Chemical Sciences

Project description

The Dynamic Microfluidics Laboratory (https://fluidics.physics.auckland.ac.nz/) uses high-speed photography to study the motion of fluids at small length scales. Various projects are available to study phenomena including (for example):

• Impacts of drops on to surfaces, especially fluids of industrial interest which are often non-Newtonian (e.g. milk, ferrofluids).
• The fate of droplets floating in air, relevant (for example) to the spread of viruses.
• The detailed dynamics of capillary uptake.

The student should be an aspiring physical/materials or food scientist, who will gain skills and experience relating to materials characterization, high-speed photography and/or image analysis.

Project description

This project will study Janus spheres, which are microspheres which have two (or more) different surface coatings applied to them. We are interested in how the asymmetry of these spheres affects the formation of self-assembling particle clusters. Janus particle clusters could be used to develop reconfigurable components for sustainable technologies, and they also serve as a good model for biological self-assembly.

To study clustering, particles in solution are observed as they come together on a microfluidic chip.

The student should be an aspiring physical/materials chemist, who will gain skills and experience relating to materials characterization, microfluidics, fabrication, and/or image analysis methods.

Lab website: https://fluidics.physics.auckland.ac.nz/

Project description

We have developed a method (known as ‘aspiration’) which can measure the mechanical properties of soft microparticles using the humble pipette. The important role of such mechanical properties in (bio-)medical research is emerging. Projects are available to apply aspiration to interesting particles. For example, we are keen to explore the mechanics of liposomes, a family of synthetic micro- and nanoparticles analogous to cells, and with potential drug delivery applications.

The student should be an aspiring physical/materials scientist, who will gain skills and experience relating to materials fabrication and characterization.

Lab website: https://fluidics.physics.auckland.ac.nz/

Project description

Background The 21st century has already been titled the ‘century of the photon’. Indeed, over the past two decades, photochemistry has emerged as one of the most prominent strategies in several emerging green/sustainable technologies – including conversion of solar energy into electricity or chemical fuels, low energy demand lighting, and catalysis, as well as biomedical applications such as photodynamic therapy and photoactivated chemotherapy.

The photosensitisers that have revolutionised these fields are almost ubiquitously based on complexes of precious metals such as Ru, Ir and Pt due to their favourable photophysical properties and high stability. As these are among the least abundant and most expensive elements in the earth’s crust, their replacement with earth-abundant alternatives exhibiting comparable properties has emerged as a priority in sustainability research.

Project We are seeking to develop new photosensitisers based on earth-abundant first-row transition metal and main group element complexes, as sustainable and cost-effective alternatives to precious metal photosensitisers.

In these projects, we will design and prepare novel photoactive complexes, spectroscopically investigate their photophysical properties, and test their performance in photoredox and energy-transfer catalysis applications.
Offered projects include:

• Developing and studying photoactive first-row transition metal complexes
• Developing and studying photoactive main group element complexes
• Visible light-mediated synthesis of natural products

These projects can be tailored to student interests.

Skills Developed Offered skills include:

• Organic synthesis and characterisation
• Coordination chemistry
• Optical spectroscopy (UV-vis, emission)
• Electrochemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Photochemistry

Project description

Background Photosynthesis is nature’s power station, sustaining life on Earth by converting solar energy to biochemical fuels. Nature achieves this through a sophisticated photosynthetic apparatus, which uses the absorption of visible light to drive the separation and accumulation of positive and negative charges onto opposite sides of the structure. These separated and accumulated charges are then employed to drive the biochemical reactions that fuel life on this planet.

Despite long-standing ambitions, molecular assemblies that mimic the photosynthetic reaction centre to convert solar energy to chemical fuels, such as hydrogen, still do not exist. This is due to inherent limitations imposed by covalently connected systems, such as synthetic inaccessibility and extremely efficient deactivation pathways.

Project We are breaking away from the established paradigm of covalently connected systems, and investigating conceptually novel supramolecular approaches to transport charge at the molecular scale.

