Fully-funded PhD studentship: Advancing Sustainable Polymer Biodegradation through Flow Chemistry and Real-Time Monitoring

This is a fully-funded 4 year PhD offering an annual tax-free stipend of £20,780, tuition fees and an enhanced research and training grant.

This PhD is one of a number of projects hosted by the Centre for Doctoral Training in Green Industrial Futures (CDT-GIF). We are offering pioneering research projects that will enable PhD researchers to explore key technologies and solutions that will support UK industry to reach net zero.  Alongside their research, our PhD researchers gain valuable training in how to apply their research within the wider industrial system, including opportunities for industry placements, site visits, international facility visits and biannual residentials.

The Project

The project is led by Dr Marc Little and Dr Filipe Vilela in collaboration with industry partner, BASF. The project aims to reduce the carbon emissions associated with polymer waste, aligning with BASF’s sustainability goals. If successful, the outputs of this research could be implemented in industrial settings, generating tangible impact to improve emission reduction and polymer waste management in the UK.

This PhD project seeks to build on successful proof-of-concept research on sustainable polymer biodegradation, conducted in collaboration with BASF and Heriot-Watt University. The initial study utilised advanced flow chemistry techniques to accelerate the biodegradation of BASF-supplied polymers, employing size exclusion chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to monitor degradation in real time.

The PhD research will expand on these findings by investigating the biodegradation of additional polymer systems under varied environmental conditions, such as temperature, pressure, and catalyst concentration. The student will refine the understanding of degradation pathways and by-product formation, further exploring the carbon-related impact of polymer breakdown. The project will also incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to optimise degradation processes and data analysis

This project not only addresses critical analytical challenges in chemical biodegradation and has significant industrial impact but also provides a comprehensive training experience for the PhD researcher, preparing them for a successful career in academia, industry, or entrepreneurship.

Click Apply for more information on our application process.

Deadline: 30^th June.

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