Chemistry / Chemistry (Professional Practice) MSc

Core modules

Organic Synthesis and Characterisation of Biologically Active Compounds (20 cp)

Develop knowledge in the synthesis of relatively complex organic molecules. Topics include: retrosynthetic analysis and total synthesis of biologically important molecules; the controlled formation of C-C bonds and functional group transformations; and structure elucidation of complex molecules

Physical Properties of Solid-state and Nano-composite Materials (20 cp)

This module covers the fields of solid-state and nanocomposite materials chemistry. You’ll understand the functional roles, characteristics and synthesis of nanocomposites and inorganic materials.

Inorganic Chemistry Beyond the Molecule (20 cp)

Understand the use of the biomimetic and supramolecular approaches in materials chemistry. You’ll learn the importance of interfaces in structure regulation and recognition in the generation of new materials including the recognition and incorporation of materials into the human body.

Research Methods and Independent Study (20 cp)

This module provides an underpinning in research skills relevant to independent study. You will be introduced to the techniques required to formulate a research project and to carry out a literature review. You will be given practice in the use of the library and learning resources including relevant IT packages.

Research Project (60 cp)

You will work on laboratory-based research and will evaluate and review the scientific literature relevant to the topic. Design and conduct experimental work, and present the findings in the form of a presentation, poster and written thesis. Examples of project titles can be found below.

Optional modules

Choose two from:

Drug Detection, Analysis and Screening (20 cp)

Study analysis methods including IR and NMR spectroscopic techniques, GC / HPLC, related hyphenated techniques, and immunoassays. Other areas include spectroscopy, chromatography, multivariate data processing, biophysics and related disciplines to the analytical chemistry of drugs and drug containing materials.

Computational Chemistry and Drug design (20 credit points)

In this module you will develop: concepts of quantum chemical approaches to molecular drug design, and the properties which can be determined with this approach; concepts in the dynamics of molecules in complex molecular environments using molecular dynamics simulation techniques and concepts of the potential energy surface.

Examples of project titles

• Hydrogen storage
• Supramolecular materials
• Liquid crystals
• Organic superconductors
• Drug delivery devices
• MRI contrast agents
• Metal phosphonates
• Ionic liquids as solvents for materials synthesis
• Layered metal halide perovskites
• Peptide-mineral interactions
• Biomineralisation
• Super-hydrophobic / hydrophilic surfaces
• Carbohydrate Chemistry
• Asymmetric Synthesis of P-Chirogenic Phosphines
• Small Molecule Approaches to the Elucidation of Protein Function
• Multiplexing, Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging
• Fluorescence Microscopy