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

Publications

Mechanism of ion adsorption to aqueous interfaces: Graphene/water vs. air/water
DL McCaffrey, SC Nguyen, SJ Cox, H Weller, AP Alivisatos, PL Geissler, RJ Saykally
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
(2017)
114
Active sites in heterogeneous ice nucleation—the example of K-rich feldspars
A Kiselev, F Bachmann, P Pedevilla, SJ Cox, A Michaelides, D Gerthsen, T Leisner
Science
(2016)
355
Toward accurate adsorption energetics on clay surfaces
A Zen, LM Roch, SJ Cox, XL Hu, S Sorella, D Alfè, A Michaelides
J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces
(2016)
120
Crystal Nucleation in Liquids: Open Questions and Future Challenges in Molecular Dynamics Simulations
GC Sosso, J Chen, SJ Cox, M Fitzner, P Pedevilla, A Zen, A Michaelides
Chemical reviews
(2016)
116
Can Ice-Like Structures Form on Non-Ice-Like Substrates? The Example of the K-feldspar Microcline.
P Pedevilla, SJ Cox, B Slater, A Michaelides
J Phys Chem C Nanomater Interfaces
(2016)
120
The Many Faces of Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation: Interplay Between Surface Morphology and Hydrophobicity.
M Fitzner, GC Sosso, SJ Cox, A Michaelides
J Am Chem Soc
(2015)
137
Molecular simulations of heterogeneous ice nucleation. II. Peeling back the layers.
SJ Cox, SM Kathmann, B Slater, A Michaelides
The Journal of Chemical Physics
(2015)
142
Molecular simulations of heterogeneous ice nucleation. I. Controlling ice nucleation through surface hydrophilicity.
SJ Cox, SM Kathmann, B Slater, A Michaelides
The Journal of chemical physics
(2015)
142
Benchmarking the performance of density functional theory and point charge force fields in their description of sI methane hydrate against diffusion Monte Carlo.
SJ Cox, MD Towler, D Alfè, A Michaelides
The Journal of chemical physics
(2014)
140
The microscopic features of heterogeneous ice nucleation may affect the macroscopic morphology of atmospheric ice crystals
SJ Cox, Z Raza, SM Kathmann, B Slater, A Michaelides
Faraday Discussions
(2013)
167

Research Group

Research Interest Group

Telephone number

01223 336384 (shared)

Email address