PhD in Technology Enhanced Chemical Synthesis

Program Overview

The Technology Enhanced Chemical Synthesis PhD program at the University of Bristol provides a unique training period in advanced research techniques and digital methods for chemical synthesis. Students develop transferable and professional skills through rotations, workshops, and research lectures. After a progression interview, they select their PhD project and engage in a three-year research project, preparing them for careers in both industry and academia.

Program Outline

It provides a structured training period designed to enhance research techniques and introduce new technologies and digital methods for chemical synthesis through lab rotations. The program aims to develop transferable skills (presentation, teamwork, problem-solving) and broader professional skills to enhance employability. Upon successful completion of the training element, students embark on a research project related to chemical synthesis, with continued scientific development through entrepreneurship training and professional and academic courses provided by industrial partners. The program prepares graduates for careers in both industry and academia.

Outline:

The program begins with an 8-month taught training period in Synthetic and Digital Chemistry. This training strengthens research techniques and introduces new technologies for chemical synthesis. Students develop research proposals during brainstorming sessions and undertake short rotations in synthetic chemistry labs, contributing to group research aims before selecting their PhD project. The program also provides training in automated and high throughput synthesis, computational methods for synthesis design, and new reactor technologies, alongside research lectures by world-renowned academics. Students develop transferable skills through workshops, virtual lab experiments, and a journal club.

Teaching:

The program is taught by world-leading researchers, including Professor Varinder Aggarwal, Professor Robin Bedford, Professor Wuge Briscoe, Professor Craig Butts, Professor Jonathan Clayden, Dr. Beatrice Collins, Professor Matthew Crump, Dr. Basile Curchod, Professor Anthony Davis, Professor Charl FJ Faul, Professor David Fermin, Dr. Natalie Fey, Professor Carmen Galan, Professor Simon Hall, Dr. Alastair Lennox, Professor Adrian Mulholland, Dr. Adam Noble, Dr. Tom Oliver, Professor Andrew Orr-Ewing, and Professor Paul Pringle.

Careers:

Graduates from the program have gone on to work in various sectors, including further academic research, pharma, agro and biotech industries, patent law, and teaching.

Other:

The program is part of the Centre for Doctoral Training in Technology Enhanced Chemical Synthesis, which is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The program has strong industry links and works closely with several companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors, including Astex, AstraZeneca, Bayer, GSK, Merck, MSD, Pfizer, Syngenta, and Vertex.

UK: full-time£4,758 per year Overseas: full-time£26,000 per year