Investigating host-guest interactions in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)

The Macreadie group at the University of New South Wales are looking to recruit a talented and enthusiastic student to join our research team. We are an inorganic chemistry group and interested in pairing fundamental inorganic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry to drive sub-angstrom control over the pore environment in metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for storage, separation and catalytic applications.

Our group is interested in understanding the host-guest chemistry of MOFs and how this influences the structural and behavioral properties of the MOF. This includes investigating the gas capture of the MOF for different guests, structural changes in response to temperature and pressure, and also the catalytic properties of new frameworks. Our group is interested in using 3D-linkers to form 3D-linker MOFs (3DL-MOFs) which generally offer more sites for host-guest interactions compared with MOFs formed from traditional linkers. This project has a strong collaborative component with multidisciplinary groups from Australia, New Zealand, the USA and the UK, in addition to in-depth studies at the Australian Synchrotron, which allows for a deeper understanding of the MOF material properties. This work will involve some or all of organic and inorganic synthesis, MOF preparation, crystallography and gas adsorption. Some recent publications include: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jacs.2c13715 and https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/anie.201916159

Skills gained: Single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), organic and inorganic chemistry synthesis, gas and vapour adsorption analysis.

Scholarship

Two scholarships are available. Each scholarship is $37,684 per annum (2024 rate) for 3.5 years.

A tuition fee scholarship is available for International candidates.

Eligibility

  • Domestic and International candidates
  • PhD only
  • BSc/MSc with Major in Chemistry
  • some experience with inorganic (coordination chemistry) synthesis; organic synthesis; interpreting NMR spectra
  • A willingness to learn new techniques.

How to Apply

Email Dr Lauren Macreadie (l.macreadie@unsw.edu.au) the following:

  • cover letter
  • CV
  • academic transcript (undergraduate and any postgraduate coursework grades)
  • the contact details for at least two (2) referees.
School / Research Area

Chemistry