Supervisor: Professor Charlotte Williams
Start date: 1st October 2027
The studentship will cover course fees at a Home rate and provide a stipend of no less than the standard UK Research Council rate (currently set at £21,805 p.a.) for 3 years.
Research in the Williams group centres around the utilisation of catalysis for the synthesis of sustainable materials from oxygenated polymers through controlled polymerisation processes. Our catalysis is versatile, enabling the consumption of CO2, as a feedstock with other cyclic monomers, in ring opening copolymerisations as well as accessing ring opening polymerisations of cyclic esters and cyclic carbonates. The resulting high-performance polycarbonates and polyesters have a range of applications including coatings, construction, adhesives, and formulations. The group works to gather insights and improve the processes across the polymer lifecycle, from synthesis, materials processing and reprocessing, and chemical recycling.
This research project will focus on catalyst innovation for polymerisation processes and materials analysis. The project will include catalyst synthesis, kinetic and thermodynamic analysis of the polymerisation performance, and detailed analysis of structure-performance relationships. Work will include organic synthesis of ligands, synthesis and thorough characterisation of inorganic catalysts (through NMR, MS, solid state techniques, XRD etc), polymerisation testing, investigations to probe the details of the catalytic processes, and materials testing.
Candidates with a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree in Chemistry or a closely related subject are encouraged to apply. Prior research experience (such as a Master's research project or equivalent) in a synthetic inorganic/organic chemistry laboratory is essential, as is a strong commitment to research and willingness to learn new skills. The successful applicant will be based in the Chemical Research Laboratory, Oxford.
Application deadline: 12.00 noon UK time on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.
The Department of Chemistry holds the Athena SWAN Silver Award and the Williams group is dedicated to promoting diversity, equality and inclusion.
£21,805 p.a.
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DPhil Studentship in Polymerisation Catalysis: Mechanistic Investigations and New Catalysts for CO2 Copolymerisation in Oxford employer: University of Oxford
The Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford is an exceptional employer, offering a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment where finance professionals can thrive. With a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, along with generous benefits such as 38 days of annual leave and a robust family leave scheme, employees are supported in both their professional and personal lives. This role not only provides the opportunity to influence strategic financial decisions within a world-renowned department but also fosters continuous growth and development in a vibrant academic community.
