Our Chemistry PhD will deepen your understanding of the latest advances in synthetic and medicinal chemistry, natural products chemistry, materials chemistry, fuel cell research, nanotechnology, environmental, forensic and computational chemistry. A suitable project can be proposed or outlined by your supervisor. This is a novel piece of research that is expected to take the subject forward and ultimately contribute to the advancement of chemical knowledge. Research, generally laboratory-based, takes place over most of a three-year period. A thesis or dissertation is written during the last few months. This examination is typically by an expert in the field who is external to the University, and by another who is internal. Throughout the writing up process, both during the PhD, and for the final submission, you can count on the help and support of your supervisor. There are induction programmes, both University and Departmental based, formal and informal, during the first few months, depending on the nature of the research. There are regular formal reviews (six monthly intervals) to ensure that progress is maintained. As a PhD student you will be expected to develop real critical analysis skills, to interpret novel results and change, even if in a small way, how we think about the field. Initially, this is likely to be very much in consultation with your supervisor, but as your PhD progresses you will increasingly apply these skills independently. Chemistry is the archetypal laboratory science, but not all research takes place exclusively in a traditional laboratory. Many projects involve computational studies, field work, and interaction with other institutions and with industry.