PhD Position in Chemistry

University of Nottingham

Area: Chemistry

Location: Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire, UK / University of Nottingham, UK

Reference: SCI3045

Closing Date: Wednesday, 31 December 2025

Starting Date: July 2026 (earlier start possible)

Contact: Dr David Duncan – david.duncan@nottingham.ac.uk

About the Project

The School of Chemistry at the University of Nottingham invites applications for a fully funded PhD studentship under the supervision of Dr David Duncan. The project will be strongly based at Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron facility, where the student will spend at least two years.

The project focuses on single atom catalysts anchored on defective graphene substrates. Catalysis is essential for industrial processes and food production, yet understanding it at the atomic scale is challenging. Single atom catalysts offer a model system for studying catalytic mechanisms with high precision.

This research builds upon a collaboration between the Universities of Warwick, Nottingham, QMUL, and Diamond Light Source, aiming to develop model defective graphene supports and anchor single metal atoms on them.

The successful candidate will:

• Deposit single metal atoms on model defective graphene supports
• Study catalytic properties and correlate them with structural, chemical, and electronic changes using synchrotron light
• Measure structural differences with picometer-level precision for fundamental insights

Skills & Training

The candidate will gain experience in:

• Synchrotron light techniques
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
• Structural determination techniques (e.g., X-ray standing waves)
• X-ray absorption techniques
• Ultra-high vacuum apparatus operation
• Data processing and scientific programming

Additional training will include scientific communication, project management, collaborative working, mentoring, and leadership. The stipend for this studentship includes a £2,000 per year enhancement above the UKRI minimum to account for the cost of living in Oxfordshire.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for applicants with:

• A background in chemistry, physics, or a related subject
• Curiosity about the fundamental mechanisms of the natural world
• Practical experience with high or ultra-high vacuum systems, XPS, or scientific programming is a bonus but not essential

The studentship must start by July 2026, with the possibility of an earlier start.

Interested candidates should email Dr David Duncan at david.duncan@nottingham.ac.uk to introduce themselves and discuss potential fit or questions about the project.

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