PhD Research Studentships

Reducing methane emissions by improving measurements, modelling and mitigation technologies

Supervisors: Paul BALCOMBE and Neil CAGNEY
Apply by:28 January 2026
Start in:September (Semester 1)

Description

Methane is the second most important greenhouse gas, causing 30% of today’s global warming. We must drastically reduce industrial methane emissions if we have any chance of meeting global climate change targets. However, there are many sources of methane emissions that we simply don’t know enough about. Additionally, measurement of methane emissions across different sources is difficult, costly and sometimes carries high uncertainties.

This project aims to improve our understanding of methane emissions from key underrepresented sectors such as LNG shipping, biogas and gas flaring. The project will involve a combination of development of improved measurement methods, collecting new data from industrial sites, and developing cost-effective mitigation strategies (e.g. through the development of new methane oxidation catalysts).

The PhD candidate will join a research group containing environmental scientists, chemical engineers, roboticists and policy experts. We can fit the project to suite the candidates skills or desire, but the candidate should have expertise/interest in at least one of the following:

  • The use of drones for environmental monitoring
  • Methane sensor development
  • Atmospheric pollutant modelling
  • Methane measurement
  • Environmental assessment and modelling of industrial systems
  • Catalysis

The candidate will have access to the QMUL gas lab with several methane measurement equipment for field work, as well as drone platforms. The output will be to provide insights to industry and policy makers on how to measure, model and/or mitigate methane emissions as quickly and cost effectively as possible.

Funding

Funded by: China Scholarship Council
Candidate will need to secure a CSC scholarship.
Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.
Applications must be submitted by 4pm UK time on the submission deadline.

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 minimum score of 6.0 in each of Writing, Listening, Reading and Speaking).
  • Candidates are expected to start in September (Semester 1).

Contact

For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please contact Paul BALCOMBE or Neil CAGNEY.

Apply

Start an application for this studentship and for entry onto the PhD FT Chemical Engineering full-time programme (Semester 1 / September start):

Apply Now »

Please be sure to quote the reference "SEMS-PHD-693" to associate your application with this studentship opportunity.

Keywords:Environmental Chemistry, Data Science, Machine Learning, Chemical Engineering, Energy Technologies, Environmental Engineering, Robotics