【博士奖学金】最新PhD招生和奖学金信息（137）

1.Programmable anisotropic soft materials

(University of Queensland | Chemical Engineering | Brisbane | Australia）

Supervisor：Prof JR Stokes / Assoc Prof I Blakey

Application Deadline：Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Project Description

Many natural materials exhibit extraordinary properties. For example, butterfly wings are highly coloured despite not containing dye molecules and mollusc shells exhibit high fracture toughness despite being comprised of 95% of a brittle mineral. These properties are dictated by the spatial orientation of nanostructures that make up the materials over many length scales, hence the ability to control structural hierarchy when designing new materials is crucial to obtain outstanding properties. Our recent discovery of a Liquid crystal hydroglass (LCH) provides an exciting avenue to control the structural hierarchy and hence properties of soft materials. LCH is a biphasic soft material with flow programmable anisotropy that forms via phase separation in suspensions of charged colloidal rods upon increases in ionic strength.
This project aims to expand on the materials space for LCH materials in order to create viscoelastic materials with complex rheology as well as structural, mechanical and optical heterogeneity. The intended outcome is enabling the creation of anisotropic materials with shape-memory and shape-restoring features for the realization of artificial muscles, novel biomedical devices, soft robotics and morphing structures.
Only one studentship is available, but HDR student has a choice between two potential work streams:
Work stream 1 aims to develop thermo- and/or photo-responsive LCH materials by surface functionalising nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) colloidal rods. The student will design and synthesise block copolymers that self-assemble to the surface of the nanocellulose and characterise their interfacial chemistry and phase behaviour.
Alternatively, Workstream 2 aims to explore and diversify the materials space for LCH materials and their rheological properties. This project will vary solution properties and matrix rheology/composition for NCC suspensions, as well as investigate the presence and properties of LCH phases in a diverse range of anisotropic charged colloids.
The project is part of an Australian Research Council Discovery Project involving collaboration between School of Chemical Engineering, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Centre for Advanced Imaging, Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis at the UQ, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).

Funding Notes

The successful candidate must commence by Research Quarter 1, 2021. It is thus preferable that applicants already reside in Australia due to current travel restrictions.

References

Y Xu, A Atrens, JR Stokes "A review of nanocrystalline cellulose suspensions: Rheology, liquid crystal ordering and colloidal phase behaviour" Advances in colloid and interface science 275, 102076 (2020)
Y Xu, A Atrens, JR Stokes "Structure and rheology of liquid crystal hydroglass formed in aqueous nanocrystalline cellulose suspensions" Journal of colloid and interface science 555, 702-713 (2019)
Y Xu, AD Atrens, JR Stokes "Liquid crystal hydroglass formed via phase separation of nanocellulose colloidal rods" Soft matter 15 (8), 1716-1720 (2019)

Related Subjects

· Biophysics

· Chemical Engineering

· Fluid Dynamics

· Food Chemistry

· Macromolecular Chemistry

· Materials Science

· Nanotechnology

· Physical Chemistry

2.NUAcT PhD Studentship in Biological self-healing for Sustainable Building and Smart Heritage Conservation

( Newcastle University | School of Engineering | Newcastle | United Kingdom ）

Supervisor：Dr M Theodoridou

Application Deadline：Monday, July 20, 2020

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Project Description

Number of awards:1
Start date and duration:
28 September 2020 for 3 years.

We are pleased to announce a PhD studentship in the world’s first Hub for Biotechnology in the Build Environment. We are looking for a highly motivated and talented Researcher to join the team for Sustainable Building and Smart Heritage Conservation and take a leading role in the innovative field of biological self-healing by exploring the potential of traditional and advanced masonry materials to be responsive to the environment and self-heal via biomineralisation.

This exciting research will develop novel technologies based on biological mechanisms that can provide masonry structures with an inbuilt durable immune system. The project aims to (i) promote the adaptation and reuse of existing properties and heritage buildings as an alternative to new construction, (ii) develop smart technologies for reducing the maintenance operations of new and existing structures, offering radical solutions that align with the international targets for sustainable development.

