The objective of the project is to study, how and which molecules can get incorporated into the crystalline lattice of calcium carbonate and to study the effect on microstructure and atomic structure.

Description

Organisms have the ability to produce structures with superior characteristics as in the course of biomineralization. One of the most intriguing characteristics of biominerals is the existence of intracrystalline macromolecules. Despite several studies over the last two decades and efforts to mimic the incorporation of macromolecules synthetically, a fundamental understanding of the mechanism of incorporation is as yet lacking.
This PhD research will envisage answering some of these open questions by utilizing state of the art characterization techniques such as aberration corrected high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (Technion) and high-resolution synchrotron diffraction (ESRF Grenoble France, APS Argonne IL USA).
This research is highly interdisciplinary and combines materials science, chemistry and physics with a pinch of biochemistry.
This PhD student will work in collaboration with groups in WP1 and WP2

Nr of positions available : 1

Research Fields

Engineering - Materials Engineering

Career Stage

Early stage researcher or 0-4 yrs (Post graduate) 

Research Profiles

First Stage Researcher (R1) 

Requirements

30/03/2015

bpokroy@tx.technion.ac.il

01/08/2015