PhD Research Studentships

Catalytic hydrothermal processing of biowaste for the efficient production of chemicals

Supervisor:
Apply by:30 April 2017

Description

A PhD position for an EU/Home candidate is available at Queen Mary University of London, School of Engineering and Materials Science in Sustainable Materials Group (https://titiricigroup.org) within an EU funded ITN project, Green Carbon as ESR12: http://greencarbon-etn.eu/phd-positions/.

The successful candidate will be registered as a PhD within Queen Mary University of London (http://www.qmul.ac.uk) however, will receive his/her salary from Germany where he/she will work in collaboration with AVA CO2 (http://www.avalon-industries.com/web/pages/en/home.php) a biomass processing company and the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart (https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/english). He/she is expected to spend PhD research divided between UK and Germany.

The successful candidate will receive an attractive salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early stage researchers (see Work Programme 2016-17 at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/wp/2016_2017/main/h2020-wp1617-msca_en.pdf).

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Early-stage researchers (ESR) are those who are, at the time of recruitment by the host, in the first four years (full-time equivalent) of their research careers. This is measured from the date when they obtained the degree which formally entitles them to embark on a doctorate, either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training is provided, irrespective of whether or not a doctorate was envisaged.
  2. Conditions of international mobility of researchers. At the time of selection by the host organisation (in this case Germany), researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Short stays, such as holidays, are not taken into account.
  3. The minimum requirement for this opportunity is a good Honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
  4. If English is not your first language then you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6 in Wrting and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening & Speaking).

Project Objectives:

  • To design and implement a new catalytic process for the hydrothermal processing of biomass using the magnetic carbon catalysts;
  • To test the efficiency of these catalysts in terms of activity and selectivity towards 5-HMF in a pilot-scale plant;
  • To evaluate the efficiency in recovering magnetic catalysts for reutilisation.
  • Expected results: As the use of homogeneous and non-magnetic heterogeneous catalysts is constrained for the difficulty in the recycling (i.e., tedious recovery procedures via filtration or centrifugation and the inevitable loss of solid catalysts in the separation process), magnetic catalysts are excellent candidates due to the fact that they can be simply and efficiently removed from reaction mixtures with an external magnetic field in a few minutes.

Supervisor Contact Details: For informal enquiries about this position, please contact Prof. Magdalena Titirici m.m.titirici@qmul.ac.uk; +44(0)20 7888 6272

Application Method:

To apply for this studentship and for entry on to the Materials Science programme (Full Time, Semester 1 start) please follow the instructions detailed in section 3 of the following webpage:

http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/research/subjects/engineering/index.html

Further Guidance available via: http://www.qmul.ac.uk/postgraduate/applyresearchdegrees/index.html

Please be sure to include a reference to ‘2017 SEMS EU ITN MMT’ to associate your application with this studentship opportunity. 

Deadline for applications: 30 April 2017

Eligibility

  • The minimum requirement for this studentship opportunity is a good honours degree (minimum 2(i) honours or equivalent) or MSc/MRes in a relevant discipline.
  • If English is not your first language, you will require a valid English certificate equivalent to IELTS 6.5+ overall with a minimum score of 6.0 in Writing and 5.5 in all sections (Reading, Listening, Speaking).
  • Candidates are expected to start in (Semester ).
  • SEMS and Principal-funded studentships: this studentship arrangement covers home tuition fees and provides an annual stipend for up to three years (currently set at the 2023/24 stipend rate of £20,622 pa)
  • Note that Queen Mary Research Studentships cover home-rated tuition fees only (See: www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/feestatus/ for details)
  • Overseas applicants would be required to meet the difference between home and international tuition fees

Contact

For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact .