"Our project deals with the class of supramolecular systems coined “metallo-supramolecular polymers”, which offer several advantages compared to their covalent counterparts, e.g. a “self-healing” mechanism due to the reversibility of the supramolecular bond. The specific systems based on metallo-terpyridine complexes binding covalent macromolecular precursors, which have been developed at University Catholique de Louvain (UCL) [Guillet et al. (2009)] provide unique tunability and simplicity making them ideal model systems to test supramolecular dynamics and stimuli responsive behavior on well defined supramolecular architectures, such as stars or hierarchically branched structures. The host at UCL has great expertise and a number of collaborations on advanced polymeric systems, e.g. telechelic polymers, ionomers as well as supramolecular systems, and the work will benefit tremendously from this strong theoretical and materials support. The applicant brings a very beneficial research experience in structure-property relationships of polymeric systems, in various and partly combined experimental techniques, such as rheology with combined scattering or nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as well as in molecular modelling, which will allow a productive research focused on the “tunability” of materials. The opportunity to locally team-up with experts in the field of molecular modelling, materials characterization and synthetic organic chemistry provides an excellent perspective for an interdisciplinary approach in the proposed project. Thus, the applicant will be able to develop a strong expertise in polymeric systems and soft condensed matter."