Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Alex Thom. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.
Alex Thom is a professor at the University of Cambridge, specializing in Theoretical and Computational Chemistry. He focuses on software development methods that enhance the accuracy of electronic energy calculations, utilizing advanced Monte Carlo techniques. His research includes the description of excited states in medium to large molecules, which spans applications from chromophores to single-molecule magnets. Additionally, he contributes to the development of the HANDE QMC package, a sophisticated tool for quantum Monte Carlo simulations. His work is also part of the EXTRA Consortium, which aims to advance the processes for creating scientific software for modern, reconfigurable architectures, particularly FPGAs. Beyond his software contributions, Professor Thom is involved in the Cambridge Leverhulme Centre for Life and the Universe, where he investigates prebiotic reaction networks and chirality. He is actively seeking students interested in PhD and MPhil projects in scientific computing and chemistry, with positions available starting October 2026 for funding under the Centre for Scientific Computing. More information on his research can be found on his group’s website.
Standard postgraduate requirements for Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) and related humanities departments.