This three-year studentship will offer a unique opportunity to join the vibrant and multi-disciplinary Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE) (https://bit.ly/36hRIv8) and the Geotechnics and Structures Research Group at the School of Engineering. The project will be supervised across Architecture, Civil Engineering and Biological Sciences.
Sponsor
Newcastle University Academic Track Fellowship (NUAcT), HBBE (https://bit.ly/36hRIv8)
Name of supervisor(s)
Dr Magdalini Theodoridou, Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment, School of Engineering.(https://bit.ly/3bKNk9a)
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must have:
• a 2.1 degree in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Architecture or subjects related to construction materials and biotechnology applications in the built environment.
• experience in construction materials and/or bio-inspired applications.
• Masters level qualification in Engineering, Materials Science, Conservation Science, Biotechnology or a related field.
The studentship is open on a full-time basis. This award is available to UK/EU and international candidates. If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 6.5 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills).
Newcastle is committed to promoting diversity, and we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups.
How to apply
You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application system. To do this please ‘Create a new account’ (https://bit.ly/36jrxUL). All relevant fields should be completed, but fields marked with a red asterisk must be completed. You will need to:
• insert the programme code 8040F in the programme of study section
• select ‘Civil Engineering - Environmental’ as the programme of study
• insert the studentship code ENG067 in the studentship/partnership reference field
• attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code ENG067
• A one page statement: “My approach to the Biological self-healing for Sustainable Building and Smart Heritage Conservation project would be”
• attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.
Contact
For further information, please email:
Dr Magdalini Theodoridou, Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment
School of Engineering (https://bit.ly/3bKNk9a)

Funding Notes

100% of UK/EU tuition fees paid and annual living expenses of £15,285. Successful international candidates will be required to make up the difference between the UK/EU fees and international fees.

Related Subjects

· Applied Physics

· Architecture & the Built Environment

· Chemical Engineering

· Environmental Chemistry

· Environmental Engineering

· Geochemistry

· Materials Science

3.Nano-rectenna devices for Space applications

( Italian Institute of Technology |School in Science and Technology of Chemistry and Materials - Nanochemistry Curriculum | Genoa | ）

Supervisor：Dr R Proietti Zaccaria

Application Deadline：Monday, June 15, 2020

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Project Description

Tutor: Remo Proietti Zaccaria
Photovoltaic systems are one of the examples where extremely strong investments have lead to the realization of exceptional devices. Even though extremely successful, photovoltaic systems are not perfect as they suffer of some issues. For example, single layer Si crystal PV systems cannot provide an efficiency higher than ~34% due to the well known Shockley–Queisser limit and they strongly depend on the surrounding temperature. Here we shall work on a very different paradigm, where light is turned into electricity through completely different mechanisms which do not suffer from the aforementioned limit and are more robust in terms of temperature change. Specifically, the PhD work activity will address the experimental analysis of solar energy harvesting devices known as rectennas, by identifying the solutions capable of ameliorating the issues which presently limit rectennas from becoming viable devices for solar energy harvesting. In particular, a particular attention will be dedicated to the idea of employing this systems for Space related activities.
The activity will be run within the DELTA Lab of the Italian Institute of Technology in close collaboration with the Italian and European Space Agencies. The candidate will have access to a fully equipped opto-electric characterization lab, to a micro/nano fabrication facility and to a wide range of material characterizations instruments. Collaboration with theoreticians will be conducted on daily basis.

Requirements

The candidates should have a background in physics, optics or material science. Importantly, candidates should be driven by strong interest in solving physics-related problems and strong work dedication. Work experience in the theoretical design of optical antennas will be positively considered.
For further details concerning the research theme, please contact Remo Proietti Zaccaria, Email: remo.proietti@iit.it
For administrative queries, please contact: iulia.manolache@iit.it
Details regarding the course Curriculum: NANOCHEMISTRY (CODE 8249) page 94 https://unige.it/sites/contenuti.unige.it/files/documents/appendix_a_36.pdf
Details on admission Requirements, Admission Procedures, applications, Schedule and contents of the application at https://unige.it/sites/contenuti.unige.it/files/documents/bando_36_english.pdf

Funding Notes

The Phd duration is 3-years, the annual gross amount of the grant, including social security expenses to be paid by the recipient, is € 16.500,00.

