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  • Our postgraduate research disciplines
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  • Chemistry PhD

Chemistry PhD

Supervision for a Chemistry PhD at the University of Brighton draws on expertise spanning the traditional areas of organic, inorganic, physical and analytical chemistry, with particular expertise in research with a biological or medicinal angle.

Successful supervision has often drawn on cross-disciplinary expertise across biology, medicine, environmental science and nanotechnology. As a Chemistry PhD student you will be part of a thriving postgraduate community within the Chemistry Research and Enterprise Group in the School of Applied Sciences where research is supported by postdoctoral researchers, visiting fellows and technical staff.

Our Chemistry PhD graduates have gone on to work in postdoctoral research and industry.

Apply to 'chemistry' in the applicant portal

Key information

As a Chemistry PhD student you will benefit from:

  • a supervisory team comprising 2-3 members of academic staff. Depending on your research specialism you may also have an additional external supervisor from another School, research institution, or industry.
  • access to a range of electronic resources via the University’s Online Library, as well as to the physical book and journal collections housed within the Aldrich Library and other campus libraries.
  • access to state-of-the-art research facilities on the Moulsecoomb site, including electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, computer simulations and electrochemistry, all of which are available to research students.
  • desk space and access to a desktop PC, either in one of the postgraduate offices on the sixth floor of the award-winning Cockcroft Building. 

Research themes

Our chemistry students are welcomed as members of the School of Applied Sciences and its specialist Chemistry Research and Enterprise Group (REG). We have strong links with the research Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease (STRAND).

We specialise in research in the fields of pharmacy, biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry and ecology. Our work includes organic and inorganic synthesis, chemical analysis, electrochemistry, materials and polymer science, lipids, the chemistry of ageing, protein chemistry, computational chemistry, supramolecular chemistry, and sensor development.

Interdisciplinary research has recently included analysis of DNA from archaeological sites by mass spectrometry, analysis of composition-based lipid membrane curvature, the development of molecules with anti-ageing potential, drug-releasing polymers and toxin-removing devices for haemodialysis.

Other areas of research involve single molecule magnets, carbon capture through coordination chemistry, disclosing agents for organophosphate nerve agents, computational chemistry, electrochemical sensor and biosensor fabrication, 3D microfabrication and supramolecular chemistry.

Our diverse research interests and interdisciplinary collaborations provide an excellent environment from which global problems can be tackled using multidisciplinary approaches.

Research themes with regular Chemistry PhD researcher involvement include:

  • Synthetic chemistry
  • Analytical chemistry
  • Computational chemistry
  • Biochemistry of lipids and proteins
  • Electrochemistry and electrochemical sensors
  • Supramolecular chemistry
  • Polymers
  • The chemistry of ageing

We have strong links with the Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease

Some of our supervisors

Profile photo for Prof Peter Cragg

Prof Peter Cragg

PhD applications are welcomed in supramolecular chemistry and molecular recognition, macrocyclic chemistry, and computational chemistry.

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Dr Ian Gass

My supervisory interests are on the fundamental understanding, and control, of the physical, chemical and electronic properties of a range of inorganic materials. Specifically, I am currently interested in metal-based materials such as redox-active complexes and metallomesogens but recently I have started to focus on CO2 uptake materials.

Profile photo for Prof Bhavik Patel

Prof Bhavik Patel

My supervisory interests are:

  • Development of composite electrodes for bioanalytical monitoring;
  • Exploring the signalling mechanisms of the bowel and bladder epithelium
  • Development of innovative e-learning tools
Profile photo for Dr Jonathan Salvage

Dr Jonathan Salvage

I am interested in supervising postgraduate research students in the field of biomaterials, encompassing nanotechnology, polymers, nanoparticles, nanomedicine, pharmaceutics, cell biology, microbiology, and advanced microscopy.

Profile photo for Dr Irina Savina

Dr Irina Savina

Projects on developing polymer materials, hydrogel, nanocomposites for biomedical and environmental applications. Particular interest in biomaterials, drug delivery systems, nanoparticles as catalyst and antibacterial agents, materials/methods for water decontamination.

Profile photo for Dr Nicolas Stewart

Dr Nicolas Stewart

Research areas where project applications are welcomed include: 1) Applying nanoLC-MS/MS for the identification of novel post-translational modification of proteins, 2) Developing on-line methods for the enrichment of modified peptides in proteomics.

For further supervisory staff including cross-disciplinary options, please visit research staff on our research website.

Making an  application

You will apply to the University of Brighton through our online application portal. When you do, you will require a research proposal, references, a personal statement and a record of your education.

You will be asked whether you have discussed your research proposal and your suitability for doctoral study with a member of the University of Brighton staff. We recommend that all applications are made with the collaboration of at least one potential supervisor. Approaches to potential supervisors can be made directly through the details available online. If you are unsure, please do contact the Doctoral College for advice.

Please visit our How to apply for a PhD page for detailed information.

Sign in to our online application portal to begin.

Fees and funding

Funding

Undertaking research study will require university fees as well as support for your research activities and plans for subsistence during full or part-time study.

Funding sources include self-funding, funding by an employer or industrial partners; there are competitive funding opportunities available in most disciplines through, for example, our own university studentships or national (UK) research councils. International students may have options from either their home-based research funding organisations or may be eligible for some UK funds.

Learn more about the funding opportunities available to you.

Tuition fees academic year 2022–23

Standard fees are listed below, but may vary depending on subject area. Some subject areas may charge bench fees/consumables; this will be decided as part of any offer made. Fees for UK and international/EU students on full-time and part-time courses are likely to incur a small inflation rise each year of a research programme.

MPhil/PhD
 Full-timePart-time

UK

£4,596 

£2,298

International (including EU)

£15,282 

£7,641

International students registered in the School of Humanities and Social Science or in the School of Business and Law

£13,464 

£6,732


PhD by Publication
Full-time Part-time
 N/A  £2,298 (UK)

Contact Brighton Doctoral College

To contact the Doctoral College at the University of Brighton we request an email in the first instance. Please visit our contact the Brighton Doctoral College page.

For supervisory contact, please see individual profile pages.

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