Opportunities
Postgraduate Studenship Opportunity
Prof. Gosia Swadzba-Kwasny
Chemical recycling of polymers
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is among the most abundant plastics, used - for example - in beverage bottles and sports clothes. Although there is perception that PET is easily recycled by mechanical means, in 2022 only 30% of UK’s PET bottles, and negligible percentage of garments, were recycled. About 75% of PET collected for recycling is rejected before it reaches the processing stage. Within the 25% that reaches recycling, only 17% is returned to bottles, and over 50% ends up in fibres, which are not recycled. While mechanical recycling is an important avenue for extending life cycles of polymers, it yields inferior quality product after each iteration. In contrast, chemical recycling breaks polymers down to building blocks (monomers), which can then be used in the synthesis of recycled polymers of quality equal to virgin products.
Read more Read less2024 QUILL Summer Studentships
Summer Studentships Vacancies at QUILL
There are currently no summer studentships vacancies available.
Please check this page regularly for updated information, and be sure to read the information in relation to other opportunities below.
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Funding Sources
Postdoctoral Researchers
We welcome applications worldwide from candidates with high quality CVs and relevant experience. Post-doctoral researchers are particularly encouraged to apply for independent funding, such as:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Newton International Fellowships
- Leverhulme Trust
- EPSRC Postdoctoral Fellowships
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Research Fellowships
Candidates will receive strong support with these applications including assistance with research proposals.
Students
Self-funded students are welcome to contact the center informally. If you plan to apply for a funding scheme, please contact us to discuss a potential project before applying formally.
Undergraduate Students
Each year, we welcome Level 3 and 4 students for their final year research projects. Although individual projects vary, they follow the main research themes in the group. Each student works closely with a more experienced group member.
Undergraduate Summer Students
Funded summer studentships are available annually through various funding streams, including RSC and QUILL summer studentships. The deadlines for applications are quite early on in the year so students are encouraged to get in touch in advance to consider a potential application.
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