Do you want to do Materials Research in one of the most exciting research environments in the world?

There are currently two PhD Scholarship opportunities at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Wollongong, Australia.

These PhD projects will contribute to an Australian Research Council Discovery Project entitled "Artificial Photosynthesis: Developing a Simple, Functional, Light Harvesting Porphyrin-Protein Ensemble".  This project aims to construct a simple, functional light harvesting porphyrin-protein ensemble that mimics a photosynthetic light harvesting assembly.  The amalgamation of the array synthesis capability at the University of Wollongong (Australia), and the maquette expertise at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), along with the porphyrin modeling and characterisation skills at the University of Otago (New Zealand), will provide an internationally cutting-edge Discovery project that will have five specific objectives:

1. To construct a series of hydrophilic porphyrin arrays (2-5 porphyrins).

2. To study the energy and electron transfer characteristics of the porphyrin arrays.

3. To insert the arrays into protein maquettes.

4. To characterise the array-maquette interactions.

5. To investigate the photophysical properties and electron transfer capabilities of these light harvesting porphyrin-protein ensembles (UOW/UPenn/UOtago).

Scholarships available:

1. The Synthesis and use of porphyrin arrays for the development of porphyrin-protein ensembles for artificial photosynthesis.

2. The investigation of the electronic and optical properties of light harvesting porphyrin-protein ensembles for artificial photosynthesis.

Closing date:

10 February 2012

Stipend:

$25,000 non-taxable

Qualifications:

Bachelors degree with Honours, Masters or equivalent.

Apply:

Send your CV, academic record and a one page research outline, highlighting how your research background makes you a suitable applicant for one of other of the scholarships, to:

Professor David Officer
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute
University of Wollongong
Wollongong NSW 2522
Australia

Contact by email

Phone: +61 2 4221 4698

If you’re looking for a PhD in materials, focusing on energy or health, your future starts here....

About IPRI

At the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) opportunities exist for students to become part of a unique research training environment to carry out research on materials to be used for:
    Bionic implants such as conduits for spinal cord repair and muscle regeneration
    Solar energy conversion such as solar cells and water splitting
    Energy storage systems such as polymer batteries and artificial muscles

Internationally recognised as a leader in electromaterials research, the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) is housed in the state-of-the-art AIIM Facility at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus. The AIIM Facility is also the home of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) of which IPRI is the lead partner.

Our Strengths

Our PEOPLE - At IPRI you have the opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic researchers in the world in a supportive, talented team environment - researchers driven by a desire to invent and explore new materials.

Our state-of-the-art FACILITIES include material synthesis, characterisation and fabrication laboratories containing equipment such as MALDI mass and 400 MHz NMR spectrometers, extensive electrochemical characterisation tools including an electrochemical surface mapping facility, Raman, FTIR and UV-Vis/NIR spectrometers, an extensive range of chromatography equipment, AFM and SEM microscopes and a wide variety of device fabrication and characterisation tools.

Our friendly, relaxed and open working ENVIRONMENT

Our world-class RESEARCH programs focus on ELECTROMATERIALS for ENERGY and BIONICS.

A head start to your career

PAST PhD students are excelling in their chosen field and look back fondly at their time at IPRI and how it has helped them in their career.

“The multidiscipline research and exposure to world wide academics back in IPRI have provided me project management skills, initiation of new project and product and independent problem solving skills. More importantly, it provided a rare opportunity on how to conduct training, team building, coordination and communication with others.”
Dr Dezhi Zhou, Senior Technologist, Industrial Finish, Akzo Nobel, China (1997 IPRI PhD graduate)

Scholarships

A number of Research SCHOLARSHIPS are available to assist students with the cost of study through the University of Wollongong (UOW).

Successful candidates will be given the opportunity to work with other world leaders in the field by spending up to six months carrying out research with one of our CSIRO or international collaborators in Ireland, Italy, USA, Japan or France. Travel bursaries will be available to cover travel costs.

Want to know more?

• ENTRY REQUIREMENTS, APPLICATIONS, CLOSING DATES, COSTS, SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITES, AND LIVING AT UOW: uniadvice@uow.edu.au or phone 1300 367 869
• UOW POSTGRADUATE STUDY GUIDE: www.uow.edu.au/future/postgrad
• IPRI:  www.uow.edu.au/science/research/ipri
• ACES:  www.electromaterials.edu.au

How to Apply

You should actively involve IPRI in your research application:

• STEP 1 – Approach a supervisor at IPRI to discuss your project prior to applying for admission
• STEP 2 – Select a research topic
• STEP 3 – Apply for Admission to UOW
• STEP 4 – Apply for a Scholarship (if applicable): www.uow.edu.au/research/rsc/student/scholarships

To discuss a potential research project with ACES/IPRI, contact

Professor Gordon Wallace
Executive Research Director
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science
Intelligent Polymer Research Institute,
University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
Email: gwallace@uow.edu.au
Ph: +61 (2) 4221 3127
Fax: +61 (2) 4221 3114