Related Subjects

· Chemical Engineering

· Materials Science

· Nanotechnology

· Optical Physics

4.Visual and brain development in children with early risk factors

( University of Auckland | Liggins Institute | Auckland | New Zealand ）

Supervisor：Prof JE Harding / Prof B Thompson

Application Deadline：Applications accepted all year round

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Project Description

A PhD position in the area of children’s visual development is available within the University of Auckland, New Zealand in collaboration with the University of Waterloo, Canada. The PhD project will involve psychophysical measures of form and motion perception in cohorts of children of who were born preterm or at risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels after birth).
Brain development can be affected by perinatal events such as preterm birth and low blood glucose levels soon after birth. The aim of this PhD project is to assess the effect of adverse perinatal events on the development of visual brain areas in early and late childhood. The project will involve the measurement of motion and form perception in children and may also extend to MRI measures of visual cortex structure and function.
The student will be based within the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland and supervision will be provided by Distinguished Professor Jane Harding (University of Auckland) and Professor Ben Thompson (University of Waterloo).
Who we are：The Liggins Institute is a world-leading centre for research on fetal and child health, nutrition, development, genome biology and translational and implementation science. Our mission is to improve life-long health through excellent research into the long-term consequences of early life events.
We work across a range of fields to view human health problems from different angles. This unique approach enables us to turn research discoveries into real strategies that will help people to prevent or manage major health problems in the 21st century.
As a research-only institute, we attract some of the best research students and clinical fellows in the world. You’ll be supported by internationally-recognised staff and you’ll benefit from state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and a dedicated clinical research unit.
Applicants should meet the criteria for acceptance to the doctoral program at the University of Auckland and hold a bachelor, masters or professional degree in a relevant discipline (such as psychology, vision science, optometry, ophthalmology).
To apply, please send a CV and academic transcript to Ben Thompson: ben.thompson@uwaterloo.ca and Jane Harding: j.harding@auckland.ac.nz
To learn more about the Liggin Institute visit ：

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/liggins.html

References

References Find out more here: https://www.findathesis.auckland.ac.nz/research-entry/10430719
Thompson B, McKinlay CDJ, Chakraborty A, Anstice NA, Jacobs RJ, Paudel N, Ansell JM, Wouldes TA, Harding JA. (2017). Global motion perception is associated with motor function in 2-year-old children. Neuroscience Letters. 658: 117-181.
Chakraborty, A., Anstice, N.S., Jacobs, R.J., Paudel, N., Lagasse, L.L., Lester, B.M., McKinlay, C.J., Harding, J.E., Wouldes, T.A., Thompson, B. (2017). Global motion perception is related to motor function in 4.5-year-old children born at risk of abnormal development. Vision Research, 135: 16-25.
Paudel, N., Chakraborty, A., Anstice, N., Jacobs, R.J., Hegarty, J., Harding, J.E., Thompson, B. for the CHYLD study group. (2017). Neonatal hypoglycaemia and visual development: a review. Neonatology, 112 (1), 47-52.
Chakraborty, A., Anstice, N.A., Jacobs, R.J., Lagasse, L.L., Lester, B.M., Wouldes, Thompson, B. (2015). Prenatal exposure to recreational drugs affects global motion perception in preschool children. Scientific Reports, 5, Article number 1692.

Related Subjects

· Health Sciences

· Clinical Science

· Psychology & Psychiatry

5.Pharmaceutical Materials

( National University of Ireland, Galway | Department of Chemistry | Galway | Ireland ）

Supervisor：Dr Andrea Erxleben

Application Deadline：Tuesday, September 01, 2020

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Project Description

Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position( €18,500 per annum stipend plus €5,500 tuition fee)s in the pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry group led by Dr Andrea Erxleben at the National University of Ireland, Galway. The position is funded through the Synthesis and Solid State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC), a collaboration of 9 Irish university institutions and 15 industry partners, funded by Science Foundation Ireland and the Irish pharmaceutical industry.
The PhD student will develop and study multi-component pharmaceutical materials with enhanced physicochemical properties. Poor physicochemical properties such as low chemical and physical stability, poor flow properties, poor compressibility or slow dissolution rates can have a severe impact on the shelf-life, manufacturability, bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of a drug. Cocrystallization of a drug with a biologically inactive coformer has recently emerged as a strategy to optimize and fine-tune the physicochemical properties of a drug without making chemical changes to the drug molecule itself and a number of pharmaceutical cocrystals have entered the market in the past few years. Cocrystallization becomes an even more powerful approach when the inactive coformer is replaced with a second complementary drug and opens the door to new fixed dose combination formulations. In this project crystal engineering will be applied to design novel cocrystals of tuberculosis, malaria, antidiabetic and antihypertensive drugs. The student will be trained in the use of different analytical techniques including single crystal X-ray analysis, x-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and infrared- and near-infrared-spectroscopy.

To apply

Please send applications (cover letter, curriculum vitae, academic transcripts, names and contact details of two academic references) in pdf format to Dr Andrea Erxleben at andrea.erxleben@nuigalway.ie. The successful candidate will have an excellent academic record, is able to work independently and is highly motivated to participate in a dynamic research team.

Closing date

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Start date will be Septemebr/October 2020

Requirements

Honours Bachelor’s (Level 8) degree in Chemistry with 1.1 honours grade or equivalent. A Master’s degree (Level 9) is preferred but is not absolutely required.

Related Subjects

· Pharmaceutical / Medicinal Chemistry