Offered projects include developing and studying mechanically interlocked architectures (e.g. catenanes, rotaxanes)

Offered skills include:

• Organic synthesis and characterisation
• Coordination chemistry
• Optical spectroscopy (UV-vis, emission)
• Electrochemistry
• Computational Chemistry
• Photochemistry

Project description

Background Chemotherapy is a famously unpleasant experience due to side effects arising from the inherent toxicity of anticancer drugs. An emerging approach to circumvent the toxicity of traditional treatments is to inactivate (cage) highly cytotoxic drug molecules through covalent / coordinative connection to a photosensitiser (photocage). The drug molecule can then be released (uncaged) in tumours with high spatiotemporal control through non-harmful visible light irradiation (e.g. endoscopically).

Project We are seeking to develop new Ru-based photocages for targeted delivery of drug molecules and biological stimulants.

Offered projects include:

• Developing and studying new photocage scaffolds with novel photorelease mechanisms undergo photoinduced electron-transfer through the mechanical bond.
• Developing and studying rotaxanes that transport charge via molecular machine-type behaviour
• Developing synthetic approaches to higher order rotaxanes for long-range charge separation

Skills Developed Offered skills include:

• Organic synthesis and characterisation
• Supramolecular assembly
• Optical spectroscopy (UV-vis, emission)
• Electrochemistry

Project description

Oncolytic viruses are an emerging class of therapeutics for cancer treatment. These viruses selectively infect and lyse cancerous cells. However, these therapies still suffer from certain limitations, perhaps the greatest of clearance of the virus prior to complete tumour destruction due to the patient’s immune system. To elicit maximal efficacy, these viruses can be used in combination with chemotherapeutics or radiotherapy.
The presence of viral infection provides new opportunities to develop selectively targeted chemotherapeutics.

This project seeks to develop a novel Virus-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (VDEPT). Cytotoxic payloads will be developed and conjugated to an inactivating peptide sequence that is selectively cleaved by the protease of a promising oncolytic virus to release the active cytotoxin selectively in the tumour microenvironment. Thus, the project seeks to develop a novel prodrug and combination therapy. A key aspect of the research will be optimising the self-immolating cleavable linker system for a favourable rate of payload release.

A three-component prodrug to provide a novel VDEPT strategy.

The project is an active collaboration with the University of Otago. The successful candidate will develop skills in modern organic chemical synthesis, Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS), reverse phase-HPLC and may also have the opportunity to conduct biological assays/enzyme assays.

This project is also eligible for scholarships under Ngā Motu Whakahī.

Project description

Stapled peptides are an emerging class of therapeutics that bridge the gap between small molecule drugs and biologicals (e.g. monoclonal antibodies - Herceptin), allowing one to target protein-protein interactions (PPIs) once considered “undruggable”. Using modern organic synthesis techniques, linear peptides can be “stapled” to improve their α-helical secondary structure and biological activity properties. Stapled peptides benefit from enhanced receptor affinity and selectivity, improved membrane permeability (accessing intracellular targets) and increased half-lives in body.

This project will develop new stapling methods and an SAR study of stapled-antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to treat an NZ relevant bacterial pathogen, Group A Streptococcus. This pathogen internalises itself inside host epithelial cells and a defence mechanism, allowing it to hide from the immune system and antibiotics, most of which are not permeable to human cells. This results in treatment failure, recurring infection and severe complications such as rheumatic heart disease. Using novel peptide stapling approaches, you will develop cell permeable stapled antimicrobial peptides which will be tested for activity towards bacteria internalised by epithelial cells.

(upper) peptide stapling to induce helical conformation (lower) binding of a helical peptide to shallow pocket of a target protein

Successful candidates will use organic synthesis techniques and modern methods of solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Candidates will also have the opportunity to learn instrument skills with HPLC (analytical and preparative) and ESI-MS. Candidates have the opportunity to undertake and learn biological assays if they desire.

This project is also eligible for scholarships under Ngā Motu Whakahī.

