2 x PhD Positions in London in Theory and Simulation of Materials

Category: PhD Positions
Message:

Two PhD positions are available in Prof. Angelos Michaelides’ ICE research group in the London Centre for Nanotechnology and Department of Chemistry. The theoretical/simulation projects are aimed at applying and developing computer simulation approaches to better understand the formation of ice.

Ice formation is one of the most common phase transitions on Earth. It is relevant to an enormous variety of phenomena such as weathering, cloud formation, airline safety, and energy. However, despite having been studied since antiquity, our molecular level understanding of ice formation is very poor. In particular, almost all ice formation in nature is aided by impurities or the surfaces of foreign materials, yet how surfaces act to facilitate ice formation (heterogeneous ice nucleation) is unclear. Given the ubiquity of ice nucleation, this is arguably one of the biggest unsolved problems in the physical sciences. The PhD projects will focus on applying and developing computer simulation approaches to better understand ice formation on solid substrates. The overall aim is to establish what makes a material good or bad at nucleating ice. The results from this project will not only shed light on an important everyday process but may also help to improve climate models and develop improved cloud seeding materials, or inhibitor coatings for industrial purposes (or maybe even better tasting ice cream!).

The PhD positions are part of the “HeteroIce” European Research Council (ERC) grant recently awarded to the Michaelides group (www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0114/160114-100-ERC-Awards); as such there will be plenty of opportunities to work closely with the other team members on the project and for international travel to conferences and to collaborators.

Applicants should be EU nationals (including the UK) and have (or expect by September 2014) at least a 2.1 MSci (or the equivalent from a non-UK university) in chemistry, physics or a related discipline.

Initial inquiries should be made by sending an up to date CV and cover letter to Professor Angelos Michaelides (angelos.michaelides@ucl.ac.uk).

More details about the Michaelides’ ICE group can be found at http://www.chem.ucl.ac.uk/ice