Revealing Solvents Under Confinement

About the Project

Many technologies essential to a Net Zero future, including sustainable chemical processing, separations, and energy storage, rely on liquids operating inside nanoporous materials. At this scale, liquids behave in unexpected ways that cannot be predicted from bulk properties, yet these effects often control performance and efficiency.

This PhD project focuses on data-driven analysis of confined liquids structure, informed by total neutron scattering. The emphasis is on developing new analysis strategies that capture the complexity of real materials, including disorder and heterogeneity, rather than on routine experimentation.

The project will be carried out between the University of Manchester and the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, with extensive time spent at ISIS (to be agreed with the student). ISIS is a world-leading facility for advanced materials characterisation, providing access to unique instruments, large-scale datasets, and an international research community. Training on neutron scattering techniques will be provided.

The project is ideal for students who are interested in computational chemistry, modelling, and scientific coding, and who are keen to develop these skills while contributing tools that advance the field and support clean growth and Net Zero technologies.

Eligibility

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

Funding

This 3.5-year PhD project is fully funded and home students are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is October 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

Before you apply

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisors for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

How to apply

Apply online through our website: https://uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your supervisor, if you already having funding or if you wish to be considered for available funding through the university, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees.

Your application will not be processed without all of the required documents submitted at the time of application, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

After you have applied you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

• Final Transcript and certificates of all awarded university level qualifications
• Interim Transcript of any university level qualifications in progress
• CV
• Supporting statement: A one or two page statement outlining your motivation to pursue postgraduate research and why you want to undertake postgraduate research at Manchester, any relevant research or work experience, the key findings of your previous research experience, and techniques and skills you’ve developed. (This is mandatory for all applicants and the application will be put on hold without it).
• Contact details for two referees (please make sure that the contact email you provide is an official university/work email address as we may need to verify the reference)
• English Language certificate (if applicable)

If you have any questions about making an application, please contact our admissions team by emailing FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk.