Chemical Engineering
Advanced electronic/optoelectronic technologies designed to allow stable, intimate integration with living organisms will accelerate progress in biomedical research; they will also serve as the foundations for new approaches in monitoring and treating diseases.
The design of all chemical process starts from mathematical modelling and computational thermodynamics. The reliability of a thermodynamic model in predicting or correlating phase equilibria depends strongly on the value its parameters. Carefully evaluated parameters enable a precise calculation of the phase equilibria and of the process units, affecting as a consequence the costs of a chemical process.
In several cases, the thermodynamic parameters commonly used in process simulators are wrong. They do not return a comprehensively right equilibrium.
The project focuses on the development of an open tool for the correct regression and correlation of thermodynamic data in robust mathematical models. The project involves the development and use of optimization techniques. Special modelling, including Bayesian regression or similar techniques, will be also used.
In this project, you will design digital open and user-friendly tools that can easily integrate with existing process simulators (e.g. AspenPlus, Unisim) and exploit recent advanced algorithms [1, 2]. The ambition of this project is to earn the sector’s support and enable the widespread use of the tool in place of the current unreliable counterparts.
You will work in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (ESTech Lab) [3], be part of a world leading research group in sustainable technologies towards the development of the first robust tool for thermodynamic model identification and calibration, have access to state-of-the-art computing facilities and brainstorm new digital tools across all thermodynamic problems.
Your studies will be carried out at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) and could include occasional experiments to validate models. You will attain skills in modelling, design and testing of innovative digital tools.
Please note, the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S037838121400226X
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378381220300297
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. As well as:
- Proficiency with Computational Thermodynamics of Fluid Phase Equilibria
- Proficiency with at least one coding tool and related graphical user interface
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Desirable criteria:
- knowledge of optimization methods;
- knowledge of Bayesian regression.
A number of scholarships are available to competitive candidates. For more information on the funding application process, please contact the project’s supervisor or visit the School of Engineering website.
Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students.
The design of the forthcoming future is negative in emissions. Among the negative emission technologies options, those capturing CO2 directly from the air are called Direct Air Capture technologies. Direct Air Capture technologies are regarded as the solution having the biggest carbon removal potential but is also the least known. If Direct Air Capture had to be an essential measure, future society would deal with severe restrictions in energy availability [1].
However, using the captured atmospheric CO2 for conversion into chemicals and fuels has the right scale not to impinge in the energy system and attractive economic outlook.
In your studies you will work in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (ESTech Lab) [2], be part of a world leading research group in carbon capture towards the development of technological avenues for Direct Air Capture and Conversion into chemicals and fuels.
Your studies will be carried out at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) and will include modelling activities. You will attain skills in modelling and design of new negative emission technologies and production paths.
Please note, the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
[1] Santori et. al. Adsorption artificial tree for atmospheric carbon dioxide capture, purification and compression, Energy 162 (2018) 1158-1168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.08.090
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. As well as:
- Proficiency with Computational Thermodynamics of Fluid Phase Equilibria
- Proficiency with at least one coding tool and related graphical user interface
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Desirable criteria: knowledge of optimization methods.
A number of scholarships are available to competitive candidates. For more information on the funding application process, please contact the project’s supervisor or visit the School of Engineering website.
Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students.
Digital tools are omnipresent and their rise exponential. Cloud and digital services have improved our lives and, overall, reduced carbon emissions, although at the expense of a growing electricity demand from data centres. Remarkably, nearly half the data centre electricity input is for self-cooling, which provides an opportunity for a technology able to harness low-grade heat and turn it into cooling power. The co-location of energy in form of heat and water is an opportunity.
The project focuses on the mathematical modelling and optimization of a proof-of-principle heat-powered cooling process that reduces waste heat and greenhouse gas emissions and boosts return on investment, while meeting all the sustainability criteria.
Special modelling, including machine learning, and cost of manufacturing tools guide the development of an optimised heat-to-cold concept designed to break through current barriers to commercialisation.
In this project, you will design digital tools for an innovative technology that uses low temperature heat for the production of cold by exploiting recent discoveries in material science and engineering [1, 2]. The ambition of this project is to earn the sector’s support and enable the widespread use of heat-powered cooling in place of the current electricity-driven counterpart.
You will work in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (ESTech Lab) [3], be part of a world leading research group in sustainable technologies towards the development of a proof-of-concept super-efficient processes for heat-powered cooling, have access to state-of-the-art computing facilities and brainstorm new technological avenues for cooling.
Your studies will be carried out at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) and could include occasional experiments to validate models. You will attain skills in modelling, design and testing of innovative technologies for cooling.
Please note, the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ente.202300548
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. As well as:
- Proficiency with Labview or similar data acquisition and control
- Proficiency with dynamic identification methods
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Desirable criteria:
- knowledge of thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibria or physical chemistry;
- knowledge of computational tool such as Matlab, Mathcad, Mathematica etc… with emphasis on graphical user interface design.
A number of scholarships are available to competitive candidates. For more information on the funding application process, please contact the project’s supervisor or visit the School of Engineering website.
Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students.
