PhD Studentship: EPSRC Supported EngD Towards Net-zero Manufacture of Chilled/Refrigerated Prepared Foods

The Food Industry is the largest manufacture sector in the UK’s and the fourth highest industrial energy user. To contribute to the achievement of UK’s zero-carbon emissions targets by 2050, it is critical to act on those hotspots for energy demand and/or GHG emissions. One of these potential areas of action is the food cold chain – the manufacture and distribution of frozen, refrigerated and chilled foods is energy intensive and often involves the use of high-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants.

In this context, this project aims to identify those food manufacturing scenarios that would lead to successful strategies for the transition to net-zero food supply chains focusing on chilled foods (e.g., ready meal foods), and working in partnership with Samworth Brothers. The project will combine techno-economic, environmental and/or policy aspects in an integrated approach for the design and evaluation of decarbonisation solutions, focusing on the comparison of different manufacturing paradigms of prepared chilled/refrigerated foods. This approach is based on the development and implementation of suitable simulation/optimisation and decision-making tools, for which a high level of engineering and computational competence, coupled with adequate knowledge of (bio)process systems is desirable.

The project will be supervised by Dr Estefania Lopez-Quiroga.

Funding notes:

Candidates must have at least a 2.1 in a relevant degree discipline or a 2.2 plus an MSc. For details on the Engineering Doctorate scheme visit the homepage: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/chemical-engineering/postgraduate/eng-d/index.aspx

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