Background
Applications are invited for a PhD Studentship, starting October 2023, in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York. This PhD studentship forms part of the £5M Prosperity Partnership on Biobased And Biodegradable Polymers For A Sustainable Future between the University of York, University of Nottingham and Croda. It has a specific focus on green and sustainable chemistry, with applications in personal care, agrochemicals and the pharmaceutical industry.
About the Project
This PhD project will support the wider collaborative partnership by developing enzyme-catalysed pathways towards the target monomers and polymers. Based within the Department of Chemistry, this PhD project will include identification, characterisation and application of new enzymes that have potential applications in synthesis of target monomers. Working in collaboration with an industrial and an academic partner, the project will progress the use of bio-based degradable polymers in a variety of applications whilst also allowing the student to learn from experts in both academia and industry. Placements within the industry and other academic partner’s labs will be possible throughout the course of the studentship.
The project will be supervised by Prof Gideon Grogan. The collaborative partnership as a whole will provide you with a range of experiences in synthesis and optimisation of monomers from renewable feedstocks as well as production of biodegradable polymers for numerous applications and a better understanding of their fate after use.
Novelty and impact
Your work will provide support in improving the sustainability for the production of bio-based monomers and polymers and will include identifying and isolating suitable enzymes to convert bio-derived building-block chemicals into target monomers, and may study subsequent enzyme-catalysed polymerisations. Through collaborations within the partnership you will also have the opportunity to immobilise enzymes onto bio-based and inorganic solid supports and to study the efficacy of your enzyme-catalysed reactions in super-critical fluids and alternative reactor types (e.g. microwaves and flow). You will contribute to the greening of pathways towards a library of new innovative degradable polymers, gathering insights in structure-performance and structure-degradation relationships.
Training
This multidisciplinary project covers aspects of biotechnology, chemical synthesis and developments towards more sustainable processes, all with a view towards commercialisation. Within the PhD, you will benefit from world-leading training in the development and application of enzyme selection, isolation and application as well as the use bio-based chemicals. You will learn from experts in the Department of Chemistry and collaborative partners for the preparation of bio-based monomers and polymers using enzymes as catalysts, and gain a fundamental insight into the link between enzyme structure and performance. You will join a cohort of other students and appropriate further training including placements with collaborators, performance testing, and intellectual property and regulatory aspects. You will attend and present at Grogan research group meetings and external conferences.
All Chemistry research students have access to our innovative Doctoral Training in Chemistry (iDTC): cohort-based training to support the development of scientific, transferable and employability skills: https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/postgraduate/training/idtc/
Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
All project partners recognise the importance of equal participation, progression and success for all. We strive to provide a working, learning, social and living environment that will enable all our staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish and to excel - a place where we can ALL be ourselves.
The Department of Chemistry holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award and is committed to supporting equality and diversity for all staff and students. The Department strives to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel: https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ed/ . In particular, we recognise the importance of the equal participation of women at all levels in a subject that has traditionally been, and remains, male-dominated.
We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented across the partnership.
For more information about the project, click on the supervisor's name above to email the supervisor. For more information about the application process or funding, please click on email institution
This PhD will formally start on 1 October 2023. Induction activities may start a few days earlier.
To apply for this project, submit an online PhD in Chemistry application: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/apply?course=DRPCHESCHE3
You should hold or expect to achieve the equivalent of at least a UK upper second class degree in Chemistry or a related subject.
Application deadline is 30 July 2023, but applications may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found, so early application is recommended.
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