Background: Demands from the government, the public and environmental agencies have led to the chemical, manufacturing and construction industries adopting sustainable and net-zero carbon policies to replace petroleum–based feedstocks. An overarching goal is to use renewable resources from various industries and recycle the carbon into new materials (1). Such natural resources are fed to microbial factories to generate versatile chemical monomers that can be used as the basis for bio-derived, polymer synthesis. These polymers can be prepared by combinations of chemo- and bio-catalysts.
Aims: This project will optimise efficient sustainable/green routes from plant-based biomass to modern construction materials.
Training: This exciting, 4 year project is funded by the IBioIC and you will join their 2021 cohort of CTP students (https://www.ibioicctp.com/). The industrial partner is IndiNature (https://www.indinature.co/), an award-winning biotetchnology company whose mission is to innovate and manufacture bio-based construction systems on an industrial scale. You will be based in the laboratories of the PIs in School of Chemistry and Biology and will be trained in aspects of sourcing bio-based feedstocks, microbial fermentation, monomer isolation and polymer synthesis and characterisation. We will provide training in various analytical techniques (e.g. mass spectrometry, NMR) and in the application of chemo- and bio-catalysts. The IBioIC CTP will provide training in areas that include commercialisation, entrepreneurship, the circular economy, networking and data analysis. You will have access to IBioiC research facilities and also spend periods of time throughout the PhD at IndiNature.
Recent publications from the PIs include references 2-4. More details of the PI’s outputs can be found on our www site (https://campopianosite.wixsite.com/campopiano).
(1) Zhu, Y. et al., (2016) Nature, 540, 354.
(2) Serpico, A et al., & Campopiano, DJ, (2020), Catal. Sci. & Technol., 10, 6533.
(3) Gruszka, W & Garden, J. (2021) Nature Communications, 12, 3252.
(4) Echavarri-Brava, V. et al., & Horsfall, LE, (2019) New Biotechnology, 52, 1.
Application Process:
To apply for this PhD studentship please send a cover letter explaining your motivation to do a PhD, a short CV and the names of two referees (or attach their letters of support) to Prof. Dominic Campopiano ([Email Address Removed]). We will short-list candidates, then have interviews in August 2021. The PhD begins early September 2021.
The School of Chemistry holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advance gender equality in higher education. The University is a member of the Race Equality Charter and is a Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champion, actively promoting LGBT equality. The University has a range of initiatives to support a family friendly working environment. See our University Initiatives website for further information. University Initiatives website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity/help-advice/family-friendly
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