Project description

Terpenoids are molecules naturally produced by many organisms such as plants, fungi and bacteria, providing functions such as defence, communication, and attracting pollinators. Plant terpenoids – perhaps most famous as the distinctive fragrances of citrus, eucalyptus, mint, and many other plants – have also been harnessed as life-saving medicines, such as the anticancer drug Taxol from the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) and the antimalarial agent artemisinin from sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua).

In the marine environment, soft corals and sponges produce a broad repertoire of terpenoids. Like plant terpenoids, these terpenoids show promising medicinal activities. However, acquiring enough terpenoid for further medicinal testing and, eventually, supplying sufficient amounts for therapeutic uses, has historically required harvesting corals in quantities that are environmentally unsustainable.

One way to sustainably produce terpenoids is by means of synthetic biology. For instance, artemisinin harvested from Artemisia annua used to suffer from dramatic supply and demand fluctuations. By identifying the genes encoding the enzymes responsible for artemisinin biosynthesis in Artemesia annua and expressing them in baker’s yeast, artemisinin can now be reliably and sustainably produced through fermentation (https://doi.org/10.1038/nature04640).

For a long time, it was deemed impossible to apply this strategy to coral and sponge terpenoids because the enzymes responsible for terpenoid production in corals were unknown. However, this has changed due to a recent discovery, where we identified the enzymes that catalyse the first step of terpenoid biosynthesis in corals (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-022-01026-2) and in sponges (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2220934120).

In this project, we will apply our newfound knowledge of marine terpenoid biosynthesis to establish microbial cell factories for the sustainable production of marine terpenes.

Students will be able to learn valuable laboratory skills in microbiology, molecular cloning, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry, as well as hone their skills reading the literature and presenting their results.

Prerequisite: Some knowledge of molecular biology and organic chemistry

Project description

Our knowledge of nature’s diversity of enzymatic transformations is crucial to advancing research in a multitude of disciplines. For instance, our ability to predict metabolic capacity from genome sequences enables new insights in human health and ecology, while the development of bioprocesses to produce chemicals in an environmentally benign fashion relies on the availability of a well-stocked biocatalytic toolbox. Billions of years of evolution has resulted in immense natural genetic diversity, which we are rapidly starting to uncover using modern sequencing technologies. However, the functional assignment of the enzymes encoded by this sequence diversity is lagging. Genome mining seeks to explore this “metabolic dark matter” for new biocatalysts, pharmaceuticals and biochemical insight (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41576-021-00363-7).

Our lab has recently developed new algorithms to identify unique un-annotated genes coding for enzymes in genomic data, which led us to discover the first known oxazolone synthetase enzyme (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00808-4).

In this project, the student will apply genome mining to a selection of other un-annotated genes, in the hopes of shedding light on even more of this metabolic dark matter. Biosynthetic genes will be expressed heterologously, and the presence of metabolic products will be determined using modern analytical chemistry methods. Novel molecules will be purified, their structures determined, and they will be tested for medicinal potential.

Students will be able to learn valuable laboratory skills in microbiology, molecular cloning, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry, as well as hone their skills reading the literature and presenting their results.

Prerequisite: Some knowledge of molecular biology and organic chemistry.

Project description

Biocatalysis is the usage of enzymes to catalyse chemical reactions in a safe and environmentally sustainable manner, as opposed to through the use of toxic metals, flammable solvents and high temperatures and pressures.

Recently, we discovered the first known enzyme that catalyses the conversion of an N-acylamino acid into an oxazolone (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00808-4). We hope to use this enzyme as a biocatalyst for the sustainable production of oxazolones, which are useful intermediates in organic synthesis.

To get to that point, there is a lot we need to study about this enzyme: E.g., what is its catalytic mechanism, what is its substrate range, and can this substrate range can be expanded through the use of directed evolution (2018 Nobel Prize)?

In this project, students will be able to learn valuable laboratory skills in microbiology, molecular cloning, organic chemistry and analytical chemistry, as well as hone their skills reading the literature and presenting their results.

Prerequisite: Some knowledge of molecular biology and organic chemistry.

