Take a look at our current research projects, and opportunities to join the group.
Current projects:
PolyForm Future Leaders Fellowship: a unified approach to biodegradable polymers for fabric care formulations
Working in partnership with Procter and Gamble, this project aims to transform both the performance and environmental footprint of an essential human activity – the cleaning of textiles and hard surfaces. The PolyForm team are developing the fundamental capabilities for sustainable, high-performance cleaning by developing new tools, models and synthetic routes to generate novel sustainably-sourced polymers for formulation within consumer goods products.
Development of tools to detect and differentiate pathogens
Modern healthcare has enabled vast improvements in human life expectancy and quality of life, but a significant barrier to further improvements in treatments of many diseases is the lack of rapid diagnostic tests to enable their timely identification. The development of sensors to rapidly detect bacteria and other pathogens would enable earlier diagnosis, and more appropriate treatment, for a range of infectious diseases, as well as presenting opportunities to detect these pathogens in the environment and prevent their transmission. Within this interdisciplinary project, we are developing polymer based biosensing platforms to detect bacterial proteins.
Upcoming opportunities to join the group:
We welcome enquiries about research opportunities in the group at all levels. Contact Clare to discuss potential projects.
PhD Studentship: Multi-functional Biobased Polymers for Fabric Care Formulations
A PhD studentship is available within the Mahon Group at Durham University focussing on developing new biobased polymer additives for inclusion in fabric care formulations. These polymers will enable the rapid and effective cleaning of textiles under environmentally favourable conditions, within quick, cold wash cycles. A range of biophysical and spectroscopic techniques will be used to explore the processes through which polymers interact with fabric surfaces and other formulation components. The student will gain experience in synthetic organic chemistry, including synthesis and characterisation of small molecules and controlled polymerisation strategies, in addition to experience in macromolecular characterisation, surface analysis and formulation development.
This fully-funded Industrial Doctoral landscape (IDLA) project will be based across the Department of Chemistry at Durham University and P&G Newcastle Innovation Centre. The student will be supervised by Professor Clare Mahon at Durham University and Dr Gang Si at Newcastle Innovation Centre (NIC), and it is expected that the student will spend a significant fraction of their regular working time at NIC. The PhD student will work as part of a larger team within the EPSRC-funded PolyForm programme, which aims to transform both the performance and environmental footprint of an essential human activity – the cleaning of textiles and hard surfaces. The PolyForm team are developing the fundamental capabilities for sustainable, high-performance cleaning by developing new tools, models and synthetic routes to generate novel sustainably-sourced polymers for formulation within consumer goods products.
Applicants should have a Master’s degree or equivalent in Chemistry or a related subject. To discuss the project informally, please contact Professor Clare Mahon, email: clare.mahon@durham.ac.uk; https://mahongroup.co.uk
Funding provided: tuition fees and a stipend at UKRI rate (2025/2026 rate: £20,780) for 4 years.
An informal expression of interest can be made by contacting Professor Clare Mahon directly, email: clare.mahon@durham.ac.uk by Thursday 30th April.
Formal applications should be made online via Durham’s on-line application portal: https://studyatdurham.microsoftcrmportals.com/en-US/