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Please bring this advert to the attention of any project students looking for PhD positions in chemical physics. Apologies for cross-postings. PhD positions at the University of Cambridge Metal cluster spectroscopy and dynamics Two fully funded PhD positions are available in the group of Dr Stuart Mackenzie in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge Project 1: Spectroscopy and dynamics of small metal clusters/nanoparticles High resolution infra-red spectroscopy and velocity map imaging will be used to elucidate the mechanisms of elementary reactions occurring on the surface of small transition metal clusters This well-funded project will involve the development of a novel instrument, based on the ion imaging (velocity mapping) technique, applied for the first time to determine the structures of small metal clusters generated by pulsed laser ablation. It will involve a range of sophisticated laser spectroscopic and high vacuum techniques and will provide ideal training for students, particularly those with an interest in instrument development. Project 2: Computational dynamics of transition metal clusters Co-supervised by Dr David Wales (Cambridge) and Dr Tiffany Walsh (Warwick) A variety of computational approaches will be used to determine the structure and dynamics of low-lying isomers of small transition metal clusters. The main objective of the research will be to characterise the energy landscapes and reaction pathways of transition metal clusters in combination with various adsorbates/ ligands. In particular, the student will identify likely structures for cluster/ligand combinations highlighted by experiments, and analyse complete reaction pathways for ligand dissociation. The project will run in parallel with various complementary experimental projects both in Cambridge and Warwick. The calculations will be run on computational facilities in the Warwick Centre of Scientific Computing and Cambridge Centre for Computational Chemistry. M.L. Anderson,…,S.R. Mackenzie, J. Phys. Chem. A, 110, 10992, (2006) D. Harding, S.R. Mackenzie, and T.R. Walsh, J. Phys. Chem. B, 110, 18272, (2006) T.R. Walsh, J. Chem. Phys., 124, 204317, (2006) D.J. Wales and H.A. Scheraga, Science, 285, 1368, (1999) D.J. Wales. “Energy Landscapes”, Cambridge University Press, 2003 The studentships provides full University and College fees for UK and EU applicants and a tax-free maintenance allowance at standard EPSRC rates (currently £12, 300 pa) – for details and eligibility see http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining Candidates should have, or be about to receive, a 1st class or upper 2nd class honours degree in physical chemistry, physics or other relevant discipline. Applicants should contact Dr Stuart Mackenzie at [log in to unmask]