Digital tools are omnipresent and their rise exponential. Cloud and digital services have improved our lives and, overall, reduced carbon emissions, although at the expense of a growing electricity demand from data centres. Remarkably, nearly half the data centre electricity input is for self-cooling, which provides an opportunity for a technology able to harness low-grade heat and turn it into cooling power. The co-location of energy in form of heat and water is an opportunity.
The project focuses on the design and demonstration of a proof-of-principle 3D printed heat-powered cooling device that reduces waste heat and greenhouse gas emissions and boosts return on investment, while meeting all the sustainability criteria.Special characterisation techniques and additive manufacturing tools guide the development of a geometrically-optimised heat-to-cold concept which is designed to break through current barriers to commercialisation.
In this project, you will research and develop an innovative technology that uses low temperature heat for the production of cold by exploiting recent discoveries in material science and engineering [1, 2]. The ambition of this project is to earn the sector’s support and enable the widespread use of heat-powered cooling in place of the current electricity-driven counterpart.
You will work in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (ESTech Lab) [3], be part of a world leading research group in sustainable technologies towards the development of a proof-of-concept super-efficient processes for heat-powered cooling, have access to state-of-the-art equipment including rapid prototyping tools and brainstorm new technological avenues for cooling.
Your studies will be carried out at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) and will include modelling activities supported by experiments. You will attain skills in modelling, design and testing of innovative technologies for cooling.
Please note, the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
[1] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ente.202300548
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. As well as:
- Proficiency with plastic 3D printing, both FDM and Stereolithographic methods
- Familiarity with Labview or similar data acquisition and control
- Familiarity with dynamic identification methods
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Desirable criteria:
- knowledge of thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibria or physical chemistry;
- proficiency in computational tool such as Matlab, Mathcad, Mathematica etc… with emphasis on graphical user interface design.
A number of scholarships are available to competitive candidates. For more information on the funding application process, please contact the project’s supervisor or visit the School of Engineering website.
Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students.
Climate change is already exacerbating water scarcity bringing uncertainty in the future of the water availability vs. abstraction (water stress), especially in delicate eco-systems. At the same time, industry highly relies on water. In most of the water-demanding industrial sectors high water demand is co-located with high energy demand (water-energy nexus), similarly to countries that benefit from high solar thermal energy (high energy availability) and at the same need water. The co-location of energy in form of heat and water is an opportunity.
In this project, you will research and develop advanced dynamic mathematical models of an innovative technology that uses low temperature heat for the production of water with different quality (from drinkable to industry and agriculture). The technology will be powered by ultralow energy and exploit the temperature differences available in nature: air, soil and natural water (e.g. lakes, seas, rivers).
You will work in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (ESTech Lab) [1], be part of a world leading research group in sustainable technologies towards the development of user-friendly (Graphical User Interface) advanced model for the characterization and prediction of the dynamic performance of heat-powered clean water production (e.g. desalination), have access to state-of-the-art computing facility and brainstorm new technological avenues for clean water production.
Your studies will be carried out at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) and will include short experimental activities to validate your models. You will attain skills in modelling, design of innovative technologies for clean water.
Please note, the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree. As well as:
- Proficiency with identification of process dynamic techniques;
- proficiency in computational tool such as Matlab, Mathcad, Mathematica etc… with emphasis on graphical user interface design.
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Desirable criteria: knowledge of computational thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibria or physical chemistry.
A number of scholarships are available to competitive candidates. For more information on the funding application process, please contact the project’s supervisor or visit the School of Engineering website.
Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students.
Climate change is already exacerbating water scarcity bringing uncertainty in the future of the water availability vs. abstraction (water stress), especially in delicate eco-systems. At the same time, industry highly relies on water. In most of the water-demanding industrial sectors high water demand is co-located with high energy demand (water-energy nexus), similarly to countries that benefit from high solar thermal energy (high energy availability) and at the same need water. The co-location of energy in form of heat and water is an opportunity.
In this project, you will research and develop an innovative technology that uses low temperature heat for the production of water with different quality (from drinkable to industry and agriculture) by exploiting recent discoveries in material science and engineering [1, 2]. The technology will be powered by ultralow energy and exploit the temperature differences available in nature: air, soil and natural water (e.g. lakes, seas, rivers).
You will work in the Emerging Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (ESTech Lab) [3], be part of a world leading research group in sustainable technologies towards the development of a proof-of-concept super-efficient processes for heat-powered clean water production (e.g. desalination), have access to state-of-the-art equipment including rapid prototyping tools and brainstorm new technological avenues for clean water production.
Your studies will be carried out at the Institute for Materials and Processes (IMP) and will include modelling activities supported by experiments. You will attain skills in modelling, design and testing of innovative technologies for clean water production.
Please note, the position will be filled once a suitable candidate has been identified.
[1] https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/detail.jsf?docId=WO2025003650&_cid=P20-MAL3RA-15255-1
Minimum entry qualification - an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or International equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.
- Proficiency with Labview or similar data acquisition and control
- Familiarity with dynamic identification methods
Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.
Desirable criteria:
- knowledge of thermodynamics of fluid phase equilibria or physical chemistry;
- proficiency in computational tool such as Matlab, Mathcad, Mathematica etc… with emphasis on graphical user interface design;
A number of scholarships are available to competitive candidates. For more information on the funding application process, please contact the project’s supervisor or visit the School of Engineering website.
Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students.