PhD Studentship: An opportunity to define important trends in actinide covalency and relativist[...] in Manchester

PhD Studentship: An opportunity to define important trends in actinide covalency and relativistic expansion

This fully funded 3.5-year PhD studentship is available for an outstanding and ambitious student to undertake fundamental research into actinide electronic structure and magnetism. The selected candidate will apply state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy techniques, including resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) methods. RIXS is transforming our understanding of structure/function relationships by providing insights into how electronic structure and bonding relate to chemical reactivity, superconductivity and magnetism. Recently, RIXS methods have become available for the study of actinides. The project will study actinide ligand bonding and the influence of relativistic effects on actinide valence electrons using the RIXS method developed by the team, including collaboration with the University of Manchester Centre for Radiochemistry Research.

The project will involve visits to international synchrotron radiation facilities including Diamond Light Source (Oxfordshire), the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (Grenoble) and Synchrotron Soleil (near Paris). X-ray spectroscopy measurement results will be analysed in Manchester and compared against the latest theoretical models.

The candidate will be trained to handle low-level radioactive and air-sensitive samples and will develop X-ray spectroscopy measurement and analysis procedures, with the expectation that they will be internationally leading in the use of these methodologies by completing the PhD. The student will also become accomplished in theoretical computation of electronic structure, bonding and the simulation of spectra, and will learn basic computer programming for writing their own analysis code for automated data reduction. The student will learn how to design experiments and write impactful scientific publications.

For further details see the research webpage of Dr Baker (mlbakerlab.co.uk), Dr Oakley (meaganoakley.com) and Dr Natrajan (teamnatrajan.weebly.com).

Seniority level

• Internship

Employment type

• Other

Job function

• Research, Analyst, and Information Technology

Industries

• Higher Education

EEO statements and other company boilerplate have been omitted as not relevant to the role description.