Project description

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are integral membrane bound proteins that detect external stimuli and activate cellular signalling pathways (A). Important examples include sight (rhodopsin GPCR) and analgesia (mu opioid GPCR). A large percentage of current drugs target GPCRs, making them central to the discovery of next generation therapeutics.

This project focuses on the design, synthesis and evaluation of new allosteric modulators for the cannabinoid and opioid GPCRs (CB1 and MOR). These ligands bind away from the active site, allowing for the preservation of normal timing and distribution of cell signalling, leading to novel drugs with higher selectivity, reduced side effects and unique cell signalling profiles (B).

Ideal student: Will be keen to develop their skills in organic synthesis and drug design. Students with skills or interest in pharmacology and molecular modelling are also encouraged to get in touch, to discuss project branches emphasizing those areas.

Project description

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are mixtures that have melting points below each of the constituents of the mixture, forming room temperature liquids from solid components. This allows solvents to be made from non-toxic, bio-based compounds that are not inherently liquid. Recently, we have discovered that the composition of these liquids can significantly affect their ability to extract transition metals from waste streams, which we believe is linked to changes in the ionisation of carboxylic acid components of the mixture. This implies the ability to modify the acidity of the DES through its composition, an effect that could help tailor DESs for a range of potential applications.

The aim of this project will be to understand the relationship between the composition of selected DESs and their acidity, by preparing and measuring the acidity of a range of structurally diverse DESs. This will open up the possibility of tuning DES acidity for selected applications, including their role as extractants for metal-containing waste and as benign acid catalysts for chemical transformations.  

Project description

Water has remarkable and unusual solvent properties arising from its small molecular size and high polarity. Nearly two decades ago it was discovered that reactions of organic compounds could be accelerated by their suspension in water, a phenomenon known as ‘on-water catalysis’. We are interested in exploring the potential to enhance the on-water effect by developing new solvents that are highly self-associated and feature stronger hydrogen-bonding properties than water.
This project will prepare novel solvent systems based on the deep eutectic solvent concept and explore their efficacy as easily separable interfacial catalysts for selected reactions.  

Project description

Ionic liquids (ILs) are low melting salts which possess an array of useful properties such as non-flammability, inherent electrical conductivity and unique solvation behaviour. ILs have found application as non-hazardous solvents for the solubilisation and transformation of abundant natural biopolymers such as cellulose and chitin, although the implementation of many of these approaches at the industrial scale is hindered by the cost IL production.

A challenge in the development of lower cost ILs is the high melting points of many salts formed from abundant, inexpensive ions. Recently, it has been discovered that certain IL mixtures can form eutectics with a significant reduction in melting points. This project will investigate the preparation and characterisation of low cost IL mixtures and explore their use as solvents for the solubilisation and conversion of economically important biopolymers.  

Project description

Polymers containing sulfide linkages have shown promise for a wide range of applications, for example in metal and oil remediation, and in the creation of repairable silicone. The materials are synthesized by heating elemental sulfur with one or more diene cross-linkers. In this research project you will synthesize materials capable of tunable surface functionalisation after the polysulfide is formed. The project will also involve characterisation of the cross-linker and the synthesis and characterisation of a series of polysulfides (varying the wt% sulfur). Deprotection for surface functionalisation will be attempted once the series is established.

The candidate will require some prior laboratory experience, ideally at the third-year level and will gain experience synthesizing and characterising materials with sulfide linkages.  

Project description

Synthetic compounds that fall under the class of  >10 000 per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely produced and applied due to their non-stick, as well as chemical-, water-, heat- and stain-resistant properties. These amazing features also result in their environmental mobility, persistence, and bioaccumulation, leading to adverse human health effects and governments increasingly banning their manufacture and use. Therefore, there is an urgent need to replace essential use PFAS. In this research project you will synthesize and characterise alternatives to PFAS, as well as test their properties and assess their environmental degradation.

The candidate will require some prior laboratory experience, ideally at the third-year level and will gain experience synthesizing and characterising main-group molecules and materials.

