Student Internship 2025 - Single-Molecule Sensor Development

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Faculty of Science and Engineering

£12.60 hourly pay + £1.51 per hour holiday pay

Short term role

Dalton Building

09 Jun 2025

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Student Internship 2025 - Single-Molecule Sensor Development

Job Description

The current opportunity is available for current Manchester Met students, to apply you must be based in the UK for the duration of the role.

Are you interested in getting some chemistry research project experience?

Single-molecule sensors offer a revolutionary approach to environmental monitoring and healthcare detection, poised to transform these fields by enabling unprecedented sensitivity and specificity. Unlike current techniques, which often rely on bulk measurements, single-molecule sensors analyse individual molecules, allowing for the detection of target substances at extremely low concentrations. This could mean detecting a single virus particle in a blood sample or identifying trace amounts of a pollutant in water that would otherwise go unnoticed. The development and refinement of single-molecule sensor technologies is therefore crucial for overcoming the limitations of current methods, which often struggle to detect target molecules at low concentrations or differentiate between similar substances, hindering effective monitoring and diagnostics. This enhanced detection capability allows for earlier diagnosis of diseases like cancer and more effective monitoring of environmental pollutants, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future. From early disease detection to real-time pollution monitoring, single-molecule sensors are poised to transform environmental and healthcare practices.

This internship offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to a project within the group of Dr Alvaro Etcheverry Berrios focused on developing a novel sensor technique based on single-molecule electronics. The primary role will involve providing research support by synthesising and characterising a series of coordination complexes.

The student will synthesise different transition metal complexes using a family of heterocyclic ligands, followed by their characterisation in both solution and the solid state. More details can be found in Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 6988.

This project provides a stimulating blend of coordination chemistry and diverse characterisation techniques, offering valuable hands-on experience in experimental chemistry.

Skills and experience to be developed:

Synthetic coordination chemistry
Crystallography
Spectroscopic characterisation techniques (NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis)
Electrochemistry

This internship offers more than just valuable experience in synthetic chemistry and characterisation techniques. The student will be integrated into a vibrant research group, participating in group meetings and developing presentation skills. This stimulating environment will provide valuable insights into future career options.

Full training will be provided on the use of various analytical instruments and laboratory techniques.

Details

Dates: 16 June 2025 - 11 July 2025

Hours per week: 20

Times: Flexible working hours, depending on student availability

Students will be expected to develop the following skills and experiences while carrying out this internship

Develop skills in synthetic chemistry, including:
- Methods to obtain single crystals
- Work-up and purification techniques
Characterisation techniques, including:
- NMR
- FTIR
- UV-Vis
- Electrochemistry
- Crystallography
Use of subject-specific software for the analysis and interpretation of experimental data
Improve laboratory skills and confidence
How to keep a detailed laboratory notebook
Gain experience in writing up experimental data
Scientific communication (oral and written), including the preparation of written reports and presentations
Gain experience working within a research group and teamwork

Person Specification

This role is only open to current Manchester Met Students who meet the following requirements:

Essential:

Must be a "Chemistry" or "Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry" undergraduate student.
Must have completed at least two years of the required degrees.
Interested in synthetic coordination chemistry.
Interested in laboratory work.
Highly motivated, organised, and committed to completing a research-intensive project.
Written and oral communication skills.

Desirable:

Inorganic chemistry research experience.
Research project experience.
Student must be on track for a first-class honours degree.
Student must be obtaining first-class grades (>70%) in inorganic chemistry and laboratory undergraduate units.
Interested in pursuing a PhD after undergraduate studies.

How to Apply

Please apply via the Apply button, completing the form on the next page.

The deadline for applications is 11:59pm on Monday 9 June 2025.

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to supporting the rights, responsibilities, dignity, health and wellbeing of staff and students through our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

We are committed to providing accessible and inclusive recruitment. If you require or would benefit from support or reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and in work, please contact us by e-mailing [email protected]. This information will only be used and shared with those who require it to implement any change(s) and only at the point this is required.

If you have any queries, or need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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