Background
Applications are invited for a PhD Studentship, starting October 2023, in the Department of Biology at the University of York. This PhD studentship forms part of a wider collaborative project with another university and an industrial partner with a specific focus on green and sustainable chemistry, particularly in the field of bio-based degradable polymers intended for use in consumer, crop-care and pharmaceutical applications.
About the Project
This PhD project will support the wider collaborative partnership by investigating the performance of innovative new bio-based and degradable polymers intended for use in consumer care formulations. Based within the Department of Biology, this PhD project will also include comparisons of anaerobic digestion (AD) performance when subjected to current petrochemical and/or poorly degrading polymers currently used in consumer care formulations. It will also look to better understand the influence of different AD microbial communities and contaminants on the efficacy of methane production. 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 James Chong in the Department of Biology, and involve support from colleagues in the Department of Chemistry. 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 innovative new polymers by developing and demonstrating AD as an alternative end-of-life option for polymer ingredients that typically pass through water treatment. Through collaborations within the partnership, you will also have access to a range of emerging new polymers, and will seek to make a link between AD efficacy and the structure of these polymers.
Training
This multidisciplinary project covers aspects of multi-omics analyses, biochemistry, microbiology, chemistry and material science, all with a view towards commercialisation. Within the PhD, you will benefit from world-leading training in the development and application of AD processes based on an understanding of microbial community dynamics and interactions for the breakdown of organic matter. You will learn from experts in the Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion (CEAD) within the Department of Biology and collaborative partners how the structure of polymers alters their ability to be degraded by mixed microbial communities and factors that might affect this efficacy, and ultimately progress AD in this context towards commercialisation. 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 CEAD research group meetings and external conferences.
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 Departments of Biology and Chemistry both hold an Athena SWAN Gold Award. We are committed to supporting equality and diversity and strive to provide a positive working environment for all staff and students.
The University of York are committed to recruiting future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and we have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented across the partnership.
Supervisors: Prof J Chong (Biology) Prof G Grogan (Chemistry) and Dr M Reilly (Biology)
Start date: 1st October 2023
Home Department: Biology
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