This is particularly important with the anticipated introduction of Euro 7 standards around 2025, which are expected to require further reductions in emissions limits while increasing the number of regulated pollutants and extending the operating limits over which the vehicle must comply. In effect, they require zero toxic emissions from the vehicle over its lifetime. The use of advanced simulation tools is crucial to the successful achievement of these requirements.

This 3-year PhD project, will involved the investigation of a range of Euro7 catalysts with the aim of developing a predictive model of tailpipe emissions. It will make use of the unique combination of experimental equipment that is available in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, and the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

This project is an exciting research collaboration between the Reaction Engineering, Aftertreatment and Catalysis Technologies group and Ford Motor Company. It is funded through a CASE studentship and will build on the 25-year relationship between Queen’s University Belfast and the company. It is expected that the successful student will spend some time at one of Ford’s research facilities during the project and will benefit from the extensive networking opportunities that this experience affords.

Eligibility

• Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK-resident candidates
• Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first-class degree in an Engineering or Physical Sciences related discipline 
• Full eligibility information can be viewed via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-studentships
• Candidates must be available to start the post by October 2022 at the latest

The project’s funding will cover the tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of approximately £15,285 per annum for up to 3 years.

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Prof Alex Goguet (a.goguet@qub.ac.uk) or Dr Geoffrey McCullough (g.mccullough@qub.ac.uk).

Decreasing rock quality, dwindling resources and security of supply are all reflected in the escalating price of P which has risen by 800% over the last 10 years. High P containing waste streams – originating for example from AD systems, pig slurry, dairy industry discharge or farm run off - offer a compelling opportunity to recover P: Up to 30% of world demand for phosphate rock could theoretically be satisfied by recovering P from these waste streams alone. Traditionally, P removal is achieved via chemical precipitation. Whilst such treatment is simple and efficient, it is expensive in terms of the cost of precipitants, their transportation, the requirement for further tertiary filtration due to heavy metal contamination and the necessity to dispose of the larger volumes of sludge produced (20% more biomass may be generated). Arising from sustainability, environmental protection, and future cost projections, the water, agri-food, lake management and allied P-utilising industries urgently seek development of alternative technologies whereby P may be efficiently removed and recycled from natural and engineered systems.

Aim of this three-year project is to develop robust sustainable technology, using a natural biopolymer-based sorbent, for the cost-efficient removal of P from waste treatment systems to below current legislative limits, and its subsequent recovery and recycling. This project is in collaboration with Kingspan Water & Energy Ltd.

Eligibility

• Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK-resident candidates
• Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first-class degree in Chemistry or closely related discipline
• Full eligibility information can be viewed via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-studentships
• Candidates must be available to start the post by October 2022 at the latest

The project’s funding will cover the tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of approximately £15,285 per annum for up to 3 years.

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Dr Panagiotis Manesiotis (p.manesiotis@qub.ac.uk)

This is a 3.5 year EPSRC / Johnson Matthey funded studentship. Johnson Matthey (https://matthey.com/en) are a multinational speciality company with expertise in catalysis and the sustainable production of fine chemicals. The project will be based in QUB but will involve close collaboration with researchers at Johnson Matthey (regular video calls), and there will be an opportunity to carry out a placement and conduct research in the industrial laboratories. This PhD project will therefore not only provide academic training, but the student will benefit from interacting regularly with industrial researchers, leading to a greater understanding of industry and the challenges of commercial chemical synthesis. Students interested in this project should contact Dr Muldoon to discuss the project in more detail. 

Eligibility

Full eligibility information can be viewed here. 

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Dr Mark Muldoon (m.j.muldoon@qub.ac.uk)

Such measurements are difficult to make at present and yet are badly needed for quality control purposes in the food and drink industry. In particular, Oculer aim to use this technology for monitoring the microbial quality of non-alcoholic drinks, where anaerobic contamination is a real problem. For example, it is believed anaerobic contamination was responsible for the recent recall by Guinness (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54901824 ) of their alcohol-free draught beer ‘Guinness 0.0’ in November 2020 only 2 weeks after its launch.

