You will join a team within the group of Professor R Raval in the
Surface Science Research Centre. The posts are funded by the EU FP7
Marie Curie Initial Training Network SMALL and you will be expected to
register for a PhD at the University of Liverpool. SMALL represents
'Surface for Molecular Recognition at the Atomic Level' and is focussed
on training 22 PhD students across 11 different institutions in cutting
edge nanoscience, chemistry, physics and theoretical methods.

One PhD project is available at Liverpool in EITHER of the following areas:
1. On-Surface Genesis of Complex Functional Nanostructures
One of the main challenges in nanoscience and nanotechnology is the
creation of complex functioning nanostructures at a surface - this is a
crucial step towards nanodevice fabrication. This project will address
this objective by directly synthesising complex molecular nanostructures
by controlled linking of component molecules at a surface. The research
will involve using sophisticated surface science methods to manipulate
and directly link individual molecules on surfaces in ultra-high vacuum
(UHV), and then probing them using vibrational and electronic
spectroscopic methods and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM).

2. Molecule-by-Molecule Assembly of Chiral Surfaces
Chiral or ‘handed’ surfaces are
increasingly being implicated in major advances in nanoscience e.g.
smart sensors that can discriminate between mirror-image molecules,
ultra-selective catalysts that promote the creation of just
single-handed products, non-linear optical materials and even as
potential environments that could have led to the evolution of
homochiral living forms on earth! This project will investigate how to
create chiral surfaces in which every molecule is organised in the
correct position to yield a perfect chiral pattern at a surface. The
research will involve using sophisticated surface science methods to
assemble chiral surfaces in ultra-high vacuum (UHV), and then probing
them using vibrational and electronic spectroscopic methods and scanning
tunnelling microscopy (STM).

You must meet both the Marie Curie ESR eligibility criteria (normally
this requires you to be a non-UK national and have less than four years’
research experience) - see http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/index.htm,
and the entry conditions for the University of Liverpool PhD programme.
You should have a good Masters degree in Physics, Chemistry,
Engineering or Materials Science and an English Language qualification
equivalent to IELTS 6.5. You will have an interest in nanoscience,
spectroscopy, surface science and experimentation. The posts are
available for 3 years.

To apply send a full CV and the names of two referees to Professor R Raval (raval@liverpool.ac.uk).

Ph: +44 151 794 3870 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +44 151 794 3870 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fx: +44 151 708 0662

The Surface Science Research Centre
The University of Liverpool,
Liverpool L69 3BX, UK

[For PDF visit
http://www.liv.ac.uk/science_eng_images/surface_science/SMALL_Sept.pdf]