Chemistry Postgraduate Research
Our research degrees help early career researchers to deliver solutions to global challenges. Your chemistry research will answer fundamental scientific questions. It will address societal challenges and advance emerging technologies.
Research strengths
Our research delivers meaningful impact, including:
- new medicines that revolutionise treatment of ovarian cancer
- pioneering the ability to perform remote access crystallography experiments
- new technologies for energy capture and storage
- enzymes which promote deep cleaning
Fundamental chemical research underpins our discoveries. We've developed new synthetic approaches and methodologies for understanding chemicals reactively.
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We catalyse the applied research across our research strengths, including medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, bio-inspired materials, energy materials and catalysis, synthesis, structure and reactivity and theory, computation and data science
How to apply for your PhD
We accept PhD and MPhil applications at any time during the year.
Either: Browse our pre-designed projects (go to step 6)
Or: Propose your own project - suggested topics are available on each subject page.
Step 1: Find and contact prospective supervisors.
Step 2: Write a research proposal. For for chemistry applications, please add key words related to your research area.
Step 3: Check entry requirements and fees on our course pages. Potential funding options are also available.
Step 4: Apply via our online portal. You'll need to include the programme code, supervisor name and project or funding details if applicable
Step 5: Receive your offer – this will normally be a conditional offer.
Step 6: Accept your offer via the online portal.
Step 7: Send in any documents to meet the conditions and register!
You can only submit one application but this can be linked to multiple projects and studentships. You must specify this on the application form or in your cover letter.
If you’ve already submitted your application, you can link it to another project or studentship by sending an email to pgadmissions@ncl.ac.uk.
Contact us
If you need help with your application, you can email our team.
Email: snes.pgr.support@ncl.ac.uk
Find a supervisor
Before applying for a research degree, you’ll need to find a supervisor who aligns with your research interests.
To find a supervisor, we suggest that you:
- explore our research in chemistry and learn more about our expertise
- browse our list of academic chemistry staff, and learn about their research interests, past publications, and ongoing projects
- choose a PhD research project from the below list
Dr Roly Armstong
Supervisor: Dr Roly Armstong
Research area: Chemical Biology and Organic Chemistry
Projects:
- Stereocontrolled synthesis of C-N atropisomeric amides
- Multicomponent synthesis of medicinally relevant peptide analogues
- Catalytic synthesis of new planar chiral paracylophanes
- Discovery of new mechanochemical catalytic transformations
Key words: Synthesis, Catalysis, Medicinal Chemistry, Stereoselective, Chiral, Organocatalysis
Professor Andrew Benniston
Supervisor: Professor Andrew Benniston
Projects:
- Molecular switches for energy storage
- Coupling organic synthesis to fuel production using sacrificial reactions
- Light-Induced synchronous activation of nitrogen and carbon dioxide and their coupling
- Light harvesting molecular systems
Key words: Photochemistry, Dyes, Energy, Sensors, Synthesis
Dr Agnieszka Bronowska
Supervisor: Dr Agnieszka Bronowska
Projects:
- Structure-based design of novel modulators of NLRP3 inflammasome (several projects);
- Multiscale modelling of human NLRP1 and structure-based design of novel inhibitors of NLRP1;
- Structure-based design of “molecular glues” activating p62/SQSTM1;
- Development of novel lysine-selective covalent inhibitors;
- Modelling workflows for cofactor-assisted dynamic allostery.
Key words: multiscale simulations, structure-guided drug design, biomolecular interactions, computational structural biology, molecular modelling
Dr Daniel Cole
Supervisor: Dr Daniel Cole
Projects:
- Molecular mechanics methods
- Computer-aided drug design
- Force field development
Key words: Computational chemistry; molecular mechanics; computer-aided drug design; software engineering
Dr Fabio Cucinotta
Supervisor: Dr Fabio Cucinotta
Projects:
- New organic and organometallic photo-active molecules
- Self-assembled materials for light absorption and emission
- Energy transfer and resonance interactions in supramolecular materials
- Luminescent Solar Concentrators
- Metal-enhanced luminescence for new OLEDs
Key words: photochemistry, organic and inorganic synthesis, energy materials, UV-visible spectroscopy, luminescence
Dr Simon Doherty
Supervisor: Dr Simon Doherty
Projects:
- Control of Catalyst Efficiency using Functional Polymers as Stabilizers for Nanoparticles: Applications in Green and Sustainable Synthesis
- Developing Polymer Immobilized Nanoparticles for the Thermal and Electrocatalytic Hydrogenation of CO2 to Formate and Fuels
- Design of stable highly conducting Polyionic Liquids for use as Membranes and Ionomers in Fuel Cells and Water Electrolyzers
- Stabilisation of Nanoparticles by Multifunctional Polymer Immobilized Ionic Liquid and Silica Supports for the Conversion of Biomass Derived Substrate to Chemicals and Fuels.
Key words: Nanoparticle Catalysis, Functionalised Polymer Supports, Catalysis, CO2 Hydrogenation, Green Sustainable Synthesis, Hydrogen Economy
Professor Libby Gibson
Supervisor: Professor Libby Gibson
Projects:
- Lightweight and flexible solar cells
- Photoelectrocatalytic water splitting
- Carbon dioxide reduction to renewable chemicals
- Circular economy of chemicals
- Time-resolved spectroscopy, microscopy and spectroelectrochemistry of energy materials
Key words: Net Zero, Renewable Energy, Green Hydrogen, Circular Economy, Solar Cells
Dr Michael Hall
Supervisor: Dr Michael Hall
Projects:
- Synthesis of chiral BODIPY dyes
- High-throughput crystallisation of small organic molecules
Key words: organic chemistry, synthesis, crystallisation, high-throughput
Dr Matthew Hopkinson
Supervisor: Dr Matthew Hopkinson
Projects:
- Developing new reagents for installing fluorinated functional groups onto organic molecules.
- Exploring novel carbon-fluorine bond activation and insertion processes leveraging Lewis acid and hydrogen bonding interactions.
- Expanding the scope of carbonyl photochemistry using N-heterocyclic carbene organocatalysts.
Key words: organic, synthesis, fluorine, photochemistry, catalysis
Dr Ben Horrocks
Supervisor: Dr Ben Horrocks
Projects:
- Optimisation of screen-printed sensors for water quality analysis.
- Electrochemical sensors for quantitation of enhanced weathering.
- Metal-nucleobase coordination polymers - optical and electronic properties.
- Donor-acceptor conductive polymers.
- DNA-stabilised metal clusters.
Key words: Electrochemistry, sensors, nanoscience, DNA
Dr James Knight
Supervisor: Dr James Knight
Projects:
- Development of radiopharmaceuticals for Cerenkov-induced imaging and therapy
- Development of multi-modal imaging agents for sarcoma
- Enhancing the therapeutic index of antibody-drug conjugates for cancer with cell-penetrating peptides
Key words: Radiochemistry, molecular imaging, fluorescence, radioisotopes, preclinical, cancer, antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, ADC
Dr Tom McAllister
Supervisor: Dr Tom McAllister
Projects:
- Substrate profiling of GalNAc transferase enzymes
- Methods for synthesising glycopeptides
Key words: carbohydrates, peptides, glycans, chemical biology
Dr Andrew Pike
Supervisor: Dr Andrew Pike
Projects:
- DNA synthesis methodologies
- 2D nanomaterials based on GO
- DNA-based nanomaterials
- Glass surface functionalisation for sensors
Key words: nanobiotechnology, bionanomaterials, DNA chemistry,