Current

Want to do research on a computer not in a lab?

Love spectroscopy, quantum mechanics and energy levels?

Feel constantly pulled between physics and chemistry?

Or perhaps you want to utilise and strengthen your maths, programming and/or data science skills by exploring exciting molecular science applications from interpreting NMR spectroscopy to helping find aliens on exoplanets?

I am starting up my research group at UNSW Chemistry in Sydney Australia and looking for keen students to join my team. I have projects with varying amounts of chemistry, physics, mathematics, programming and data science to suit students with a variety of backgrounds and interests. You may also choose to incorporate a component of observational astronomy, experimental spectroscopy or synthetic chemistry with one of my collaborators.

As part of a research project with me, you can expect to develop improved transferable and scientific skills in some or all of:

  • Python

  • Command line interface (bash)

  • Expert user of quantum chemistry packages

  • Latex/Bibtex

  • Spectroscopy

  • Data science

  • Data presentation

  • Computational debugging

  • Literature Review

  • Googling

For more details of skills gained in research projects with me, please see Research Skills

PhD opportunities

Some projects include:

  • Determining the best molecule and spectral transitions to use for measuring whether the proton mass has changed over time as hypothesised by many theories of physics beyond the Standard Model.

  • Innovating implementation strategies to enable the use of a revolutionary new type of quantum chemistry basis set that promises far superior computation prediction of NMR spectral parameters.

  • Investigations into Multi-Reference Electronic Structure Quantum Chemistry for Transition Metal Diatomics in Cool Stars & Hot Exoplanets

  • Modelling rovibronic spectroscopy of ultracold alkali metal dimers, weird weakly bound molecules that are currently being produced worldwide at nano to microkelvin temperatures

For more details, please check out the other tabs within Opportunities and Molecular Science or email me at l.mckemmish(at)unsw.edu.au

Honours, Interns and Undergraduate Research Students

I am always happy to discuss doing projects with keen undergraduate students looking to get a taste of research. This may be anything from attending a couple of group meetings, performing some calculations or preparing some Depth Studies to a full-scale Honours project.

Within UNSW, you may like to work with me for credit as part of the CHEM2999 (2nd years, from 2019) or CHEM3998 (3rd years from 2019) courses.