Project description

Silicone-based materials are ubiquitous due to their unique properties, such as biocompatibility, flexibility, tunability, and integrity over a large temperature range rendering them useful in a wide range of sectors from healthcare to consumer goods to building and construction. In an effort to move away from oil-derived polymers about 75 years ago, the silicone industry is now worth >15 billion USD worldwide. One of the challenges with silicone is their recyclability as, unlike some other polymers, it is not possible to heat and remould them. In this project you will be involved in synthesizing, characterizing, and degrading modified silicone which is designed for facile recycling.

The candidate will require some prior laboratory experience, ideally at the third-year level and will gain experience synthesizing and characterising modified silicone.  

Project description

The so-called redox potential of wine at a bright platinum electrode (with no current flowing) has a long history in enology. However, our own experiments have indicated that the measure provides only a broad indication of dissolved oxygen content, but little further information on wine redox status.
The experimental tests will include monitoring the redox potential and the dissolved oxygen content simultaneously during fermentation. Selective additions of ethanol to wines will be made and the redox potential response recorded. Prolonged exposure of wine to Pt at open circuit will be undertaken to check for acetaldehyde formation.

Project description

Past projects at the University of Auckland have shown that PEDOT is a reliable redox mediator for the analysis of small molecule antioxidants.
At our own PEDOT electrodes, signals for ascorbic acid are well separated from those due to uric acid or catechol-containing polyphenols, which appear at higher electrode potentials. However, the commercial PEDOT electrodes do not seem to perform so well, and a cross-comparison is needed, both with ascorbic acid and with other target antioxidants.

Project description

The antioxidants present in beverages can be quantified and information provided about their reducing strength using the electrochemical technique of cyclic voltammetry. This technique has been developed at the University of Auckland to profile wines, fruit juices, teas and coffees, and milk. In this project, the voltammetry procedure will be applied to the antioxidants present in a series of alcoholic beverages, including beer and fortified drinks. An examination of the most appropriate solvent for the measurement of the phenolic and other antioxidants present will be made, along with the electrode conditions needed to make a reliable quantification. Comparisons will be made with standard Food Science antioxidant assays, and a wide range of beverages of different strengths will be surveyed.

Project description

Surface Organometallic Chemistry involves affixing homogeneous catalysts onto solids such as silica. This creates new catalysts that have high selectivity and can be used in industrial processes.

A key step in surface organometallic chemistry is called passivation. The silica supports we synthesise in the Falconer group have ligands attached, which we bind to metals for catalysis. These silica surfaces are, however, also covered in Si-OH groups, which react indiscriminately with metals often in preference to the ligands. During passivation, the Si-OH groups are converted to Si-OSiMe3, Si-OMe or Si-OEt, which prevents unwanted side reactions when we introduce metals. We are interested in how robust these groups are when exposed to air or moisture. This project will investigate the stability of silica protecting groups under a variety of conditions. It will give an introduction to surface organometallic chemistry, hybrid silica synthesis, passivation and handling.

This project is most suited to students with some prior laboratory experience, ideally at the third-year level.

Project description

In the Falconer group, we affix homogeneous transition metal catalysts to solid supports to make academically interesting catalysts viable in industrial processes. The ligand environment of a catalyst is key in making chemical reactions as selective for the desired products as possible. To keep this selectivity when we make solid-supported catalysts, we need to carefully control the ligand environment around the metal when we affix it to a solid support. The method we use for this is to synthesise silicas with functional groups, use these to attach ligands and then coordinate metals. Whilst it is well established how to make silicas with iodo-groups for reacting with nucleophiles, silicas with amines attached (for reaction with electrophiles) are more difficult. These amine-functionalised silicas will give us access to a wider range of ligand motifs on surfaces and make new classes of solid-supported catalysts.

In this project, you will investigate protecting groups for amines and use these to synthesise high surface area silica supports for catalysis.

This project is most suited to students with some prior laboratory experience, ideally at the third-year level.

