PhD Studentship - Process Industries: Net Zero - Pathways to Net Zero: Decarbonising Cellulosic Film Manufacturing in the UK Chemicals Sector

Award Summary

100% fees (UK home only), a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £21,805 (2026/27 UKRI rate), and a research training support grant of £20,000.

Overview

Futamura Ltd has been a global leader in the development and production of cellulose films, driving innovation in cellulosic packaging solutions for more than 75 years. With a commitment to renewable resources and environmental responsibility, Futamura continues to lead the way in creating high-performance, renewable and compostable films and solutions that help businesses meet their sustainability goals.

The aim of the project is to develop a near-term and longer-term decarbonisation strategy for the UK chemicals sector, with specific focus on Futamura’s site in Wigton, which has challenges broadly representative of the sector at large. Preliminary objectives include:

1. Site-wide audit to fully understand the on-site challenges of energy efficiency, heat integration and the potential for net-zero operation.
2. Thorough review of technologies for energy efficiency gains and decarbonisation of process heat. This will include unit-operation-level solutions, and system level/utility supply solutions.
3. Mapping of opportunities to both Futamura site and the sector more broadly.
4. Assessment of opportunities: Technoeconomic analysis. Sensitivity analysis. Life cycle analysis. Identification of optimal solutions at unit operation and system levels.
5. Roadmapping and wider context

The project will make a contribution to knowledge in providing a thorough analysis of the technoeconomic and environmental case for decarbonisation routes in the UK chemicals sector. In addition to this, the sponsoring company hope to identify both near-term and long-term strategies for their own site, supporting their own goals for decarbonisation and energy security. Hence there are clear opportunities for both small-scale, measurable, impact locally and significant influence on the decarbonisation strategy for the sector at large.

Online Open Day 13.5.2026, 10:00-11:00

Number Of Awards 1

Start Date 1 October 2026

Award Duration 4 years

Application Closing Date 26 May 2026

Sponsor EPSRC

Supervisors

Dr Richard Law (richard.law@newcastle.ac.uk); Professor Adam Harvey (adam.harvey@newcastle.ac.uk)

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project. Due to nature of this project, the candidate should have a strong background in Engineering, especially chemical engineering or another closely related engineering subject. Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. 

This studentship is available to home students only.

How To Apply

You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal. Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.

Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:

Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8856F

Leave the 'Research Area' field blank

Select ‘PhD in Process Industries; Net Zero (PINZ’) as the programme of study

You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Details’ section:

A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form

The studentship code PINZ07-26 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field

‘Research Proposal’ - when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal –select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.

You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.

Contact Details

General enquiries: pinz.cdt@ncl.ac.uk

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