Dr Stephen Dooley
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Applications are invited for a fully funded four-year PhD studentship in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Limerick, Ireland. The successful candidate will work in pursuit of their PhD under the supervision of Dr. Stephen Dooley within the Department of Chemical and Environmental Sciences. The project, supported by Science Foundation Ireland, seeks to alleviate Ireland’s dependence on foreign and fossil energy sources by conceiving and demonstrating viable chemical pathways for the conversion of indigenous non-food biomass into carbon neutral transportation fuels. To this purpose, condensed phase catalytic platforms for the selective removal of oxygen from biomass will be pursued.
Computational modelling and combustion property measurements will be utilised to design fuel components of beneficial molecular properties, providing molecular targets that maximize the valorisation potential for the biomass-to-fuel synthetic platform. A key scientific focus of the program is in understanding the fate of cellulose derived sugars when in solution and in designing catalytic systems to advantage these inter-conversions. Detailed kinetic models combining information produced from computational chemistry with observations from careful laboratory experiments will be constructed for this purpose. Opportunities will also be available to formulate biofuel and petroleum fuel mixtures from the produced materials, and to test their combustion behaviors. The candidate will have the opportunity to report their work at international scientific conferences.
Applications are invited from students with an appropriate background in the physical sciences with an interest in the application of chemical sciences and numerical modelling (e.g. matlab, fortran) to energy scenarios. The student will be trained in the disciplines of catalysis, reaction kinetics, computational chemistry, molecular spectroscopy, chromatography. Prior experience or knowledge in of these areas is helpful but not essential. Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a 1st class or high second class honors degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics or a related discipline. A Masters degree in a related area is beneficial. Enthusiasm to work in a laboratory environment, to challenge oneself, motivation to learn (by tuition and independently) and the possession of excellent written and oral communications skills are essential.
Prospective candidates should send a detailed CV, a covering letter outlining their educational background and research interests, and the names and addresses of two referees to Dr. Stephen Dooley ([Email Address Removed]). The position is available from 1st September 2014. Applications will be reviewed as received until the post is filled. If you have not heard within two months of applying, please assume that your application has not been successful.
Funding Notes
Stipend of €18,000 per annum + Fees