There is a great deal of interest in the nature of the strong interaction force of particle physics. It has a fascinating personality – in normal circumstances it confines quarks together into hadrons such as protons and neutrons with a force of 15 tonnes (the weight of 3 elephants), but at large temperatures such as occurred after the Big Bang, it is feeble and hadrons easily fall apart.
Exactly how this “confining” mechanism works, and how temperature controls it, is the subject of intense research, and a $1M Millennium Prize.
The PhD research concerns aspects of this “confinement” puzzle. One possible direction is the numerical study of centre vortices, which are topological features of the theory of the strong interaction that are intimately related to confinement. Another possibility is to explore the temperature dependence of confinement through numerical simulations of the hadron spectrum, applying techniques which have not previously been used at non-zero temperature, and which are uniquely suitable for characterising deconfinement and related phenomena, such as resonance broadening.
Eligibility
Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.
Benefits
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend at UKRI rate (currently £17,668 for 2022/23).
Additional research expenses will also be available.
Medical and Healthcare Studies: Fully Funded EPSRC PHD Scholarship: Targeting the NS1-2 and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Proteins
The Swansea University School of Medicine hosts a world-leading research programme in drug discovery and medicinal chemistry. Medicinal chemistry plays a pivotal role in a wide range of aspects of the drug discovery and development research field, offering many opportunities for interdisciplinary research. This research project, which runs in collaboration with Cardiff University and the Rega Institute for Medical Research (Leuven, Belgium), aims to identify and develop novel antiviral agents for norovirus infections, to be used both as treatments and prophylactic options during outbreaks. Norovirus, known as the “winter vomiting bug”, is the first cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, leading to 699 million illnesses and 219,000 deaths every year, with huge associated societal costs and health expenditures.
No commercial vaccines or antiviral drugs are currently available to prevent/stop norovirus infections, and the current therapy consists merely of supportive care with oral rehydration salts.
In this project, a combination of computer-aided drug design techniques (molecular modelling) and synthetic organic chemistry methods will be used to identify and synthesise novel antiviral treatments, in the form of small-molecule compounds, targeting norovirus NS1-2 protein and the viral polymerase, which represent promising targets for the development of antiviral agents. These targets will be studied with a series of in silico analyses, which will guide the design and synthesis of novel compounds, able to interfere with the essential functions of these proteins, and therefore to impair the virus life cycle. The new compounds prepared will be evaluated in-house in a series of biochemical assays, and tested for their antiviral properties in world-leading centres for antiviral drug discovery.
Modern laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment will be available to support the research and offer unique training opportunities with advanced research techniques.
Excellent candidates with a background in medicinal/organic chemistry, drug discovery, or closely related disciplines are strongly encouraged to contact Dr Salvatore Ferla (salvatore.ferla@swansea.ac.uk), to learn more about the project and the training opportunities available to the successful candidate.
Eligibility
Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at minimum 2.1 (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University), or a Master’s degree with Merit (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University) in medicinal/organic chemistry, drug discovery, or closely related discipline.
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.5 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.
This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.
Benefits
This scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and an annual stipend of £17,668.
Additional research expenses will also be available.
