PhD Studentship: Luminescent Molecular Probes for Detection of Reactive Chemical Species

This PhD project focuses on design and synthesis of luminescent molecular probes to detect short-lived reactive species across biological, environmental, and security settings. These probes will exhibit a distinctive luminescence change (e.g., green to red) upon interaction with targets, providing a real-time, visualizable signal. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are crucial in areas like biological signalling, environmental pollution, and plasma-based cancer therapies, but their short-lived nature makes their detection very challenging.

The project will utilize our group’s established design principles in lanthanide host-guest chemistry to create probes based on europium and terbium ions surrounded by macrocyclic ligands. These probe molecules will employ metal-ligand coordination, hydrogen bonding, and functional group recognition to achieve exceptional selectivity and sensitivity under real-world conditions. Time-resolved luminescence will further enhance accuracy by reducing background interference.

The modular synthesis and versatility of these probes will allow their application across various media, including aqueous environments and vapour phases, facilitating onsite detection without expensive instrumentation. This adaptability supports diverse applications, from understanding biological processes to improving environmental monitoring.

Training and Collaboration
The student will receive training in organic synthesis, host-guest interactions, and photophysical analysis of lanthanide complexes, alongside expertise in assay development for real-world applications. Working within the Butler Group, they will collaborate with research partners and industrial stakeholders, gaining interdisciplinary experience. These skills will prepare the student for academic or industrial careers, particularly in biotechnology and environmental and sectors, while offering opportunities for postdoctoral research in this active field.

Butler Group Website

Relevant papers here:

Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 3164-3170

Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 4979-4985

Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 3386-3394

Primary supervisor: Stephen Butler

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree in Chemistry. A relevant Master’s degree with experience in synthetic organic chemistry will be an advantage.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Funding information:

The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

Please note that studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who have applied to this project and other advertised projects starting with advert reference ‘SCI25-’ in the School of Science. Successful candidates will be informed during April 2025.

Bench fees required: No

How to Apply:

All applications should be made online via the above ‘Apply’ button. Under programme name, select ‘Chemistry’. Please quote the advertised reference number: ‘SCI25-SJB’ in your application. 

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit a CV and the minimum supporting documents. 

The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application. 

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