Postgraduate research & PhD opportunities
Pure & Applied Chemistry
Take a look at our postgraduate research and PhD opportunities we have on offer at the University of Strathclyde.
Identifying chemical probes to characterise intrinsically disordered drug targets through novel ion mobility-based screening capabilities
Opens:4 February 2021
Ion mobility mass spectrometry will be used to characterise an intrinsically disordered protein that is involved in cancer. Screening methods will be developed to identify small molecules that affect the behaviour of the protein, to be used as chemical probes for its validation as a suitable drug target.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), Rest of UKSubject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Home fee, StipendAn investigation into an aspect of Science Education Research
Opens:20 December 2019
You will work under the supervision of Dr Fraser J. Scott to investigate an aspect of Science Education Research. This will likely be on a topic involving the overlap of Science and Mathematics education, but the specific topic is open for discussion.
Fee status
Subject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Accelerating the clinical introduction of novel antibiotic combinations effective against Gram-negative pathogens
Opens:6 January 2020
You will work under the supervision of Dr Fraser J. Scott to investigate Strathclyde Minor Groove Binders in combination with existing antibiotics. Experimental work will involve in vitro susceptibility testing, toxicity testing, and mechanism of action studies on clinical isolates.
Fee status
Subject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Towards the development of a novel class of broad-spectrum anti-infective drugs
Opens:20 December 2019
You will work under the supervision of Dr Fraser J. Scott to develop Strathclyde Minor Groove Binders as anti-infective agents. Experimental work will include organic chemistry, but also biochemical (enzyme assays), biophysical (UV-vis, NMR) and biology (in vitro activity) aspects.
Fee status
Subject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Determination and behaviour of microplastics in terrestrial systems
Opens:2 March 2020
This PhD involves the development of analytical methods and their application to investigate the behaviour of microplastic pollutants in the environment. Laboratory and field studies will be used to assess the ability of microplastics to transport potentially toxic elements in terrestrial systems.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Understanding and Deploying Nickel Catalysis for Cross-Coupling
Opens:2 March 2020
The student will investigate and quantify structure/reactivity relationships in nickel catalysis using a range of techniques including organic/organometallic synthesis, physical organic chemistry, and density functional theory, as appropriate.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Portable screening of illicit drugs for forensic analysis
Opens:2 March 2020
Developing novel methodologies for portable detection of a variety of illicit substances including but not limited to drugs of abuse, explosives, gunshot residue and / or screening of bodily fluids at crime scenes.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
Forensic science, ChemistryMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Developing point of care sensors for biomedical diagnostics
Opens:2 March 2020
Developing novel methodologies for portable, rapid, point-of-care detection of a variety of biomedically relevant markers for use in biomedical diagnostics
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Understanding How Cancer Cells Respond to Treatment Using Raman Spectroscopy
Opens:1 April 2020
This project will investigate Raman scattering and its variations (surface enhanced (SERS) and stimulated (SRS)) to assess cancer cells and tissue prior to and following treatment with conventional anticancer drugs and particularly new alternative drugs that have shown promise as anticancer agents.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Biocatalytic Atom Transfer Radical Polymerizations
Opens:7 April 2020
Some enzymes catalyze atom transfer radical polymerizations (ATRP). They represent an environmentally friendly and non-toxic alternative to conventional catalysts. To unlock the potential of bioATRP, advanced polymerization techniques such as electrochemically mediated ATRP and flow chemistry will be investigated.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Raman probes to determine cellular redox potential
Opens:7 April 2020
The discovery of new medicines to treat disease requires the identification, understanding and validation of biological pathways and targets. This project resides in the Healthcare technologies theme, aligning with the growth area of Chemical Biology and the areas of Analytical Science and Synthetic Organic Chemistry.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Equipment costs, Travel costsDeveloping an ultrawide dynamic range analytical platform for biomarker panel analysis
Opens:1 June 2020
The aim of this project is to address the challenge of directly detecting disease biomarker panels in serum featuring target species whose relative concentrations span many orders of magnitude.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
Biomedical engineering, Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Molecular probes for lysosomal accumulation, release and environmental sensing
Deadline:1 June 2021 Opens:12 February 2021
The design, synthesis and evaluation of small molecules to understand the function and disease states of lysosomes.
Fee status
EU, Rest of UKSubject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Home fee, Equipment costs, Travel costs, StipendSecond generation nano-carriers for pancreatic cancer therapy
Opens:10 March 2021
Cancer nanomedicine is dominating modern healthcare. This project is an opportunity to contribute to the development of intelligent nanomedicines for targeted triggered release of pharmaceuticals in pancreatic cancer.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Conjugated polymer photocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction
Opens:10 March 2021
Design and application of new conjugated polymer photocatalysts for light-driven conversion of carbon dioxide into useful chemical intermediates.
Fee status
Subject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Towards the development of a novel class of broad-spectrum anti-infective drugs
Opens:10 March 2021
You will work under the supervision of Dr Fraser J. Scott to develop Strathclyde Minor Groove Binders as novel anti-infective agents. Experimental work may include organic chemistry, biochemistry (enzyme assays), biophysisl (UV-vis, NMR) and microbiology (in vitro activity).
Fee status
Subject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Developing new treatments for leishmaniasis
Opens:29 March 2021
The prospective student will work with Dr Fraser Scott to develop new treatments for leishmaniasis using the novel class of anti-infective agents, Strathclyde Minor Groove Binders. This will involve a combination of synthetic chemistry, biophysical measurements and biological evaluation.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), EU, Rest of UK, International, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
Chemistry, Pharmacy and biomedical sciencesMode of Study
Full Time, Part TimeFunding
Novel Drug Development Technologies for CNS Penetration and Inhaled Delivery
Opens:29 March 2021
This project will explore the area of protein degradation through the application of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for central nervous system (CNS) and lung targeted therapies. Structural and physicochemical properties of potential PROTAC molecules will be assessed through synthesis and computational design.
Fee status
Home (Scottish), Rest of UK, The Channels Islands and Isle of ManSubject
ChemistryMode of Study
Full TimeFunding
Home fee, Equipment costs, Travel costs, StipendInvestigation of the interactions between microplastics and potentially toxic elements in terrestrial environments
Opens:29 March 2021
This PhD project will investigate the chemical interactions between microplastics, soil/sediment, and potentially toxic elements (PTE) through laboratory and field experiments. It will involve aspects of analytical, physical and environmental chemistry.