Dr Stephen Cox

Royal Society University Research Fellow

Research Interests

The behavior of liquids and their interfaces underlies many important phenomena across the biological and physical sciences. I use molecular simulations and statistical mechanics to elicit the microscopic details of interfacial systems, with an emphasis on perhaps the most important of all liquids: water and its salt solutions.

Recent research has focused on improving simulations methods to give a better description of ions adsorbed to charged interfaces [1], which is important for tackling complex problems such as ice nucleation [2]. I also have a keen interest in understanding dielectric response in water [3,4] and its implications for aqueous ion solvation [5].

Dr Cox discusses his research

[1] T Sayer & SJ Cox, J. Chem. Phys. 153, 164709 (2020) [publisher,arXiv]

[2] T Sayer & SJ Cox, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 21, 14546 (2019) [publisher,arXiv]

[3] SJ Cox, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 117, 19746 (2020) [publisher,arXiv]

[4] SJ Cox & M Sprik, J. Chem. Phys. 151, 064506 (2019) [publisher,arXiv]

[5] SJ Cox, DG Thorpe, PR Shaffer & PL Geissler, Chem. Sci. 11, 11791 (2020) [publisher,arXiv]

Recruitment

Possible PhD projects involve improving simulation methodology to understand the structure and dynamics of charged interfaces in solution; using molecular simulations to understand how polar crystals grow; or pursuing theoretical approaches to improve our understanding of complex fluids.

If you are interested in joining the team, please get in touch to discuss opportunities.

Biography

2021-present: Royal Society University Research Fellow, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
2017-2021: Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellow, visiting Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, UK
2018-present: College lecturer, Churchill College, University of Cambridge, UK
2020-2021: Undergraduate Tutor, Churchill College, University of Cambridge, UK
2015-2017: Postdoctoral research fellow, Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Ca. USA
2010-2014: PhD student, Department of Chemistry, University College London, UK

Awards

2020 Journal of Chemical Physics Best Paper by an Emerging Investigator

Publications

Crumbling Crystals: On the Dissolution Mechanism of NaCl in Water

N O'Neill, C Schran, SJ Cox, A Michaelides

(2022)

(link to publication)

Classical quantum friction at water-carbon interfaces

AT Bui, FL Thiemann, A Michaelides, SJ Cox

(2022)

(doi: 10.48550/arxiv.2210.14040)

(link to publication)

A theory for the stabilization of polar crystal surfaces by a liquid environment.

SJ Cox

– The Journal of Chemical Physics

(2022)

157,

094701

(doi: 10.1063/5.0097531)

Dielectric response of thin water films: a thermodynamic perspective.

SJ Cox, PL Geissler

– Chemical science

(2022)

13,

9102

(doi: 10.1039/d2sc01243j)

Understanding crystal nucleation mechanisms: where do we stand? General discussion.

MW Anderson, M Bennett, R Cedeno, H Cölfen, SJ Cox, AJ Cruz-Cabeza, JJ De Yoreo, R Drummond-Brydson, MK Dudek, KA Fichthorn, AR Finney, I Ford, JM Galloway, D Gebauer, R Grossier, JH Harding, A Hare, D Horváth, L Hunter, J Kim, Y Kimura, CEA Kirschhock, AA Kiselev, W Kras, C Kuttner, AY Lee, Z Liao, L Maini, SO Nilsson Lill, N Pellens, SL Price, IB Rietveld, JD Rimer, KJ Roberts, J Rogal, M Salvalaglio, I Sandei, G Schuszter, J Sefcik, W Sun, JH Ter Horst, M Ukrainczyk, AES Van Driessche, S Veesler, PG Vekilov, V Verma, T Whale, HP Wheatcroft, J Zeglinski

– Faraday Discussions

(2022)

235,

219

(doi: 10.1039/d2fd90021a)