Chemical Engineering

The wetting behaviours of liquids on solid surfaces play an important role for a wide range of engineering applications, including coatings, electronics, oil recovery, microfluidics, and inkjet printing. For many of these applications, the key challenge is to control the static and dynamic wettability of a given substrate against various liquids. To achieve such control, especially over the full range of wettability landscape, surface chemistry, while crucial, is inadequate by itself. Recent works have shown that novel surfaces with exceptional wetting properties (often termed as superwettability) can be designed by introducing roughness, lubrication, chemical heterogeneities, and tuning the elasticity of the substrate.

The underlying theme of this PhD project is to study the rich interplay between fluid flow dynamics, surface chemistry, geometry, roughness, and solid elasticity in the context of wetting phenomena. Depending on the interests of the student, they can focus on modelling or combine modelling and experiments to develop engineering design principles for structured surfaces with superwettability properties. We will consider both model surfaces with regular patterns (e.g., posts, holes) and non-ideal, industrially relevant substrates (e.g., complex fibres, meshes). This project will also involve collaborations with our international experimental and industrial partners, Dr.-Ing. Hutomo Suryo Wasisto (Infineon Technologies AG, Germany) and Prof. Kuwat Triyana (Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia), to explore how these design principles can be exploited for applications in microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and sensor technologies.

It is expected that the applicant will have a good degree in Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, or any other related subject. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants who want to develop expertise in fluids, surfaces, and/or simulations using high performance computing. Prior experience in any of these areas is useful but not a necessity to apply.

The student will join Prof Halim Kusumaatmaja’s group which will move to the Institute for Multiscale Thermofliuds at the University of Edinburgh in May 2024. The student will also benefit from a vibrant community of PhD students, postdoctoral research associates and academics working in various aspects of surfaces and wetting in Edinburgh.

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

Further information about Prof Halim Kusumaatmaja’s group can be found in: https://sites.google.com/site/kusumaatmaja/home 

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. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Further information and other funding options.

Do you want to design and construct synthetic life-like cells? A major goal of synthetic biology is to create life-like artificial cells from non-living components, i.e. the bottom-up approach. This exciting project will focus on designing, constructing, and testing synthetic cells with multiple sub-compartments. Just like their living counterparts (i.e. eukaryotic cells), synthetic cells with different inner compartments allow multiple and advanced functionalities.

The building blocks will be lipid vesicles, both large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) and giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), as well as membrane embedded and encapsulated proteins. To do so, the student will develop methodologies for lipid vesicle formation, including bulk techniques such as water-in-oil emulsions, and microfluidic systems (e.g. micro-droplets). Bottom-up synthetic cells can shed light on natural biological cell functions but can also be used for future industrial applications like biofuel production or in biomedical applications such as drug delivery.

Possible outcomes and goals:

• Studying the interaction of collections of synthetic cells (i.e. proto-tissues) for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.
• Setting-up enzymatic reactions between sub-compartments to model and understand eukaryotic cellular metabolism.
• Developing new microfluidic tools to construct multi-compartment synthetic cells for drug delivery applications.

Methods:

• Lipid vesicle preparation
• Microfluidics
• Confocal microscopy
• Membrane protein reconstitution
• Cell-free protein expression

Location and skills:

The project will be carried out at the Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE) at the University of Edinburgh. The student will attain skills in microfluidics, lipid chemistry, membrane protein reconstitution, optical microscopy, as well as data and image analysis. The student will also learn various experimental techniques including microfabrication, protein preparation, lipid handling, and confocal microscopy. These skills will be essential for a student perusing an industrial career in the biotechnology sector; in addition they will be important for an academic career in Chemical or (Bio)engineering.

Career development:

• Institutional and Peer Support: you will benefit from an excellent supportive environment at the School of Engineering within the Institute for Bioengineering at The University of Edinburgh.
• International Collaboration: the successful student will also have to opportunity visit and interact with our network of international collaborators.
• Impactful publications and dissemination: the student will also benefit from strong support towards publications in world class journals (including the ACS Nano and Lab on a Chip) and participation in major conferences (including the Biophysical Meeting and the European Biophysical Congress).
• Teaching and Research Development: the potential student will have the opportunity (once trained and familiar with relevant materials) to become a teaching assistant for courses offered at the School of Engineering.

