PHD Studentship: Development of small organic Near-Infrared Fluorescent molecules which emit long wavelength with lower energy

• Study level: Postgraduate Research
• Academic entry year: 2021/22
• Attendance of study: full-time
• Available to: prospective students
• This scholarship or bursary is only available to one successful applicant.

Suitably qualified and highly motivated candidates are invited to apply for a fully-funded PhD studentship in the group of Dr. Anna Wu (co-supervised by Dr. Tom Swift and Dr. Sanjit Nayak) at University of Bradford in the area of organic synthesis and catalysis.

Small organic near-infrared (NIR)-fluorophores are highly promising as non-invasive bioimaging probes to undergo deep penetration to tissues with minimal phototoxicity to detect hidden malignancies. The aim of this PhD project is to develop small organic NIR fluorescent molecules which emit long wavelength with lower energy. The project will focus on discovery of new strategies and synthetic reactions of a novel class of activated electron-rich alkynes with Michael acceptors. This will enable the construction of fluorescent molecules in a cascade sequence by forming multiple bonds in a single operation, thereby enabling rapid increases in structural complexity in single step.

These molecules will be applied to fluorescent bio-imaging by collaboration with Dr. Tom Swift, as well as to metal-organic frameworks-based materials by collaborating with Dr. Sanjit Nayak. Training: The student will receive in-depth training in a wide range of synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry, and a diverse array of analytical techniques including NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, thermal analyses, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction.

The ideal candidate will hold (or expect to be awarded) a 1st Class or an Upper 2nd Class MSc, MChem or BSc degree and will have significant experience in practical synthetic organic chemistry. The student will be required to undertake complex multistep organic synthesis involving air- and / or moisture-sensitive reagents and unstable synthetic intermediates, and will be expected to possess excellent laboratory skills, good problem-solving abilities and the ability to obtain and interpret spectroscopic data.

• Afghanistan
• Aland Islands
• Albania
• Algeria
• American Samoa
• Andorra
• Angola
• Anguilla
• Antigua & Barbuda
• Antilles (Netherlands)
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Aruba
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijani Republic, The
• Bahamas, The
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
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• Belgium
• Belize
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• Bermuda
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• Bolivia
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• Bouvet Island
• Brazil
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• Burkina Faso; Also Upper Volta
• Bulgaria
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• Cameroon
• Canada
• Cape Verde Islands
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• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Channel Islands, not elsewhere specified
• Chile
• China
• Christmas Island
• Cocos (Keeling) Islands
• Colombia
• Comoros
• Congo (Peoples Republic)
• Congo, Democratic Republic
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Cura
• Cyprus (European Union)
• Cyprus (Non-European Union)
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
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• Ecuador
• Egypt, United Arab Republic of
• El Salvador
• England
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Estonia
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• Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
• Faroe Islands
• Fiji
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• French Guiana
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• Haiti
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• Iceland
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• Isle of Man (The)
• Israel
• Italy
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• Kenya
• Kiribati (The Gilbert Islands)
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• Martinique
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• Monaco
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• Montserrat
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• Nigeria
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• Paraguay
• Peru
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• Portugal
• Puerto Rico
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• Reunion
• Romania
• Russia
• Rwanda
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• Sudan
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• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Wales
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara
• Windward Islands (not otherwise specified)
• Yemen, Republic of
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

This project has full funding for UK students, which will cover tuition and bench fees, and a stipend for living costs. Non-UK students, including those from EU countries, may be considered but would need to self-fund the difference between UK and International fees

Applicants should apply via the following link

Application deadline: 31 October 2021

Successful candidate will be expected to start in June 2022

For informal enquiries, please contact: [email protected]