MPhil, PhD Chemistry

The MPhil and PhD in Chemistry are available for study within any of the research groups in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry. These degrees are available for study over one year for the MPhil or three to four years for the PhD.

Research Opportunities

Research opportunities are available in the following areas:

• Bionanotechnology & analytical chemistry
• Catalysis & synthesis
• Chemical biology & medicinal chemistry
• Materials & computational
• Forensic science

Fees & Funding

The fees for the MPhil and PhD programs are as follows:

• Scotland: £4,786 (2024/25), £5,006 (2025/26)
• England, Wales & Northern Ireland: £4,786 (2024/25), £5,006 (2025/26)
• Republic of Ireland: same as England, Wales & Northern Ireland
• International: £25,250 (2024/25), £27,800 (2025/26)

Supervisors

The following supervisors are available for the MPhil and PhD programs:

• Dr Christine Davidson: experimental research, quantitative analysis, method development, environmental studies
• Professor Damion Corrigan: electrochemical biosensors, bioelectrochemistry, DNA origami, surface attachment and bioconjugation
• Dr Gavin Craig: porous molecules and composite materials, structural chemistry, crystallisation, supramolecular chemistry
• Dr Lynn Dennany: electrochemical analysis, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemiluminescence, chromatography, spectroscopic analysis
• Dr Robert Edkins: synthesis of organic and inorganic conjugated molecules, (time-resolved) fluorescence spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy
• Professor Karen Faulds: Raman, surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), bionanotechnology
• Dr Ying Fu: Organic bioelectronics, Organic electrochemical transistors, Biomarker detection
• Professor Duncan Graham: nanoparticle synthesis and modification, Raman spectroscopy, Raman microscopy and cellular imaging
• Dr Penelope Haddrill: molecular biology, DNA profiling, RNA quantification, population genetics and genomics
• Professor Clare Hoskins: nanomedicine, cancer nanomedicine, therapeutics, diagnostics, theranostics, polymer synthesis, inorganic synthesis
• Dr Craig Jamieson: medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, peptide chemistry, chemical biology
• Dr Alan Kennedy: X-ray diffraction, crystallography, structural analysis, solid-state analysis
• Professor William Kerr: metal-mediated synthetic organic chemistry
• Dr K H Aaron Lau: control of peptide and peptide-mimetic material properties, solid phase synthesis, Nanostructure self-assembly
• Dr John Liggat: polymer physical chemistry, physics and technology, including adhesion, crystallisation behaviour, physical ageing
• Dr David Lindsay: synthetic organic chemistry, organometallic chemistry, catalysis, computational chemistry
• Dr Lewis MacKenzie: inorganic synthesis, solvothermal nanoparticle synthesis, powder X-ray diffraction, upconversion luminescence spectroscopy
• Professor Robert Mulvey: main group chemistry, organometallic chemistry, structure and bonding, synthesis, catalysis
• Professor John Murphy: synthetic organic chemistry, chemical mechanism, physical organic chemistry
• Dr David Nelson: physical (in)organic chemistry, catalysis, organometallic chemistry, organic synthesis
• Dr Alison Nordon: process analysis, chemometrics, in situ measurements, optical spectroscopy, acoustics, NMR spectroscopy
• Dr Charles O'Hara: synthesis, catalysis, structural elucidation
• Dr David Palmer: theoretical and computational chemistry, molecular informatics, molecular simulation, quantum mechanics
• Dr John Parkinson: applications using and developments of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy methods
• Dr Binoy Paulose: single molecule detection, single cell biopsy, dielectrophoresis, micro
  anofabrication
• Dr Marc Reid: computer vision, reaction monitoring, kinetic analysis, machine learning, high throughput experimentation
• Dr Stuart Robertson: inert atmosphere synthesis, Solid state and solution structure elucidation, organometallic complex design
• Dr Fraser Scott: medicinal chemistry, synthetic organic chemistry, biophysical measurements, antimicrobial susceptibility testing
• Dr Sebastian Sprick: porous polymers, conjugated polymers, light-driven reactions, photocatalysis
• Dr Juliane Simmchen: colloidal synthesis and characterization, microscopy, biohybrids
• Professor Nicholas Tomkinson: synthesis, isolation, purification and analysis of small organic molecules
• Professor Christopher Tuttle: development and application of computational methods, density functional theory, atomistic MD simulations
• Dr Alastair Wark: bioanalytical chemistry, nanotechnology, optical and electrochemical sensors, confocal multiphoton microscopy
• Dr Catherine Weetman: Inert atmosphere synthesis, Organometallics, NMR studies, DFT bonding analysis

Support & Development

The University offers a range of support and development opportunities for postgraduate research students, including:

• Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)
• Careers Service
• Student support services

Postgraduate Research at the Strathclyde Doctoral School

The Strathclyde Doctoral School offers a vibrant, student-centred research and training environment, dedicated to supporting both current and future research talent. The Doctoral School brings together all four faculties, committed to enhancing the student experience, increasing research outputs and opportunities, and ensuring that training is delivered at the highest standard. As a postgraduate researcher, you will automatically become a member of the Strathclyde Doctoral School.

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Overview:

• Founded in 1796 as Anderson's Institution
• Received its Royal Charter in 1964, becoming the University of Strathclyde
• Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the UK for engineering and technology
• Home to the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), a world-leading research center in metal forming
• Notable alumni include Sir James Black (Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine), Sir David Murray (former CEO of Rangers Football Club), and Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell (astrophysicist)

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Student Life:

• Over 23,000 students from over 100 countries
• 150+ student clubs and societies, including sports teams, cultural groups, and academic societies
• Student support services include counseling, health, and disability support
• Campus facilities include a sports center, library, and student union

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Academics:

• Offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs in engineering, science, business, law, and social sciences
• Faculty includes world-renowned experts in their fields
• Teaching methodologies emphasize hands-on learning and industry engagement
• Academic support services include tutoring, writing centers, and language support
• Unique academic programs include the Strathclyde MBA, which is ranked among the top 100 MBAs in the world

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Top Reasons to Study Here:

• Excellent reputation for teaching and research, particularly in engineering and technology
• Strong industry connections and opportunities for internships and placements
• Specialized facilities such as the AFRC and the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• Vibrant student life with a diverse and inclusive community
• Located in the heart of Glasgow, a vibrant and cosmopolitan city

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Services:

• Counseling and mental health support
• Health center with a range of medical services
• Accommodation services with a variety of on-campus and off-campus options
• Library resources with over 1 million books and journals
• Technology support including IT services and free Wi-Fi
• Career development services with support for job searching, CV writing, and interview preparation