Please note this position will remain open until filled. Please contact tom.robinson@ed.ac.uk before applying.

https://www.eng.ed.ac.uk/about/people/dr-tom-robinson

Relevant publications:

Shetty, S. C. et al. (2021) ‘Directed Signaling Cascades in Monodisperse Artificial Eukaryotic Cells’, ACS Nano. American Chemical Society, 15(10), pp. 15656–15666. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04219.

Yandrapalli, N. et al. (2021) ‘Surfactant-free production of biomimetic giant unilamellar vesicles using PDMS-based microfluidics’, Communications Chemistry. Nature Publishing Group, 4(1), p. 100. doi: 10.1038/s42004-021-00530-1.

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in any of these areas Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Bioengineering or related discipline, possibly supported by an MSc Degree.

Experimental experience in one or several of the following areas would be advantageous:

• Microfluidics
• Fluorescence microscopy
• Image analysis / analysis of reaction kinetics data

Previous experience with biological samples, such as protein reconstitution, lipid vesicles (e.g. GUVs or LUVs), or cell-free expression.

Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Full funding (tuition fees + stipend) is available for Home and Overseas applicants.

Further information and other funding options.

The conversion of biomass into value-added platform chemicals can greatly alleviate the reliance on fossil feedstock. Biomass alcohol such as benzyl alcohol is one of the important biomass-derived platform compounds and a significant feedstock, which are used to produce a series of value-added derivatives, such as benzaldehyde, hydrobenzoin, benzoin, and deoxybenzoin. Among these derivatives, the C-C coupling chemicals, hydrobenzoin, benzoin, and deoxybenzoin have higher value than the rest and can be used as the versatile intermediates for the production of high value-added downstream products, such as various chemical additives, dyestuff, pharmaceuticals as well as the precursor of photo initiator. However, in the conventional process, the synthesis of above-mentioned C-C coupling products focuses on sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of alkenes, and requires the use of toxic cyanide and metal complex catalysts, resulting in a host of by-products, therefore limits the development of the traditional biomass alcohol conversion.

Photocatalysis has recently emerged as a promising way for benzyl alcohol conversion because of the low energy consumption, mild reaction conditions and high selectivity. However, the reaction mainly promoted by UV light, which is a very small portion of sunlight resource. This project will develop visible-light driven photocatalysts with suitable band levels to facilitate sunlight absorbtion and create separated electrons and holes for redox reactions, particularly the photocatalytic coupling of benzyl alcohol to C-C coupling compounds with non-toxic and high selectivity catalytic process. In addition, it is important to improve the student the experimental skill, materials characterization skill and data analysis skill.

Student who joins our group will learn the fundamentals of photocatalytic reactions and photocatalyst synthesis, the use of GC, BET, FTIR, GCMS, XPS, SEM and chemical analysis to understand the reaction mechanisms. Furthermore, the student will be trained in the critical analysis of experimental data, material characterization and writing skills.

Primary objectives:

1. Train the student with photocatalytic experimental skills.

2. Teach the student how to synthesise photocatalysts.

3. Develop the student with analytical skills of experimental data and characterization, the use of GC, BET, FTIR, GCMS, XPS, SEM and chemical analysis to understand the reaction mechanisms.

4. Improve the student with critical thinking and writing abilities.

5. Reduce the by-product benzaldehyde and increase the yields of C-C coupling products.

6. Increase the selectivity of a specific product (hydrobenzoin, deoxybenzoin or benzoin).

7. Understand the mechanism of the photocatalytic C-C coupling reaction.

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

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. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Further information and other funding options.

The antimicrobial coating industry is experiencing rapid growth as the need to prevent the serious challenges posed by bacterial adhesion and the subsequent formation of biofilms on device surfaces becomes increasingly critical. Biofilm formation can lead to chronic infections, device failures, and significant healthcare complications, making the development of effective antimicrobial coatings more vital than ever. At the Institute for Bioengineering at the University of Edinburgh, we are launching a cutting-edge project that combines advanced anti-adhesive strategies to prevent bacterial attachment with bactericidal methods to create highly effective antimicrobial coatings.

