PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering

Award Summary

100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £20,780 (2025/26 UKRI rate). Additional project costs will also be provided.

Overview

Engineered biochar – a durable solid form of carbon originating from the partial combustion of organic matter that can be added to soils – is rapidly gaining attention as a scalable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and sequestration solution. But what makes biochar and other pyrogenic carbon (PyC) (like charcoal), last for decades, millennia, and even hundreds of millions of years? To answer this, we will look to nature’s experiment with fire! Wildfire-derived charcoal, a recalcitrant form of PyC, has long shaped landscapes and stabilised carbon in soils, and is the form in which the first evidence for the dawn of terrestrial plants over 420 million years ago was found. The chemical and structural drivers of PyC’s long-term stability are not yet fully understood. Unravelling those features is key to designing engineered carbon materials capable of removing and storing carbon on the geological timescales required to address climate change.

To bridge this gap, this project will characterise wildfire charcoal from historic fires with known ages (years to decades to 174 MA old) to examine compositional evolution and preservation over geological time. By comparing these with freshly engineered biochars, we can determine whether persistence arises from the biomass type, formation process and/or the final composition and structure itself. We will quantify these features and engineer biochar with enhanced long-term carbon stability using techniques including Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), solid-state ¹³C NMR, leaching and accelerated ageing tests.

You may come from a background in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a closely related field, and we would love you to join our highly motivated, interdisciplinary team as a curious, self-driven, and collaborative colleague.

In return, we offer a supportive, inclusive research environment; opportunities to co-create your project; hands-on fieldwork and wildfire simulation experience; collaboration with leading researchers; and training in advanced characterisation, data analysis, and data interpretation. 

Number Of Awards

1

Start Date

1st October 2026

Award Duration

4 Years

Sponsor

EPSRC

Supervisors

Dr.Anjali Jayakumar

Dr.Shannon Flynn

Dr.Tom Reershemius

Eligibility Criteria

We are adopting a contextual admissions process. This means we will consider other key competencies and experience alongside your academic qualifications. An example can be found here.

A minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project is our standard entry, however we place value on prior experience, enthusiasm for research, and the ability to think and work independently. Excellent Analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. A Masters qualification may not be required if you have a minimum 2:1 degree or can evidence alternative experience in a work or research-based project. If you have alternative qualifications or experience, please contact us to discuss flexibilities and request an exemption.

Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills. International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme. 

How to apply 

For information on how to apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above.

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