Fundamentals of Selective Olefin Oligomerisation Using Heterogeneous Catalysis

An EPSRC-funded industrial CASE award with Johnson Matthey is available to work on a PhD position in the research group of Phil Dyer on a project entitled "Fundamentals of Selective Olefin Oligomerisation Using Heterogeneous Catalysis", which will probe the synthesis and mode of operation of a range of different heterogeneous initiators. The project work will be undertaken in the Department of Chemistry at Durham and will involve aspects of organometallic chemistry, catalyst testing, and the synthesis of novel heterogeneous catalyst packages. This area of research is of particular interest for upgrading alkenes (increasingly available from light hydrocarbon feeds and by dehydration of ethanol) and to maximise yields of fuel (petrol and/or middle distillates) grade components from residual crude oil- and biomass-derived fractions.

Applicants should have (or expect to obtain) at least the equivalent of a UK 2.i honours degree in chemistry or a relevant scientific discipline.

The position will start in October 2013.

Interested applicants should contact Dr Phil Dyer, email: [Email Address Removed] with a covering letter and CV, including the names of two academic references.