Chain dynamics and molecular transport in covalent and transient amphiphilic conetworks

Doctoral project at the Martin Luther University Halle, Institute of Physics, NMR group (Prof. Kay Saalwächter), starting asap or later in 2023 (subject to negotiations). The research focuses on applications of NMR spectroscopy and complementary techniques to unravel structure and dynamics im macromolecular soft-matter systems. Applicants should have a Master degree (or comparable) in Physics, Chemistry, Polymer Science or a related field, and have prior knowledge of (or strong interest in) soft-matter science, biophysics and/or molecular spectroscopy.

Amphiphilic conetworks consist of two types of polymer chains linked together in a 3D network, consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic blocks. Such structures form elastic gels that can be swollen with selective or non-selective solvents. In case of a selective solvent, only one phase is swollen and may form a continuous substructure through which small molecules can diffuse. Applications of such materials include soft contact lenses and scaffold materials for tissue engineering. The project aims at a detailed physical understanding of the relations between network structure, local dynamics, diffusion and the macroscopic properties such as elasticity, processing and transport of active molecules (e.g. nutrients for cells). The materials of study are model systems provided by a collaboration consortium (Forschungsgruppe FOR 2811, funded by the DFG). We include both permanent (covalently crosslinked) as well as transient (physically crosslinked) gels. The thesis work mainly involves the application of advanced NMR techniques probing chain dynamics and molecular diffusion (the latter using pulsed field gradients). Other methods are provided by the consortium, but can also be learned and performed by the doctoral student, such as rheology, small-angle X-ray scattering or transport measurements.

Please apply asap via our application portal: https://blogs.urz.uni-halle.de/irtgpolymers/application-webpage/