The successful candidate would train in and develop the many different techniques associated optical sensor production and characterisation and would also to be trained in basic microbiological handling and assay techniques.  The PhD will involve some time each year working at the Company’s site in the Republic of Ireland and will attract an additional stipend of £2k pa (for 3 years), in addition to the usual stipend.

Eligibility

• Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK-resident candidates
• Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first-class degree in an Engineering or Physical Sciences related discipline 
• Full eligibility information can be viewed via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-studentships
• Candidates must be available to start the post by October 2022 at the latest

The project’s funding will cover the tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of approximately £15,285 per annum for up to 3 years.

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Professor Andrew Mills (andrew.mills@qub.ac.uk)

In this regard, one of the most remarkable alterations in cancer cells in comparison to the normal healthy counterpart, is that they cover their surface with a dense layer of sialic acid–carrying glycans (sialoglycans). Selective recognition of sialoglycans therefore provides a unique opportunity for glycan-based therapeutics and diagnostics.

The goal of this PhD project is to produce lipid-based nanoparticles for sialoglycan targeting using concepts and tools from lipid membrane biophysics and molecular imprinting. The research will involve close collaboration with biologists and will make use of the unique combination of experimental equipment that is available in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, as well as advanced imaging facilities at the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Sciences.

Eligibility

• Due to funding restrictions, the position is only available for UK-resident candidates
• Candidates must possess or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or first-class degree in an Engineering or Physical Sciences related discipline 
• Full eligibility information can be viewed via https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-studentships
• Candidates must be available to start the post by October 2022 at the latest

The project’s funding will cover the tuition fees and a tax-free stipend of approximately £15,285 per annum for up to 3 years.

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Dr Seyed Tabaei (S.Tabaei@qub.ac.uk)

The student will acquire a very broad set of skills in inorganic and materials chemistry: working with air-sensitive materials (Schlenk line and glovebox), ionothermal synthesis (microwave reactor and microfluidic reactor), as well as characterisation of liquid coordination complexes (Raman and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy). In collaboration with the school of Maths and Physics, the student will have access to a unique in operando TEM liquid cell, where the nanoparticle formation can be studied in situ. These in-house techniques will be complemented by EXAFS studies at Diamond Light Source.

Eligibility

Full eligibility information can be viewed here. 

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Prof Gosia Swadzba-Kwasny (m.swadzba-kwasny@qub.ac.uk) or Prof John Holbrey (j.holbrey@qub.ac.uk).

Unique insights into transition metal catalysis have been enabled through research at the UK Large Research Facilities (especially Diamond Light Source, UK synchrotron X-ray source) and ISIS (UK neutrons and muons source), however advanced techniques to study boron are still in their infancy. This project is a unique, CAST-sponsored collaboration between the QUILL Research Centre, Diamond and ISIS aimed at developing new methods and gaining new insights into boron catalysis.

This project will involve elements of inorganic and physical chemistry, in particular inorganic syntheses and advanced spectroscopic and neutron scattering techniques, as well as aspects of homogenous and heterogenous catalysis. The student will work with beam scientists at ISIS and Diamond, learning to use spectroscopic X-rays techniques (Diamond), structural studies using neutrons (ISIS), and synthesis of chemicals with artificial isotope ratio at ISIS Deuteration Facility. At QUB, the student will gain experience in the synthesis of ionic liquids and in catalysis, which will furnish them with a truly unique set of technical skills.

It is expected that the successful student will regularly visit ISIS and Diamond facilities in Oxfordshire, and potentially other neutron and X-ray sources in Europe and the US.

Eligibility

Full eligibility information can be viewed here. 

Closing date

Friday 25^th February 2022

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the University's Postgraduate Application Portal.

More Information

For more information please contact: Prof Gosia Swadzba-Kwasny (m.swadzba-kwasny@qub.ac.uk) or Prof John Holbrey (j.holbrey@qub.ac.uk).