Subject : Novel polymer nanoparticles as friction modifiers in aqueous environments
The Procter & Gamble (P&G) London Innovation Centre (Egham, United Kingdom) is responsible for the development of new Health Care and Beauty Care consumer products. We employ a diverse range of R&D Scientists, with a wide variety of technical disciplines and nationalities. We pioneer the development of new technologies and innovations in consumer product categories that improve the health, lives and wellbeing of the worlds' consumers. We do this through application of leading edge science and technology, combined with a deep understanding of consumer needs.
We are a major industrial partner in a new FP7 Marie Curie ITN program entitled 'Soft, Small and Smart: Design, Assembly and Dynamics of Novel Nanoparticles for Novel Industrial Applications'. As part of this program we have a vacancy for a PhD student to work on a challenging and exciting research project, to study tribology and friction in consumer goods products. The project will involve experimental investigations of how a range of responsive hierarchical polymer nanoparticles synthesized by our EU partners may be tailored and employed to modify the frictional properties of such products. The work will also involve synthesis and characterisation of these new materials, using established techniques such as the surface force apparatus, atomic force microscopy and X-ray scattering, as well as unique custom built instruments at P&G.
As a PhD student, you will be formally employed by P&G and join a talented team of P&G research scientists and will be enrolled in a PhD programme at the School of Chemistry, the University of Bristol, to drive this cutting edge research. You will also have the opportunities to engage in interactions and collaboration with ~ 14 other ITN PhD students from 10 EU partners in the programme, and will be required to attend training courses held in several EU countries. The position is available from Oct 2012 and will be for 3 years.
We welcome applications from qualified students with a good degree in chemistry, physics or related subjects. The candidates must be an EU resident, and must not have lived in the UK for longer than 12 months in the past 3 years.
Please attach a cover letter, and a copy of your current CV in English, including the contact details of 3 academic referees.
Please note that P&G is an equal opportunity employer