Chemistry – (M.Phil.)

MPhil supervision is normally available in the following groupings:

Synthetic and medicinal chemistry: the group brings together inorganic, organic and medicinal chemists with complementary expertise to tackle challenging problems in the areas of catalysis, lanthanide, transition and main group chemistry, synthetic methodology development, medicinal chemistry and chemical biology. The work of the group ranges from exploratory and targeted synthetic chemistry to mechanistic studies and the development of new catalysts and drugs. Examples include anticancer drug design; radiolabelled diagnostic agents for PET; fundamental synthetic chemistry for the development of new pharmaceuticals; toxicology; DNA damage and remediation; biomimetic chemistry; metalloproteins; nucleic acid chemistry; anti-viral agents (Dr U Baisch, Dr C Cano, Dr M Carroll, Dr S Doherty, Dr R Errington, Professor B Golding, Professor R Griffin, Dr M Hall, Dr I Hardcastle, Dr L Higham, Dr K Izod, Dr J Knight, Professor M North). This group, with the School of Chemical Engineering and Advanced Materials, has set up the University Research Centre in Catalysis and Intensified Processing.

Chemical nanoscience: nanobiotechnology, nanowires and silicon quantum dots; biophysical chemistry; single molecule spectroscopy; self-assembled monolayers; molecular electronics; scanning probe microscopy; modified DNA; polymer nanostructures (Dr D Fulton, Dr B Horrocks, Dr A Houlton, Dr A Pike, Dr E Tuite). We have a dedicated research laboratory with integrated facilities for synthesis, probe microscopy and spectroscopy. We collaborate extensively with colleagues in medicine, electronic and chemical engineering and are part of Newcastle University's NanoLAB.

Structural chemistry and spectroscopy: this group aims to establish a quantitative framework by which to understand and appreciate the static and dynamical properties of molecular materials and of their chemical reactions. These materials range from single multi-component molecules to intricate layered architectures and to biologically-related catalytic residues. Advanced synthetic chemistry is applied to construct rationally-designed supermolecules and supramolecular entities. Spectroscopic tools include X-ray diffraction, multi-nuclear NMR spectroscopy, laser-induced fluorescence, stopped-flow spectrophotometry and fast transient absorption measurements, supported by Stark-effect spectroscopy and electrochemistry (Dr U Baisch, Dr AC Benniston, Prof W Clegg, Dr JP Hagon, Prof A Harriman, Dr R Harrington, Prof RA Henderson, Dr CY Wills).