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PhD Studentship in Nanoconfined Water, Molecular Physics and Mechanical Energy Absorption University of Birmingham in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
The successful applicant will receive 3.5 years of funding covering tuition fees at the UK rate and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI minimum of £21,805 per year for 2026/27. A Travel and Training grant supports research and professional development. International applicants are welcome if they can cover the fee difference.
Deadline
Feb 12, 2027
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Birmingham
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About this position
Nanoconfined Water: From Molecular Physics to Mechanical Energy Absorption is an interdisciplinary PhD project at the University of Birmingham investigating how water behaves when confined within spaces comparable to individual molecules.
The project will focus on water confined in nanoporous materials, particularly metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Under mechanical pressure, water can be forced into hydrophobic nanopores, creating new solid–liquid interfaces and enabling efficient, reversible mechanical energy absorption. The research will connect molecular-scale interactions with macroscopic responses relevant to impact protection, vibration damping and related technologies.
The successful researcher will examine how molecular interactions, pore structures, water transport and dynamic loading determine material behaviour across multiple length and time scales. Depending on their interests and expertise, they may contribute to technique development, materials synthesis and characterisation, advanced mechanical or high-pressure testing, synchrotron, neutron or laser experiments, computational modelling, application prototyping, or combinations of these approaches.
The student will join an interdisciplinary research team working within a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship programme linking chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering. The research environment provides access to major facilities and opportunities to collaborate with international researchers, while supporting interdisciplinary exploration and professional development.
Funding details
The successful applicant will receive 3.5 years of funding covering tuition fees at the UK rate and a tax-free stipend at the UKRI minimum of £21,805 per year for 2026/27. A Travel and Training grant supports research and professional development. International applicants are welcome if they can cover the fee difference.
What's required
Applicants should hold a good degree equivalent to a UK First or at least a 2:1 in chemistry, physics, materials science, mechanics, engineering or a related discipline. Applicants are not expected to have experience across all listed research areas; scientific curiosity, creativity, motivation and willingness to learn across disciplinary boundaries are particularly valued. International applicants must be able to cover any difference between UK and international tuition fees, and fee-status eligibility requirements apply.
How to apply
Contact Dr Yueting Sun at [email protected] with a CV and a brief description of your research interests and background. Informal enquiries from applicants across different disciplines are welcome.
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Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.