Up to £20,000 per year stipend plus fees available for HEU Candidates (due to funding restrictions)

The University of Nottingham’s (UoN) Faculty of Engineering, one of the UK’s premier engineering faculties, conducts research has been recognised as being world-leading, internationally excellent, and in the UK’s top five universities for engineering.  

The project is a collaboration with a major chemicals and coatings manufacturer. The aims of the project are to investigate the potential benefits of using microwave heating in the production of industrial materials, optimise these methodologies to successfully exploit any microwave benefits at scale, and demonstrate that materials made via microwave heating are fit for purpose in the chosen application. The latter will require direct collaboration at the industrial partner’s research facilities.

The focus of the studentship will be to develop novel synthetic processes in order to improve manufacturing efficiency. This project will potentially contribute significantly to increasing the sustainability within the industry by: (a) extending the market reach of the products concerned and (b) improving the energy footprint of their manufacture.

The studentship will involve training on a wide range of cutting-edge experimental techniques, including synthesis and characterisation of complex oligomeric structures.

Requirements of the studentship:

i)     Students should have, or expect to obtain, a first-class or good 2:1 honours degree, or a distinction or high merit at MSc level in chemistry, chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline that included chemical laboratory practice.

ii)    Students should have good written and oral presentation skills. Previous experience with polymer synthesis and/or testing would be beneficial.

Informal enquiries prior to making an application may be addressed to: Dr Derek Irvine, email: derek.irvine@nottingham.ac.uk. If you are interested in making an application, please contact Dr Derek Irvine directly with a covering letter stating clearly how you fulfil the requirements of the studentship, and include a CV and the names and addresses of two academic referees. Interviews will take place at the University of Nottingham. Please quote ref. ENG/659. This studentship will remain open until filled.