PhD Studentship: Ultrafast Structural dynamics of Photoactive Antibacterial complexes based on Earth-Abundant Metals

We seek an enthusiastic candidate to embark on a 4-year, enhanced stipend joint PhD project between the University of Sheffield, in Professor Julia Weinstein’s group (Julia.Weinstein@sheffield.ac.uk), and Diamond Light Source, the UK national synchrotron source, in the Spectroscopy Group.

The PhD will combine inorganic photochemistry, ultrafast laser spectroscopy, and time-resolved structural methods to develop new antibacterial metal complexes which kill bacteria under visible light. 

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PROJECT:

 Antimicrobial resistance is one of the key challenges of the modern times. We believe that photochemistry can contribute to the answer.

Transition metal complexes have already been widely used in light-driven applications, such as photocatalysis, artificial photosynthesis, or photodynamic therapies.  

The PhD aims to develop complexes of cheap, available metals as photosynthesisers for killing bacteria with light.

This works by a complex absorbing light, populating its triplet excited state, which then interacts with O₂, producing highly reactive singlet oxygen ¹O₂ which causes cell death.

We have recently demonstrated the first example of a heteroleptic Cu(I) complex that kill bacteria in water under light, and which meets WHO’s classification as “highly protective”.

To develop this field of metal complexes as efficient photo-antibacterials, we need to understand their light-induced properties, and correlate it with their antibacterial activity. The PhD project combines X-ray studies, optical studies, and antibacterial studies of the existing in Prof Weinstein’s group library of promising photosensitisers to answer this question. 

You will master ultrafast optical spectroscopies (transient absorption, infrared, fluorescence) in the Lord Porter Laser Laboratory at Sheffield, where the compounds will be studied prior to X-ray studies at Diamond. The antibacterial tests will be conducted by our collaborators in the Medical School at the University of Sheffield.

You will also master time-resolved X-ray spectroscopies at Diamond Light source.

You will be part of an interdisciplinary, international team, travel the world, work at national and international large-scale facilities (and learn how to write proposals for beam time).

Person specification: The candidates should have at least a 2:1 degree in Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering. Ability to work in interdisciplinary, international environment, to be both an independent researcher and a strong team player, are important, as are enthusiasm and willingness to travel.

You will spend 2 years at the University of Sheffield, and 2 years at the Diamond Light Source in Oxfordshire. The specific schedule will be decided depending on the progress of the project, but you will be expected to relocate to south Oxfordshire during your time at Diamond Light Source.

Further reading:  1. Appleby et al, Materials Advances, 2020, 3417; 2. Appleby et al, Faraday Disc. 2023, 391. 3. Jay et al, Science 2023, 955. 

Eligibility: UK only.

Start date: 01 October 2024.  Duration - 4 years.

Applications: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/postgraduate/phd/apply

Any questions – please ask Julia.Weinstein@sheffield.ac.uk

The position is open until filled. The provisional online interview date in the 3^d week of July.

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