Materials Engineering: Fully Funded UK Shared Prosperity Fund MSc by Research Scholarship: Designer nanoparticles for biomedicine and energy: Physics meets biology and chemistry

19 Jan 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Swansea University

Department

Central

Research Field

Engineering » Materials engineering
Engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

United Kingdom

Application Deadline

2 Feb 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/London)

Type of Contract

Other

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Funding providers: UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Neath Port Talbot Council and Grove Nanomaterials

Subject areas: The research will overlap subjects such as Materials Engineering, Physics, Physical Chemistry / Engineering, or Biomedical Sciences and wider disciplines.

Project start date: 

• 1 April 2024 (Enrolment open from mid–March)

Project supervisors: 

• Professor Richard Palmer  (Primary)
• Dr Rowena Jenkins  (Secondary)
• Dr Kevin Cooke (Industrial)

Aligned programme of study: MSc by Research in Materials Engineering

Mode of study: Full-time

Project description: 

Nanostructured materials already play a vital role in society. For example, the red lines on a Covid test are nanoscale gold particles. The conventional approach to their production employs solvents and chemicals which present health hazards and environmental challenges. In this project we will exploit breakthroughs in one of two connected areas, according to the expertise of the student:  

Development of nanoscale physics-based experimental methods, where Swansea is world leader, to achieve solvent-free synthesis and scale-up of soluble, ligand-capped metal nanoparticles of size 1-100 nm.  

Conjugation of the nanoparticles at source with detector molecules chosen to recognise an infectious agent or a biomarker. This will be a completely new method to tether proteins to metal clusters for diagnostics. 

Examples of the metal nanoparticles are gold for medical diagnostics and cancer treatment; iridium and platinum for clean energy (hydrogen); and silicon for photonics and solar. They will be characterised by state-of-the-art methods including XPS, SEM, TEM, dynamic light scattering, optical methods and mass spec. The production methods will combine atomistic and molecular (including protein molecule) deposition in vacuum with wafer and roll-to-roll technology, and post-processing to harvest nanoparticles on a scale beginning with grams, heading for kilograms and with the potential for tonnes – representing a revolutionary paradigm-shift in (bio) materials manufacturing at the interface between science frontiers and technological and medical applications.  

The project will suit an excellent student who enjoys design, practical experimental work, computer modelling and innovative ideas and wishes to contribute to a healthy planet. Your background could be in physics, physical chemistry/engineering, or biomedical sciences, and your role will be tuned accordingly. You will have good communication and teamwork skills, and an international outlook. 

The co-sponsoring company Grove Nanomaterials Ltd  springs from Swansea University and has licensed the background patents invented by the Primary Supervisor. It is ambitious and friendly. The work envisaged has the potential to contribute to significant national and international impact in terms of health, economic growth, University reputation and new scientific publications. The studentship will help to seal the relationship between University and company. Moreover Grove’s benefit is the University’s benefit, as a shareholder. 

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Bachelor Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Candidates must hold an Upper Second Class (2.1) honours degree in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

Specific Requirements

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations . 

Additional Information
Benefits

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK tuition fees and a stipend of £13,000.

Additional research expenses will also be available. 

Eligibility criteria

Candidates must hold an Upper Second Class (2.1) honours degree in Engineering or similar relevant science discipline. If you are eligible to apply for the scholarship (i.e. a student who is eligible to pay the UK rate of tuition fees) but do not hold a UK degree, you can check our comparison entry requirements. Please note that you may need to provide evidence of your English Language proficiency. 

Due to funding restrictions, this scholarship is open to applicants eligible to pay tuition fees at the UK rate only, as defined by UKCISA regulations . 

Selection process

Please visit our website for more information.

Website for additional job details

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/materials-engineer…

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Swansea University

Country

United Kingdom

Geofield

Where to apply

Website

https://www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate/scholarships/research/materials-engineer…

Contact

State/Province

Swansea

City

Swansea

Website

http://www.swansea.ac.uk

Street

Singleton Park

Postal Code

SA2 8PP

STATUS: EXPIRED