Postgraduate research opportunities AI-directed discovery of self-assembled peptide-peptoid acoustics materials
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Tuesday 5 March 2024
- Number of places: Up to 2
- Duration: 48 months
- Funding: Home fee, Travel costs, Stipend
Overview
This project will pioneer AI-directed discovery of biomimetic peptoid-peptides that self-assemble into materials with predicted acoustic properties. The student will join the Leverhulme Doctoral School in Nature Inspired Acoustics, and the materials will be applied to sensors and actuators of sound waves and mechanical vibrations being developed elsewhere in the school. Depending on student interest, the project may focus on computation, experiments, or both.Eligibility
For the 4yr PhD, applicants are expected to hold or anticipate holding a bachelor’s or (preferably) masters degree at a level equivalent to a UK 2:1 or higher, in a relevant discipline including but not limited to chemistry, materials science, molecular biosciences, biophysics, and chemical engineering. They should demonstrate experience in some or all of the following skills: computation chemistry, synthetic chemical procedures, chemical and materials characterization, and data analysis based on chemical, biophysical, biochemical, and/or engineering principles. They should demonstrate interest in one or more of the following areas: materials chemistry, bioinspired materials, computational chemistry, chemical synthesis and purification, molecular biosciences.
For the 5yr masters+PhD, a bachelor’s degree at a level equivalent to a UK 2:1 or higher is required. The discipline of the current degree is less relevant but the candidate should be able to demonstrate abilities in using the scientific method, experience in project work and/or working towards a long-term goal, and genuine interest in the topics of the research school (i.e., themes relevant to nature inspired acoustics).
All candidates should further demonstrate excellent communication skills, time management, proficiency in technical writing, and aptitude in working collaboratively.
Project Details
We are seeking excellent candidates for 4-yr PhD and 5-yr masters+PhD scholarships to pursue an exciting interdisciplinary project that will pioneer self-assembled peptide-mimetic materials for acoustics, which broadly covers both sound waves and mechanical vibrations and can be exploited in various devices from sensor to actuators. 5-yr masters+PhD scholarships are targeted at students from traditionally underrepresented and minority groups. Candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences are encouraged to apply.
The project will pursue an artificial intelligence (AI)/computational chemistry-directed approach with experimental verification and molecular design feedback. The approach may enable hybrid organic-inorganic materials with nanoparticle nucleation. The project will break new grounds in AI-directed materials discovery, the self-assembly of functional materials, and novel peptoid-peptide biomimicry.
Depending on student interest and experience, a specific student may focus on purely computational chemistry, purely experimental materials chemistry, or hybrid computational-experimental studies. The project builds on the collaboration between the principal supervisors, Aaron Lau (K. H. Aaron Lau Research Group) and Tell Tuttle (Tuttle Lab) in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. The hybrid approach has been successfully demonstrated in a recent project that has paved the way for the current research (see PCCP 26:4939, JPCB 127:10601; JPC Lett. 13:4046).
The project is part of our new interdisciplinary Leverhulme Doctoral School in Nature-Inspired Acoustics (NIA), and the student will further collaborate with the Windmill group in Electronic and Electrical Engineering to link with acoustics applications. As a member of NIA, the student is required to engage in the interdisciplinary research planning and forecasting skills development of our new School together with others in architecture and management sciences. The project’s basic science results will help tackle challenges in advanced acoustics technology and help develop applications for managing the sustainability of our infrastructure and energy future.
Our programme is deeply committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. We actively seek candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences to join the NIA doctoral school.
Funding details
All scholarships include full tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend of approx. £19,162 per annum.
Apply
There is a 2-stage application process. See full application details at Nature-Inspired Acoustics (NIA), where applicants can also download our cover letter form and send the completed form with their detailed CV to nia-leverhulme@strath.ac.uk. In the form, applicants can indicate their eligibility for a UK scholarship, and explain their background, interest in specific research themes, and fit to the Doctoral School. Applicants successful at the first stage will be invited to an online interview. Outcomes will be communicated by email in the week following the interview. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Evaluations will start March 28, 2024
Number of places: Up to 2
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