“Smart” or adaptable sensors are considered as “modern sensor technologies” that exhibit a high rate of growth (10%/year as opposed to 4%/year of “traditional technologies”) in the global market with an estimated worth between $15-$25 billion1,2,3,4. “Smart sensors” are generally thought to be able to adapt themselves automatically to the measuring task and/or to have self-diagnostic and self-calibration capabilities. Development of sensors with increased level of functionality will be the key in the development of new sensing technologies and their application in wide variety of industries (e.g. environmental, food, pharmaceutical, automotive, sport etc). A very exciting research direction is where sensors are integrated with “smart materials” or materials capable of responding to external stimulus via an active control mechanism.

Applications are invited from UK/EU Nationals for a 3-year PhD studentship on a joint project between Keele University, UK and Clark University, USA. The two groups will team up in order to (a) design and synthesize hybrid materials capable of changing physico-chemical properties when exposed to external stimuli and (b) use these stimuli-responsive materials as the active layer for chemical sensors capable of modulating their selectivity upon changes in the media and the nature of the samples. Research at Keele would be focused on the latter; however some degree of involvement in the former is also planned. In this respect, the student will spend a certain amount of time conducting research at Clark University, so willingness to travel overseas is important.

The student working on this project will learn about a range of materials and how a particular property can be utilized in desired sensing application. They will be exposed to a range of experimental techniques that are widely used in various research and industrial laboratories. Techniques include but are not limited to potentiometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), UVVis and fluorescence microscopy, ICPMS, GC-MS etc. Moreover, a limited amount of synthetic work is also anticipated.

Candidates must have graduated with at least an upper second class degree (or equivalent) in chemical sciences. Research experience in analytical and/or material chemistry would be an advantage. For informal enquiries about the project please contact Dr Radu (a.radu@keele.ac.uk).

Funding Notes:

3-year studentship, with fees paid and £10,000 per year stipend.

Details about the application procedure for study can be found on the Keele website http://www.keele.ac.uk/pgresearch/howtoapply/. Please quote ref EPSAM 2012-6.