Research Opportunites
We're always looking for talented, passionate, and dedicated researchers (Research Assistants + Postdocs/PDRAs) students (PhD + MPhil) to join the Scherman Group.
We encourage talented scientists to consider the research project/area they are interested in working on, as well as how they might be funded, prior to approaching us. We fully expect that talented individuals (in particular PDRAs) can generate support for their stay by writing their own indepedent research proposals for internationally competitive fellowships.
Learn more about the process for each application below. Please note that all funded positions (research assistant, PhD, PDRA) are advertised online and accessible on the university job opportunities page.
Biocompatible hydrogels
We have developed biocompatible hydrogels with versatile mechanical properties, precisely tailored for various tissue-matching applications. These hydrogels are engineered to efficiently load a wide range of therapeutic agents while allowing us to customise their release profiles through various strategies. We are actively translating some of these hydrogels for potential clinical use in treating Glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. We are committed to innovation and providing tailored solutions to advance therapies for critical medical conditions. We are always looking for individuals to join this project.
Probing dynamics in hydrogels
We have developed a specialised experimental setup designed to probe dynamics within a diverse range of materials. This setup, named CAM-RIG, is enable understanding of the dynamics within supramolecular material by studying interfacial dynamics including polymer-polymer, colloid-colloid, and polymer-colloid. What sets our experimental setup apart is its unique capability to explore dynamics across a broad range of time and length scales. These scales were previously inaccessible through conventional experimental methods. The insights uncovered have far-reaching implications and provide a crucial foundation for designing and fabricating the next generation of materials with bespoke properties. We are actively seeking passionate individuals to join this exciting, highly interdiciplinary project.
Open PhD projects
High performance materials
Our focus on high-performance materials has led us to create dynamic hydrogels with exceptional mechanical properties. We employ dynamic host-guest complexes as crosslinkers to form supramolecular polymer networks (SPNs). These crosslinks act as sacrificial bonds, effectively dissipating energy across various time and length scales based on tuning of the chemical structures. Our materials have set new records across many metrics including compressibility. Recently, we have added conductivity (ionic & electrical) to these materials, exploring their applications in bioelectronics. We are also including different polymer topologies and mechanically interlocked structures to broaden applications. If you're passionate about this field, we would welcome you to join our team, as we have numerous exciting projects in the pipeline.
Energy transfer and catalysis
Our expertise in the design and controlled assembly of functional colloidal and molecular entities has resulted in the realisation of self-limited assembly leading to hybrid colloidal aggregates. This control enables us to craft intricate photoactive assemblies that play a crucial role in mediating out-of-equilibrium electron transfer processes, while offering real-time monitoring capabilities. Furthermore, the inclusion of electron mediators spatially confined within these assemblies enables an array of electron transfer processes including catalysis and controlled polymer decomposition alongside other relevant chemical transformations. We are interested in using these nanoassemblies for the development of sustainable energy transfer and storage technologies.