Project description

Metal complexes are used in the treatment of about 70% of cancer patients but they cause side effects, are not suitable to treat every type of tumour and tumours develop resistance. The coordination of bioactive ligand systems to metal centres results in multimodal anticancer agents, i.e., anticancer drugs that have more than one of mode action. This design strategy is a promising route to overcome the major limitations of current cancer chemotherapeutics. We will develop in this project new complexes using organometallic moieties and bioactive ligand systems and study their anticancer activity.  

Project description

In the past decade the design of targeted anticancer agents was among the most prolific research areas. However, more recently it has become apparent that the combination of more than one pharmacophore in a single molecule can result in anticancer agents with advantageous properties. In this project, we will work on the preparation of a new compound class to be tested on its tumour-inhibiting properties. We will combine an anticancer active ligand system with a metal centre and characterize the compounds using a wide variety of methods.  

Project description

Treated wastewater released to the environment contains harmful micropollutants. This is recognised as a very serious problem, especially in view of the massive scale involved (globally ca. 188 billion cubic meters/year). Proposed final-step purification approaches all have problems, e.g., high cost, low selectivity and the generated waste. We will synthesize non-toxic, iron-based, bio-inspired complexes that will catalyse micropollutant oxidation by hydrogen peroxide at nanomolar concentrations to give water that is environmentally safe.  

Project description

Lithium is the gold-standard treatment for bipolar disorder and the only medication to reduce suicide risk. However, its effective dose is close to the toxic dose and frequent blood monitoring is required to prevent poisoning. Around half the individuals taking lithium stop their treatment due to adverse effects including kidney damage, weight gain and cognitive impairment.
We will prepare lithium compounds to improve delivery with a quicker response and fewer side effects than current formulations. We will investigate the stability and release kinetics.

Project description

Stimulus responsive supramolecular structures may provide a means to deliver anticancer agents selectively to the tumour and the stimulus can be used to release an anticancer drug from the structure. In this project, we will prepare ditopic ligands that will be coordinated to metal centres to form supramolecular structures. The supramolecules will be characterised and their ability to host and release anticancer drugs will be assessed.

Project description

N-Heterocyclic carbenes are a highly useful family of organocatalysts (below, left) that have found wide application in organic chemistry in recent years. They enable a range of unique chemical transformations, in many cases without the need for precious metal co-catalysts or hazardous reagents.

This project will focus on the design and synthesis of novel NHCs, and their application to improvement of known reactions and development of novel processes. Our approach will be based on detailed investigation of their electronic and steric properties (below, middle) and mechanistic analysis (below, right).

The Ideal student will be keen to develop their skills in organic synthesis and reaction development. Students with skills or interest molecular modelling are also encouraged to get in touch.

Project description

The overarching aim of this project is to demonstrate that electrochemical synthesis is an enabling green chemistry technique that has an enormous role to play in the evolution of sustainable chemical production. We will achieve this goal by developing several electrochemical dehydrogenative couplings (and related reactions) that can be used to assemble heterocyclic scaffolds of value to a variety of allied fields including chemical biology, materials science and medicine. As this methodology does not require chemical reagents, employs unfunctionalised substrates and the only theoretical by-product is hydrogen, the environmental and economic implications of these synthetic procedures is minimal. Precise control of the oxidation potential is straightforward. Moreover, as the oxidation occurs adjacent to the anode and not in a bulk solution phase, as occurs with chemical oxidants, side reactions are minimised.

Pre-requisites: Interest in green chemistry, complex organic synthesis, electrochemistry.

Project description

The global chemical industry is committed to reducing the carbon footprint embedded within its supply chains. Employ molecules derived from biorenewable sources in the production of will valuable chemicals will help achieve this goal. This project will investigate the synthesis of fine chemicals from heteroatom-rich bio-based platforms, such as cellulose, chitin or phytic acid.

Pre-requisites: interest in Green Chemistry and complex organic synthesis.

Project description

Solvent waste from the chemical industry is an enormous financial and environmental burden. One potential solution to this issue is to synthesise valuable compounds in the solid state using mechanochemistry, an underexplored technique in chemical synthesis. In this project, the mechanochemical synthesis of medicinally important heterocycles and pharmaceutical motifs will be developed, with the aim to eliminate solvent from these processes.

