Design and synthesis of metal-organic assemblies and materials

About the Project

A fully funded 4-year PhD studentship (UK home fees only) is available in the group of Dr Jamie Lewis at the University of Birmingham in the area of synthetic supramolecular chemistry. The project will build on ongoing work from the group in the design, synthesis and study of functional metal-organic cages and their use as building blocks for new materials.

Metal-organic cages are a class of molecular hosts that can bind guest molecules or ions within their cavities(1). The confined microenvironment of these cavities can differ significantly from bulk solution and have interesting effects on the reactivity of encapsulated species. In addition to their use as discrete hosts, cages can be incorporated into extended structures such as polymers, gels and crystalline framework materials. This project will include the design and synthesis of new metal-organic cages and porous materials employing cages as building blocks. The precise remit of the work is flexible and can be tailored to the successful candidate’s interests.

The project will involve:

• Design and synthesis of organic ligands
• Studying self-assembly of metal-organic cages
• Studying host-guest chemistry and function of cages
• Investigating hierarchical self-assembly of cages into larger architectures

The successful applicant will join the Lewis Group in the new state-of-the-art facilities in the Molecular Sciences Building at Birmingham. Within this project they will develop synthetic skills in organic and coordination chemistry, analytical skills in the collection, analysis and interpretation of key data using a range of techniques to characterise structures (e.g. NMR, MS, SCXRD) and function (e.g. NMR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies, ITC) of metal-organic cages.

The Lewis Group is interested in the design of structurally sophisticated and functionally complex molecular and supramolecular hosts, including coordination cages(2,3), frameworks(4) and mechanically interlocked molecules(5,6), for a wide range of applications. Please visit our group website for more details about our research: https://lewisgroup.org.uk

How to apply

For informal enquiries, email Jamie at j.e.m.lewis@bham.ac.uk including a copy of your CV. Please apply through the online portal, for which you will need: (1) A curriculum vitae (CV), (2) A Cover Letter summarising your research interests and suitability for the position, and (3) The contact details of two referees. There is no closing date but applications will close once an appropriate candidate has been found.

Entry requirements

The candidate should have, or expect to obtain, a 1st class or high 2.1 Master’s degree (or equivalent) in chemistry. A background in synthetic chemistry would be advantageous.

Funding Notes

The studentship will start in the 2026/27 academic year and is fully funded for 48 months and covers a tax-free PhD stipend at UKRI rate and UK home tuition fees. Due to funding restrictions, only candidates eligible for UK home fees are eligible. The University of Birmingham and the Lewis Group are inclusive and diverse environments that welcome applicants from all backgrounds.