address: Zintl groups as catalysts mediating organic transformations

supervisor: Professor Meera Mehta

Start date: 1^street October 2026

Applications are invited for a PhD scholarship in Inorganic synthetic chemistry Available from October 2026, to work under supervision Professor Meera Mehta In the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford.

The scholarship will cover course fees at the take-home rate and will provide a salary of at least the UK Research Council standard rate (currently set at £20,780 per annum) for 3 years.
Please note the eligibility criteria set by UKRI at: https://www.ukri.org/what-we-do/developing-people-and-skills/esrc/funding-for-post Graduate-training-and-development/eligibility-for-studentship-funding/

Research in Mehta’s group focuses on synthesizing clusters of sustainable major group elements, including phosphorus, germanium, boron and aluminium, and finding applications for them in organocatalysis. Transformations of particular interest include those that convert common waste products or greenhouse gases into useful industrial feedstocks, such as carbon dioxide conversion₂ to methanol. The group strives to break down some of the traditional barriers in chemistry, combining expertise in noble atmosphere synthesis, organocatalysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography, and electrochemistry. More information can be found on the group’s website: https://www.mehtalab.co.uk/.

Candidates with a first-class undergraduate degree or a strong second-class undergraduate degree in Chemistry or a related subject are encouraged to apply. The candidate is expected to have a strong commitment to research and synthetic experience and must demonstrate the ability to learn new skills independently. The successful applicant will be based in a chemistry research laboratory in Oxford.

Candidates must submit a formal application for a PhD in Chemistry via Oxford’s online application system:

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/application-guide

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-chemistry

Please quote m/chem/2026 Under the heading “Departmental Scholarship Applications.”

Deadline for submitting applications: 12.00 noon UK time Thursday 8^y January 2026

Inquiries regarding the application and admission process should be directed to: graduate.admissions@chem.ox.ac.uk; Tel: +44 (0) 1865 272569.

The Department of Chemistry holds the Athena SWAN Silver Award and the Mehta Group is dedicated to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.