PhD Study : Surface chemical kinetics with low temperature atmospheric pressure plasmas: for plasma-medicine applications in cancer treatment

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Summary

Our work seeks to understand, control and advance the science and technology of low temperature plasmas at atmospheric pressure for the synthesis of high performance nanomaterials and/or the treatment of liquids and aerosols for biomedical applications. Recently we were awarded a major research council grant A multi-function XPS-UPS system with load-locked advanced sample preparation stages which will allow us to purchase a state of the art XPS-UPS high resolution surface analysis system (see . http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/R008841/1)

Uniquely, this system will have a custom plasma chamber attached where processed samples can be immediately transferred to the ultra-high vacuum analysis chamber with exposure to environmental contamination.

A special feature will be the ability to expose liquids to plasma and then freeze and transfer to the analysis chamber where the fast reactions in liquid, cells or biomolecules, due to plasma-induced chemistry, e.g. hydroxyl radical irradiation, can be precisely studied for the very first time. This could have tremendous impact in the new field of plasma medicine where novel treatments for cancer or antibiotic wound healing are being researched. If you are interested in finding out more about the work of the Plasma and Nanoscale Group, you can find our papers here, many are open access. https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=ysyMQ-gAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

This is a flexible project specification and students with an interest in plasma – liquid studies or nanomaterials for application in plasma-medicine are welcome to apply. We are keen to receive applications from students with a degree in any of the following: Physics, Chemistry, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Materials, Engineering.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 19 November 2018
12:00AM

Interview Date
12 December 2018

Preferred student start date
January 2019

Applying

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Contact supervisor

Professor Paul Maguire

Other supervisors