UG Summer Placement 2026 - University of York
TSN ROKSIntegrating sustainable methodologies within the Chemistry Analytical Facility at the University of York
Location: University of York
Supervised by: Richard Gammons and Scott Hicks
Duration: 6 weeks, start date 13th or 20th July
Rate of pay: £14.10 per hour
Project Overview
Throughout the placement, the student will gain hands‑on experience with a range of analytical techniques and complex instrumentation across multiple facilities. They will also gain insight into research technical roles within the university and be introduced to key sustainability concepts such as resource and energy efficiency of the services.
In X‑ray Diffraction the student will learn to solve molecular structures by analysing diffraction data, determining unit cell parameters and checking structure quality. They will prepare CIF files for potential publication and consider the environmental impact of crystallographic methods, including energy and chemical use. They will develop a crystal‑growing project focused on identifying and using more sustainable solvents. This will involve exploring alternative solvent systems, assessing their environmental impact, and comparing their performance to traditional crystallisation methods. In HPLC, the student will learn to set up and operate the instrument, understand method development and data analysis, and explore how machine learning can improve chiral analytical efficiency and support sustainability goals. The student will have the opportunity to attend any workshops, seminars or events scheduled during the time period on sustainability, research ethics and other transferable skills.