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School of Life Sciences Studentship (Chemistry) (2025)

What you get

This School-funded position covers ºìÐÓÊÓƵ (UK) tuition fees and a stipend at standard UKRI rates for 3.5 years. Applicants with overseas fee status need to provide evidence of how they will fund the difference between ºìÐÓÊÓƵ and International tuition fees (approx. £20k per year). 

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

Project 1

Course: Chemistry PhD : ºìÐÓÊÓƵ

Supervisors: Prof Hazel Cox & Dr John Turner

Contact: h.cox@sussex.ac.uk

Project Title: New quantum methods capable of solving the many-particle Schrödinger equation for quantum chemical physics systems

Project Description:

The chemistry and physics of atoms and molecules is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. The solution of the Schrödinger equation, without the conventional separation of electronic and nuclear motion, makes it possible to approach the non-relativistic limit arbitrarily close. However, due to the exponential growth of dimension with number of degrees of freedom, all-particle treatments (where electrons and nuclei are treated on an equal footing) are limited to few particle systems. As with conventional quantum chemistry methods, the Schrödinger equation is usually solved as a generalized eigenvalue problem in matrix form, and the size of the matrices involved increases rapidly with basis set and system size. This results in calculations becoming increasingly complex and computationally demanding. Therefore, a key challenge in theoretical chemical physics is the development of more efficient computational approaches and techniques. Tensors are multidimensional generalizations of matrices. Recently we established the power of numerical tensor methods in quantum chemistry by demonstrating that we can collapse computational costs without compromising accuracy for all-particle three-body systems. This project will build on these initial findings to derive new quantum methods capable of solving the many-particle Schrödinger equation for quantum chemical physics systems with very high accuracy and at low computational cost.

 

Project 2

Course: Chemistry PhD : ºìÐÓÊÓƵ

Supervisors: Prof Wendy Brown & Dr John Turner

Contact: w.a.brown@sussex.ac.uk

Project Title: Laboratory studies of the processing of astrochemical ices

Project Description:

This project will investigate processing of astrochemical ices, using a combination of laboratory experiments at the ºìÐÓÊÓƵ and investigations at FELIX, a free-electron laser in The Netherlands.

Astrochemical ices are found frozen out on dust grains in a range of environments including the interstellar medium, comets, circumstellar disks and planetary atmospheres. The exact composition of the ices depends on the environment, but includes water ice along with carbon dioxide, methanol, sulfur containing species and a wide range of organic molecules, some of which are considered to be pre-biotic. These icy dust grains undergo “processing” whereby they are irradiated by light (ultraviolet and infrared) and cosmic rays. Processing leads to the formation of more complex organic species, and is widely thought to be the origin of many of the more complex organic molecules found in astronomical environments such as alcohols, esters and even amino acids.

You will use laboratory surface science techniques, including reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD), to investigate the processing of model astrochemical ices under ultra-high vacuum conditions. Ultra-violet (UV) processing will be induced using a UV lamp, and cosmic ray processing will be simulated by irradiation with low energy electrons. It is expected that processing will lead to chemical reactions and also to photo- and electron-induced desorption of the ices. These will be monitored by recording RAIR spectra during the irradiation and by post-irradiation TPD.

Additional experiments to investigate infrared (IR) induced processing and desorption will be undertaken at FELIX. FELIX provides high-intensity, tuneable, IR radiation that can be used to study the effect of IR-induced irradiation on model astronomical ices. These data, together with those from the laboratory at Sussex, can be used to provide data for astronomical modules of star and planet formation.

Eligibility

Candidates should have or expect to obtain a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree. An MSc degree will be advantageous. You may also be considered for the position if you have other professional qualifications or experience of equivalent standing. 

Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall or equivalent proficiency - English language requirements 

Applications are particularly welcomed from candidates with protected characteristics – e.g., from Black and other ethnic minorities who are under-represented in postgraduate research at our institution. 

Deadline

25 June 2025 23:45

How to apply

Please submit a formal application via the Postgraduate application system attaching a CV, degree transcripts and certificates, and two academic referees. A research proposal is not required. Instead, please upload a personal statement describing your skills and experience, motivation for Doctoral Research, future goals, and why you are applying to this project. 

On the application system, please select ‘funding obtained’ and complete the text boxes with “as stated in the advert”. Please state the supervisor’s name where required. 

If you apply to more than one project in the same course, please upload a personal statement for each project and list each supervisor you are applying to.

Sponsors

 In the School of Life Sciences we strive to understand the mechanisms that drive biological and chemical processes and to develop innovative and diverse approaches to enhance human health, technology and the environment. We undertake multidisciplinary research, teaching and engagement across a wide range of subjects, from Chemistry through Cellular and Molecular Biosciences to Conservation Biology. 

The School comprises five Departments: Biochemistry & Biomedicine, Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Neuroscience, Ecology & Evolution and Chemistry. We also house the Sussex Drug Discovery Centre which works to deliver the bench-to-bedside translation of our discoveries. The breadth and depth of our cutting-edge research and innovative teaching practice is delivered by a diverse community who work across boundaries to deliver excellence, engage with real world problems and produce impact. 

We pride ourselves on our world-leading research and have a strong research economy, with approximately 50% of our income stemming from research and an active grant portfolio of over £50 million. We host or form part of three University Centres of Excellence: the Genome Damage and Stability Centre, Sussex Neuroscience and Sussex Sustainability Research Programme. In the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, 90.6 % of our Biological Sciences outputs and 84.8% of our Chemistry outputs were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent. We are proud that in both areas, 100% of our Impact cases were rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

The School is committed to the University’s core values of kindness, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and courage. We believe that equality, diversity and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and aim to provide a friendly and supportive environment for all who work, study and visit the School of Life Sciences. In recognition of our work in gender equality we are proud to hold an  Silver Award.

Contact us

For queries about the application process, please see the online application guide or contact Emma Chorley: lifesci-rec@sussex.ac.uk 

For enquiries about the project, please contact the supervisor.