A fully funded 4-year PhD opportunity at the University of Southampton (Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences) focused on NMR spectroscopy, fluorinated prolines, conformational analysis, relaxation modelling, and quantum-controlled NMR experiments. Funded by The Leverhulme Trust. Deadline: 31 August 2026.
Important Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Investigation of Fluorinated Prolines by NMR Spectroscopy |
| Organization/Publisher | University of Southampton |
| Work Location | Southampton, United Kingdom |
| Department | Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences |
| Research Field | Chemistry, NMR Spectroscopy, Structural Biology |
| Funding Info | Fully Funded – Leverhulme Trust |
| Application Deadline | August 31, 2026 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Researcher Profile | PhD Candidate (Early-Stage Researcher) |
| Required Qualification | UK 2:1 Honours Degree or International Equivalent |
| Required Experience | Background in Chemistry, Physics, or Related Fields |
| Salary Details | Standard UKRI Stipend + Tuition + Horizon Europe Fee Waiver |
| Apply Button | Apply Now (Official Link) |
About the Project
This fully funded PhD investigates the behavior of fluorinated prolines (FPro) as analogues for natural prolines using advanced NMR spectroscopy. Certain bioactive peptides—such as toxins from snails or venoms—contain unusual proline conformers. This project aims to understand and control proline’s unique dihedral angles through fluorination and advanced NMR techniques.
Proline’s cyclic structure gives it distinctive conformational properties. By introducing 19F atoms at varying positions, researchers can tune structural behavior and exploit the strong chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) of fluorine to enhance NMR sensitivity and structural analysis.
The project combines:
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Density Functional Theory (DFT) modelling
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Relaxation analysis beyond Redfield theory
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Field-, temperature-, and viscosity-dependent NMR experiments
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Fluorine-edited selective transfer (FESTA) and quantum optimal control methods
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Application to peptides and proteins where peak overlap is a major challenge
This research extends to studying proline’s roles in proteins—sharp turns, disorder regions, and interactions with aromatic residues. The aim is to develop improved experimental and theoretical NMR frameworks for structural biology.
Supervision Team
Lead Supervisor
Professor Marina Carravetta
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Solid-state MAS NMR
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Quantum Technology for Magnetic Resonance
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High-pressure / high-temperature NMR
Co-Supervisors
Dr Giuseppe Pileio
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NMR Methodology
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Long-lived Spin States
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Microcoils for Microfluidics
Professor Ilya Kuprov (FRSC)
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High-level NMR theory
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Spin dynamics
Entry Requirements
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UK 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent
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Strong background in Chemistry, Physics, or related fields
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English proficiency (if applicable)
Funding
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Fully funded by The Leverhulme Trust
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Covers UK tuition fees
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Horizon Europe fee waiver included
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Standard UKRI stipend for up to 4 years
How to Apply
Apply via the University of Southampton portal:
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Choose programme type: Research, year 2026/27, Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences
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Select Full-time or Part-time
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Search for PhD Chemistry (7189)
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Add supervisor name in Section 2
Required Documents
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CV (Resumé)
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Two academic references
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Degree transcripts & certificates
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English language qualification (if needed)
Contact Information
General Queries: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk
Project-Specific Queries: Prof. Marina Carravetta — M.Carravetta@soton.ac.uk
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