Professor Stephen Mann FRS
	Centre for Organized Matter Chemistry School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, BS8 1TS, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 117 9289935        Fax: +44 (0) 117 9251295 s.mann@bristol.ac.uk

- Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Applications -

General applications for postgraduate studentships and postdoc positions are welcome throughout the year (contact details given above).

There are various strands of research that are currently available.

(See 'Research Sketch' and 'Publications' pages for more information)

Self-assembled Inorganic Materials
Can inorganic materials be constructed by self-assembly processes? We are exploring new synthetic approaches in which inorganic and organic constituents are interconnected by specific molecular and supramolecular interactions.

Nano- and Mesostructured Materials
Inorganic materials with architectures and porosity at the nanoscale (< 2 nm) and mesoscale (2-10 nm) have important applications in catalysis and separation technology. We are currently investigating new chemical routes to organized hierarchical structures, including the newly discovered mesoporous silica materials, MCM-41 and zeolite mimics.

Biominerals and Biomimetics
We are studying the molecular and structural aspects of biomineralization. Typical examples are bones, shells, teeth, and a wide range of single-celled organisms, such as marine algae, that produce elaborate mineralized skeletons on the microscale. Our goal is to mimic these biological minerals in synthetic materials by adapting ideas and concepts from the biosystems. For example, we are discovering new ways to synthesize microskeletons in the beaker!

Magnetic Proteins
The iron storage protein, ferritin, is being studied as a nanometre size micelle for controlled chemical reactions leading to inorganic-organic nanocomposites. A particular goal is to produce magnetic proteins that might be useful in magnetic resonance imaging, by synthesizing iron oxide nanocrystals within the enclosed protein membrane of ferritin.

Template-directed Materials Synthesis
A major concept in biomineralization is that organized organic templates control the formation of the inorganic structures of bones, shells and teeth etc. We are applying this idea to materials chemistry and using a range of supramolecular organic templates containing appropriate surface functionalities, to regulate the nucleation and growth of inorganic magnets, semiconductors, and catalysts.

Studies in the above research areas offer training in biomineralization, materials chemistry, electron microscopy, electron diffraction, spectroscopy, Langmuir monolayer, surfactant and colloidal chemistry, and atomic force microscopy.