Eurizon.eu

Organization: University of Sheffield

Location: Sheffield, UK

Field: Low-Dimensional Chemistry

Requirements:

Applications are invited from candidates expecting to achieve a 2:1 or better in Chemistry, Physics or Biochemistry, with interests in one or more of the following areas: nanochemistry, surface chemistry, polymer chemistry, condensed matter physics, and membrane biochemistry.

Abstract:

The goal of our programme is to assemble biologically inspired mechanisms and components on a chip to capture, transmit and store solar energy.

Description:

The goal of our programme is to assemble biologically inspired mechanisms and components on a chip to capture, transmit and store solar energy. Photosynthesis is the basis for all life on earth, so it has fundamental importance; and the current concerns about shortage of fossil fuels, and the problems associated with the carbon dioxide produced by burning them, make solar energy a highly attractive solution to many pressing problems. To best exploit the huge amount of solar energy that falls on the earth, even in colder climates like the UK, we may do well to learn from Nature. By building a chip-based system that replicates the photosynthetic behaviour of a biological organism, we will gain new insights into how Natural photosynthesis works. More than that, however, we will develop entirely new, biologically-inspired design principles that may be useful in understanding many other scientific and engineering problems. At a fundamental level, biological systems work quite differently from electronic devices: they are driven by complex signals, they are fuzzy and probabilistic, where microsystems are based on binary logic and are precisely determined. The construction of a functioning low-dimensional system that replicates a cellular pathway will require the adoption, in a man-made structure, of these very different design principles. If we can achieve this it may yield important new insights into how similar principles could be applied to other technologies.

 
These positions will appeal to students who are interested in cross-disciplinary science (ie work spanning traditional subject boundaries), who are looking for a challenging and stimulating research project. A willingness to work as a member of a team is essential. The positions are part of a much larger programme, in collaboration with the University of Leeds, where two further studentships are available, and in addition, the project has employed six postdoctoral researchers. The programme is supported by a £4M grant from EPSRC. The academic staff involved in the project are Professor Graham Leggett (Chemistry, Sheffield, Project Director), Professor Steve Armes (Chemistry, Sheffield), Professor Neil Hunter FRS (Molecular Biology, Sheffield), Dr Mark Geoghegan (Physics, Sheffield), Dr Jamie Hobbs (Physics, Sheffield) and Professor Steve Evans (Physics, Leeds). Each student will have a primary supervisor in one of the participating departments, and a second supervisor in a different department, emphasising the cross-disciplinary and collaborative nature of the programme.
For more information about the research programme, contact Graham Leggett (Graham.Leggett@shef.ac.uk). To submit an application, apply via the University’s on-line system (http://www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply), giving “Low-Dimensional Chemistry” as the research area, and identifying one of the collaborating academics (or Prof Leggett if you have no preference) as the prospective supervisor. Please inform Prof Leggett if you submit an application, too, so that he can track it and ensure that it is considered

Deadline: 08-03-2011

Contacts:

Link: http://www.shef.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/apply

Email: Graham.Leggett@shef.ac.uk

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