Fully funded EPSRC studentships cohort for the Interdisciplinary Doctoral training Hub “Cleaning with Air”

The School of Chemistry, Cardiff University are recruiting up to 4 funded EPSRC studentships for a cohort for the Interdisciplinary Doctoral training Hub “Cleaning with Air”.

The underlying research aim of the projects is to develop intersectional research solutions (supported by 2 schools) where reactive oxygen species (produced from air and/or water using heat, electricity or electromagnetic radiation) are used to drive chemical and biological oxidation on surfaces, in air and in liquids. Application of the technological innovations will enable industrial stakeholders to drive formulations of cleaner, greener and more effective cleaning products with zero chemical discharge.

The quality of our environment, discharge of anthropogenically generated species to it and transmission of microbial pathogens, continues to attract unparalleled media and political coverage, particularly around pollution released from industrial sources, or highly transmissible infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza. Pollution from domestic households contributes significantly, especially from washing and disinfection waste which traditionally use toxic chemicals. This problem can be removed by generating activated cleaning species directly from a catalyst in situ using oxygen from the air.

Students will be assigned research projects requiring supervisor teams of a traditional lead supervisor, and a secondary supervisor from, at minimum, one other school:

• School of Chemistry
• School of Engineering
• School of Physics and Astronomy
• Welsh School of Architecture
• School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

You, the student, will take a leading role in the overall scope/design of the project in discussion with supervisors. It is anticipated that most time will be in the lead supervisor’s laboratory, but to ensure interdisciplinary working you will complete a ‘Research Sabbatical’ (RS) in a co-investigator’s research group, this is flexible, but is expected to be for minimum period of 8 weeks. Other research sabbaticals could also be arranged, possibility with international collaborators. You will obtain a deep expertise in one area of advanced cleaning research in a cohort-research environment, where a broader scholarly knowledge of the environmental and societal constraints that need to guide new consumer products will be achieved.

You will receive comprehensive training across all aspects of catalyst synthesis, characterization, and testing.

We welcome applications from non-traditional academic backgrounds and all members of the global community irrespective of age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.

Start Date: 1^st October 2023

Applicant should hold, or expect to gain a first-class degree or a 2.1 degree and/or an appropriate Master’s level qualification (or their equivalent) and be able to fulfil our English Language requirements.

All applications should be submitted via the online application portal stating ‘Cleaning with Air’

Short-listed applicants will be invited to interview to be held, by zoom, mid to late April. As part of the interview process, applicants will be expected to give a 5 minute presentation on a recent research interest or project.

For further information please email chemistry-pgr@cardiff.ac.uk

This is funded by the EPSRC DTP for 3.5 years covers tuition fees, a stipend (currently £17,668 per annum), and access to a Training Support Grant (currently £4000). Students with a disability may also be entitled to a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). We welcome applications for both full-time and part-time study.

This studentship has funding for applicants classed as UK (Home) students only.

Application Deadline: Friday 30^th June 2023