DPhil Studentship in Computational Organic Chemistry with the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca

University of Oxford - Industrial Sponsor: AstraZeneca

Ref: RP11

Oxford Supervisor: Dr Robert Paton

A DPhil studentship, funded through the EPSRC Doctoral Training Account and a CASE Award with AstraZeneca as the industrial collaborator, is available at the University of Oxford to begin in October 2011. This research project will explore C-H functionalization with predictive computational methods. The research will be carried out under the supervisor of Dr. Robert Paton and the work will be carried out in the Chemistry Research Laboratory at Oxford. Find out more about the research at: http://paton.chem.ox.ac.uk .

Direct functionalization of unactivated C-H bonds is a powerful way to increase molecular complexity and is of great interest to academia and the pharmaceutical industry. This PhD project will investigate C-H functionalization reactions using computational modelling techniques to establish a set of general principles that may be used to design and predict the usefulness of C-H functionalization for a given substrate. The PhD student will have the opportunity to collaborate with world-class theoretical and experimental co-workers in Oxford and AstraZeneca and will have access to the computational resources of the Oxford Supercomputing Centre.

The prospective student should be committed to and motivated by chemistry, with aspirations to pursue a career in academia or the UK chemical industry. Applicants should have, or expect, a first or second class honours degree, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline (Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics). The studentship will cover the fees and maintenance for 3 years for UK and EU citizens.

The Chemistry Research Laboratory is a state of the art research facility at the University of Oxford. Opened in 2004, it has five floors covering ~17,000 sq.m of laboratory and office space and cost £60 million to construct.

AstraZeneca is a global research-based biopharmaceutical company, focusing on discovering, developing and marketing medicines for some of the world's most serious illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, respiratory disease and infection.

For further information please see: http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/graduatestudies/prospective.html

To apply please see here: http://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/postgraduate_courses/apply/index.html

For enquires relating to the application and admissions process please contact:

Aga Borkowska, Graduate Studies Administrator:

graduate.studies@chem.ox.ac.uk

+44 (0) 1865 272569

For informal enquiries regarding the research project please contact: robert.paton@chem.ox.ac.uk .

The University of Oxford is an Equal Opportunities Employer.