Pre-requisites: Interest in Green Chemistry and complex organic synthesis.

Project description

Natural products (secondary metabolites) contain a level of structural and chemical diversity that is unsurpassed by man-made libraries. Natural products are produced by organisms after millions of years of evolution, having undergone several rounds of ‘natural optimisation’ to interact efficiently with biological macromolecules. Indole natural products have a unique ability to permeate the blood brain barrier (BBB) and have a rich history of therapeutic use in Central Nervous System disease. This project will examine the synthesis of indole alkaloids that are unattainable from the natural source, and their subsequent biological evaluation against mammalian brain receptors implicated in mood with collaborators in the US.

Pre-requisites: Interest in medicinal chemistry

Project description

The burden of resolving the environmental issues associated with widespread industrial and commercial use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is enormous. PFASs are extremely persistent upon release to the environment and are associated with negative health effects. The high stability of these industrial chemicals makes destruction challenging and technologies capable of scaling to a level required to treat PFAS-impacted soil and legacy stockpiles such as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) are urgently required. This project will integrate students into an ongoing ‘forever chemical’ destruction programme, in collaboration with a NZ-based company (Environmental Decontamination Limited) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Pre-requisites: Interest in Environmental Chemistry/ Green Chemistry

Project description

Silicon-based material is the foundation of modern semiconductor technology. However, further advancement has been hindered by issues such as leakage current and waste heat management. These factors inhibit efforts for further miniaturisation and lowering of power consumption. As such, the development of materials for low energy electronics are vital for continual technological progress.
Spintronic is a promising avenue to serve as a future technological platform. Rather than using electric current, information is encoded in the angular momentum of electrons (spin) and their long-range ordering. This approach could have the potential in the development of low energy electronics and quantum devices.
Particularly, skyrmions are spin structures of specific interests. Skyrmions are spin spirals which are topologically stable. They have been used for memory storage, neuromorphic computation, and recently as a switch for spin currents.
A key criterion for the realisation of spintronics is the development of suitable materials. One such material is Cu2OSeO3, an insulating multiferroic helimagnet. It is a unique material in being the only known insulating material which can host magnetic skyrmions.
In the Söhnel Group, we focus on the effects of dopant and correlation between structural distortion and magnetic ordering. We achieve this through high temperature material synthesis and material characterisation via neutron and synchrotron methods. Recently, we have developed a low temperature hydrothermal route for the synthesis of Cu2OSeO3. This route promises better flexibility with dopant inclusion which in turn could unlock novel materials property.
In this project, the prospective student will work on the hydrothermal synthesis of doped Cu2OSeO3. Apart from material synthesis, the student will learn a range of material characterisation techniques, particularly x-ray diffraction and elemental characterisation. Though no specific pre-requisite is required, potential candidate should possess competent laboratory skills and interest in multidisciplinary approaches. Apart from research experience, successful candidate can also expect to gain exposure to international collaboration, working with data from synchrotron and neutron facilities, and grant preparation.
Please enquire Prof. Tilo Söhnel for further information.

Project description

Antibiotic resistance is recognised by the WHO as one of the greatest threats to humanity and infectious diseases rank as the second most common cause of death worldwide.

Polymyxin antibiotics are the current last-line of defence, but are severely nephrotoxic. Most worryingly, since 2015, a mobile resistance gene (mcr-1) has been spreading globally and making our last hope in the clinic ineffective. In 2022, macolacin was discovered. Macolacin is a new polymyxin scaffold that retains potent activity towards mcr-1 mediated polymyxin resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

(Upper) Chemical structure of Macolacin with modification sites highlighted; (lower) activity of macolacin towards polymyxin resistant isolates.

This project seeks to conduct a structure-activity-relationship (SAR) study of macolacin and prepare new analogues with diminished toxicity that could replace polymyxins as last-line of defence antibiotics in the clinic. Successful candidates will use organic synthesis techniques and modern methods of solid phase peptide synthesis. Candidates will also have the opportunity to undertake and learn biological assays