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

Number of projects: 1

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded by the Strategic Doctoral Landscape Award (sDLA) Scholarships and is available to home students only. Tuition fees will be paid, and the successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKVI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25), which is expected to increase each year.

The project focuses on crosslinking heterogeneity at the coating/air surface, which may influence microplastics release. It involves studying the solid/coating interface, microphase segregation, and the presence of weakly attached oligomers using state-of-the-art molecular modelling techniques. The goal is to understand why such weakly attached fragments form, how to prevent their formation, and explore additives to mitigate this issue. The research will collaborate closely with experimentalists for validation.

This work builds on previous research on crosslinking at the substrate/polymer interface, including publications in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces and Applied Surface Science.

• Open to UK applicants only.
• Minimum of a 2.1 honours degree or a master's (or international equivalent) in chemical engineering, physical chemistry, or a related discipline.
• Experience programming is essential.
• Knowledge of molecular modelling is highly desirable.
• Experience with molecular dynamics software such as LAMMPS is desirable.
• Experience with molecular simulation software is beneficial.

To apply, contact Dr. Siperstein (flor.siperstein@manchester.ac.uk) or Dr. Suzanne Morsch (suzanne.morsch@manchester.ac.uk). Please include details of your current study level, academic background, relevant experience, motivation for the project, programming experience, and knowledge of molecular simulations.