Fully-funded PhD studentship - Neutron Scattering of Endofullerenes

co supervisor: Dr Stéphane Rols (ILL-Grenoble)

The compounds known as fullerenes consist of closed carbon cages. There is an empty cavity in each closed fullerene cage which may be used as a container for single atoms or molecules. Such complexes are known as endofullerenes. The cages act as "nanolaboratories" enabling the study of isolated atoms or molecules. The energy levels of such systems are quantized and may be studied by neutron scattering. This PhD project converns a neutron scattering study of endofullerenes provided by synthetic chemistry groups at the University of Southampton. The project is part of an interdisciplinary program of research on non-equilibrium nuclear spin systems, with potential applications in many areas of science. 

The PhD project will involve neutron scattering experiments at the ILL and the analysis of that data using theoretical models of the quantized atoms or molecules. No synthetic chemistry is required. The student will also an opportunity to take part in nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments and other interdisciplinary investigations in Southampton. 

This PhD project is co-hosted at the University of Southampton and the Institut Laue-Langevin (Grenoble, France). At least 1 year will be spent in Southampton and 2.5 years at the ILL Grenoble. The project leads to a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of Southampton. It is supervised by Prof Malcolm H Levitt at the University of Southampton and Dr Stéphane Rols at the ILL. 

The successful candidate should have an excellent degree in physics or physical chemistry and a special interest in quantum theory, neutron scattering and/or nuclear magnetic resonance. Only candidates from EU countries are eligible.

Applications for a PhD in Chemistry should be submitted online at https://studentrecords.soton.ac.uk/BNNRPROD/bzsksrch.P_Search

Please ensure you select the academic session 2018-2019 in the academic year field and click on the Research radio button.  Enter Chemistry in the search text field.

Please place Prof Levitt in the field for proposed supervisor/project

General enquiries should be made to Malcolm Levitt at mhl@soton.ac.uk. Any queries on the application process should be made to pgafnes@soton.ac.uk

Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, and the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified