PhD opportunity in Prof. Wenxin Wang’s lab, University College Dublin (UCD) 4-year Full-time PhD Scholarships (Student Fees and Stipends: €31,500 per annum)

PhD opportunity in Prof. Wenxin Wang’s lab, University College Dublin (UCD)

4-year Full-time PhD Scholarships (Student Fees and Stipends: €31,500 per annum)

Overview of the Post:

Prof Wenxin Wang’s Lab, located in the Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine at University College Dublin (UCD) in Ireland, is seeking motivated, passionate candidates to embark on PhD doctoral studies in polymer chemistry/ theoretical simulation related fields.

Organization: University College Dublin (UCD)

Post: PhD student

Workplace: Prof. Wenxin Wang’s lab, The Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, UCD, Ireland

Post Treatment and Cultivation Mode: This is a 4-year full time position, with a stipend of €16,800 per annum and PhD fees contribution of €14,700 per annum. PhD students are encouraged to go to internationally renowned research groups in their research field for collaborative research study.

Research Field: Polymer Chemistry/Computational Chemistry/Theoretical Simulation/Mathematics /Physics/Physical Chemistry

Group Website: http://www.wenxinwang.group/

Introduction to Prof Wenxin Wang and Wang’s lab: 

Prof. Wenxin Wang is currently Full Professor at the Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin (UCD), a member of UCD Academic Council, and Guest Professor at the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, China. Prof. Wang and his research group has long been engaged in the research of controlled polymerization mechanism, the design and synthesis of novel functional biomaterials and their applications in bone, cartilage, and skin wound healing. As the basis of all following synthesis and application research regarding multifunctional biomaterials, the kinetically controlled mechanism behind controlled polymerization of multifunctional monomers is always the core research direction in Prof. Wang’s research group. In recent years, through the combination of experiment, theory and computer simulation, Prof. Wang has been committed to systematically study the controlled mechanism of multifunctional monomer polymerization, reveal the polymerization process, understand and establish the universal theory of multifunctional monomer polymerization to provide a theoretical guidance for the synthesis of architecturally complex polymers. 

Prof. Wang’s scientific contributions and achievements have been recognized extensively at the global level reflected from the over 210 peer-reviewed scientific journal papers (Science Advances, Nature Communications, Nature Reviews Chemistry, JACS, Angewandte Chemie, Advanced Materials, Nano Letters, Macromolecules, etc.), 5 book chapters, 34 patents, 140 conference abstracts and presentations, and 113 invited lectures and keynote presentations. His achievements have met the increased interest in the wider public community with publicity media activities (engaging 56 times in TV Documentary, Videos and Newspapers), for example in ‘The Sunday Times’, ‘The Irish Times’, ‘Science Daily’ and ‘Chemistry World’. He has been awarded significant funding (over 11.4 million Euros) from different sources to support his research activities. Prof. Wang acted as the symposium convener and chair, the member of organizing committees and the member of the conference advisory board for 31 international conferences and has been selected as an expert reviewer and panel member by 26 international research councils and funding bodies. As the founder, Prof Wang has launched 5 companies - Vornia Ltd (www.vornia.com, sold to Ashland - a Fortune500 US company in Jan. 2018, renamed as Ashland Specialties Ireland), Blafar Ltd (www.blafar.com), Branca Bunus Ltd (www.brancabunus.com), Blafar (Hangzhou) Biotechnology Ltd. (http://www.blafar.cn/), Ruixi Tianchuang Biotechnology Ltd. Furthermore, he has licensed 17 new technologies to 5 companies, and successfully launched and commercialized 5 newly developed technologies onto the market.

Prof. Wang’s group possesses abundant scientific research funds, complete facilities and well-established platforms for polymer simulation, synthesis, characterization, and related application studies. The research group also has long-term academic exchanges and collaboration relationship with the Top universities in the world, e.g. Harvard University, MIT, Stanford University, and University of Cambridge etc. Among the graduated PhD students, many of them have got Postdoc fellowships in Worldwide Top universities (e.g., Harvard University, University of Cambridge, Stanford University, University of Washington, and University of Nottingham etc.), In addition, currently, more than 10 of the Postdocs and Scientific Researchers supervised by Prof. Wang have been appointed as (associated) Professor in renowned universities (e.g., University College London, Cardiff University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhejiang University, Tianjin University and Xi’an Jiaotong University, etc.), or developed their career in internationally well-known enterprises (such as McKinsey & Company - the world's largest strategic consultancy, Ashland - a Fortune500 US company, etc.).

Post Requirements:

1. A Master's degree in Polymer Chemistry / Computational Chemistry / Theoretical Simulation / Mathematics / Physics / Physical Chemistry or other related fields.

2. A strong passion in Science, in particular, basic theoretical research.

3. A high level of competence in the English language. UCD's minimum English language requirements: An average score of 6.5 over all components and a minimum of 6.0 in each band on the Academic Version/A minimum score of 90 is required in the Internet based TOEFL (iBT) with a score of at least 20 in each section/ Due to COVID-19, UCD has approved the use of 1he Duolingo English Test (DET) as a temporary measure for the 2022 intake. The minimum requirement will be a DET score of 110.

4. Highly motivated, driven, creative, conscientious, and have the ability to work independently and integrate as part of a team.

5. Healthy, kind, nice, decent, honest, and hard-working.

We are committed to cultivating a group of high-quality talents who are truly passionate in the field of fundamental theoretical research, innovative, and have solid theoretical foundation in polymerization kinetics. 

We warmly and sincerely welcome new blood to join our big family!

Application procedure:

If you would like to apply, please send your CV and Personal Statement to [email protected] and [email protected] with the subject line ‘PhD application’. 

Your application will be judged openly and fairly. We will contact the short-listed candidates for preliminary assessment and following interviews as soon as possible.