3 CDT PhD Studentships: University of Nottingham – Faculty of Engineering (ENG213)

Job title:

3 CDT PhD Studentships: University of Nottingham – Faculty of Engineering (ENG213)

Company

University of Nottingham

Job description

The EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (CDT in Net2Zero) is an equal partnership between Aston University (lead partner), University of Nottingham, Queen’s University Belfast, and University of Warwick. Through cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary collaboration, this CDT aims to tackle global challenges related to climate change and sustainability. Our four-year doctoral programme is training the next generation of research leaders tasked to remove greenhouse gases from the environment.CDT in Net2Zero focuses on the use of biomass to replace fossil fuels and removal (or capture) of CO2 from the atmosphere, with the potential to create new sources of fuels and chemicals. The centre’s expertise covers Direct Air Capture and CO2 Storage (DACCS), CO2 utilisation, biochar synthesis and utilisation, biomass transition to materials and chemicals, and biomass to energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) etc.CDT in Net2Zero provides a supportive environment where doctoral students can engage in impactful research under the guidance of world-class academics and industry leaders. As part of the CDT programme, each CDT student will benefit from a comprehensive, interdisciplinary training programme and skills development, including the opportunity for a placement with each project’s collaborative partner.University of Nottingham invites potential applicants to apply for the following 3 PhD studentships offered by the University of Nottingham from the funding of the CDT in Net2Zero:Project 1: Production of Hydrogen and Liquid Fuels from WastewaterAbout the Project: An exciting opportunity is available for a talented and motivated PhD candidate to pursue research on production of hydrogen from wastewater and conversion of hydrogen and CO2 into liquid fuels.Annually the United Kingdom produces a flow of municipal wastewater equivalent to the flow rate of all the water flowing through the river Thames. The UK expends 1-3% of our energy and carbon budget treating this waste. The project aims to turn this cost into a benefit by converting the organic matter in the waste stream into hydrogen to be used as fuel. Specifically, a novel microbial electrolysis cell will be developed to treat water and produce a net energy gain from the overall process, instead of the loss associated with existing wastewater treatment technology. As transportation and infrastructure costs for collecting, compressing, and storing hydrogen make competition with existing liquid fuels challenging, another focus of the project is to convert hydrogen and CO2 into useful products, deriving all the energy for the liquid fuels from waste.The project is mainly funded by CDT in Net2Zero with additional support from Wastewater Fuels Ltd. The duration of the PhD project is 4 years, and the start date is 1 December 2024. The supervisory team is mainly composed of Professor Hao Liu, Dr Ming Li (both from the University of Nottingham), and Dr James Stratford (Wastewater Fuels Ltd).Project 2: Sustainable fuels and platform chemicals from renewable sourcesAbout the Project: An exciting opportunity is available for a talented and motivated PhD candidate to pursue research on production of sustainable fuels and biochemicals from renewable biomass sources.The project will support the move from society’s reliance on fossil fuels to a circular economy, where we produce the fuels and chemicals we need from renewable resources. One example is the patented PYROCHEMY® pyrolysis technology developed by PyroGenesys LTD to enable rural communities to become net exporters of carbon-negative, circular economy goods & services by converting their agricultural waste to bioenergy, biofuels and biochar-based biofertilisers.The project will explore novel technological routes to upgrade bio-oils produced from globally available agri-waste feedstocks using the PYROCHEMY® process. Specifically, microwave-assisted conversion of bio-oils using novel sustainable catalysts will be explored. Microwave technology has huge potential as an electrically powered heat source, enabling the net zero energy transition. The novel catalysts will be sourced from landfill sites, simultaneously addressing the environmental issues caused by centuries of poor waste management practice and the prohibitive costs of traditional precious metal-based catalysts. The experimental outcomes will be used as inputs into a process model for testing and improving PyroGenesys’ advanced thermal technology.The project is mainly funded by CDT in NET2Zero with additional support from PyroGenesys LTD. The duration of the PhD is 4 years, and the start date is 1 December 2024. The supervisory team is mainly composed of Dr Eleanor Binner, Prof. Sean Rigby, Prof. Hao Liu (all from the University of Nottingham), and Mr Simon Ighofose (PyroGenesys LTD).Project 3: Chemical looping combustion of biofuels for delivering CO2 negative energy productionAbout the Project: An exciting opportunity is available for a talented and motivated PhD candidate to apply scientific and engineering knowledge to developing negative emissions technologies of Chemical Looping Combustion of Biofuels.With the growing concern over climate change, there is an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This project will explore the potential of biofuels as a CO2-neutral fuel and their energy potential in advanced combustion as an inherent CO2 capture technology to develop negative emission energy production technologies. The research will encompass various scales, from lab experiments to pilot scale, focusing on different biofuel types and low-cost oxygen carriers to advanced oxygen carriers. The project aims to develop novel negative emission energy production technologies and optimise operation parameters for maximum CO2 capture efficiency and energy gain, contributing to the development of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technologies.The project is mainly funded by CDT in NET2Zero with additional support from Mormair. The duration of the PhD project is 4 years, and the start date is 1 December 2024. The supervisory team is mainly composed of Dr Fatih Gulec, Prof Ed Lester (both from the University of Nottingham), and Ryan Findlay (from Mormair).Funding, Eligibility and Academic CriteriaEach of the advertised PhD studentships covers Home/UK tuition fees and provides a tax-free stipend (£19,237 per annum for 2024/25), as well as additional budget allowances for research, travel, and CDT centre activities.Please note, due to funding restrictions, applicants need to meet the eligibility requirement for UK/home tuition fees status – at this stage, we will not consider applicants who need to pay international tuition fees on the expected start date of the projectIdeal candidates should hold or expect to gain a first-class or a high 2.1 honour degree and/or a master’s degree (or their equivalent) in materials sciences, chemistry, chemical engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, or a related subject before the expected start date of the project.How to apply and deadline for applicationsTo submit an expression of interest (EOI) and/or make informal enquiries, please contact Professor Hao Liu ( ) and Dr Eleanor Binner ( ). Please include your CV, a cover letter, your academic transcripts, and the project title in your EOI email. If you are interested in more than one project, please indicate your order of preference for your interest of the projects in the cover letter – there is no need to submit multiple EOIs for the advertised projects.The deadline for applications is 15th November 2024. These studentships are open until filled, and hence early applications are strongly encouraged.

Expected salary

£19237 per year

Location

Nottingham

Job date

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 03:09:27 GMT

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