PhD scholarship in Developing Switchable Ligands to Control Gold Nanocluster Interfaces

The project is fully funded by an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award, aiming to understand how reactions at the interface of gold nanoclusters influences their properties.

For students who are interested in computational and materials chemistry and learning to perform and analyse cutting-edge molecular modelling and advanced multiscale simulations.

Higher Degree by Research stipend $33,826 each year for three years.

Open now.

3rd March 2024

Two scholarships available. 

First class honours (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Physics or Materials Science (or a related field) and meet RMIT’s entry requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy. 

Before applying for the Scholarship, please email Dr Benjamin Noble (benjamin.noble2@rmit.edu.au) to discuss your research interests/experience. 

Following these initial discussions, applicants will be expected to provide:

  • a cover letter (1-2 pages), detailing how your prior research aligns with this project.
  • your Curriculum Vitae.
  • a research proposal (1-2 pages).
  • Bachelor (and Master) academic transcripts.

The applicant will be required to complete the project on-site (Melbourne City Campus).

This project will be undertaken in the Materials Modelling and Simulation group and capitalise on the collaborative and multidisciplinary research environment within the Discipline of Materials, Manufacturing, and Mechatronics at the School of Engineering at RMIT. It will benefit from collaborations with with other high-calibre experimental research groups. Excellent development opportunities will be available to the candidates via professional networks based at RMIT and nationally. It will provide an opportunity for two HDR candidates to develop various skills (e.g., coding within a HPC environment, data analysis) that are valued both within academia and industry.

There are two main research streams within this project:

  1. Assessing the impact of photooxidation on gold nanocluster integrity.
  2. Developing novel synthetic strategies for deliberate gold nanocluster modification.

Please email Dr Benjamin Noble (benjamin.noble2@rmit.edu.au)

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