This innovative research aims to tackle the global issue of infection control by developing coatings that not only resist bacterial adhesion but also actively kill bacteria, offering a dual approach to ensuring safer, longer-lasting medical and industrial devices. By integrating state-of-the-art materials and technologies, our goal is to enhance the performance of antimicrobial surfaces and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future.

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled candidate with hands-on experience in materials science, nanotechnology, chemistry, or biology to join this exciting project. The ideal candidate will be passionate about advancing science and technology in the field of antimicrobial solutions and eager to make a tangible impact on public health. Join us at the forefront of this dynamic industry and contribute to groundbreaking research that could revolutionize infection prevention and device safety.

Chemical Engineering for Biology & Medicine website: https://xianfengchen.wixsite.com/biomaterials

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

Minimum entry qualification – an Honours degree at 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in chemical engineering, chemistry, materials science, biomedical engineering, or cell biology.

English language requirements need to be satisfied by EU/Overseas applicants.  Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Applications are welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Further information and other funding options.

Approximately 2 million individuals globally suffer from kidney failure, necessitating treatment options such as transplantation and dialysis. Transplantation is limited by donor availability, forcing many to rely on HD. Whereas transplant recipients exhibit approximately 80% survival rates five years post-procedure, those undergoing HD have less than a 50% chance of surviving the same period due to what's known as “residual uremic syndrome” resulting from the incomplete removal of certain uremic toxins during HD, significantly contributing to the higher mortality observed in these patients.

Current HD technologies rely on membranes which are limited by size, thus unable to effectively eliminate larger uremic toxins from the patient's bloodstream. This approach lacks precision and effectiveness as it is designed on small molecules like urea and fails to address other, more harmful toxins.

The first crucial step is to clearly identify the metabolites associated with adverse effects. This task can be addressed using a combination of metabolomics and AI. Metabolomics can detect a wide range of metabolites, some of which may play critical roles in the health outcomes of patients with kidney failure.

Three studies have investigated the link between serum metabolites and mortality in patients with kidney disease, but they have yielded inconsistent results regarding which metabolites are implicated, underscoring the need for further research. The integration of metabolomics with AI may also enhance our understanding of the mechanisms: this deeper insight is essential for developing more effective HD treatments that can mitigate the adverse effects. A comprehensive AI-based analysis of the existing data is essential, laying the groundwork for future large-scale metabolomics research. However, identifying these metabolites is just the initial step. The ultimate goal is to leverage this information to enhance dialysis treatments by developing materials capable of efficiently capturing the most toxic molecules. AI has the potential to expedite the exploration of the vast materials space. Achieving both the identification of harmful metabolites and the development of effective materials is an ambitious task, given the multitude of toxins and materials involved.

Fortunately, AI technologies can greatly accelerate progress towards these dual objectives.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-67156562

Such study will allow to correlate specific materials features (e.g. chemical composition and porosity descriptors) to the ability of the filtering materials of removing toxic molecules correlated to mortality. This work will provide guidelines for material synthesis and/or selection in the design of more efficient and tailored HD treatment which can reduce patients’ mortality.

References: [1] The Kidney Project, University of California San Francisco, https://pharm.ucsf.edu/kidney [2] S. Al Awadhi et al, A Metabolomics Approach to Identify Metabolites Associated With Mortality in Patients Receiving Maintenance Hemodialysis, Kidney Int Rep 2024 9, 2718–26. [3] S. Kalim et al., A Plasma Long‐Chain Acylcarnitine Predicts Cardiovascular Mortality in Incident Dialysis Patients, J American Heart Association 2, 2013. [4] Hu, J.-R., et al Serum Metabolites and Cardiac Death in Patients on Hemodialysis, Clin J Am Society of Nephrology 14(5): 747-749, 2019. [5] https://nurturebiobank.org/, visited on 4th October 2024 [6] T. Fabiani et al., In silico screening of nanoporous materials for urea removal in hemodialysis applications, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2023, 25, 24069. [7] REDIAL, redefining hemodialysis with data-driven materials innovation, project https://www.suspromgroup.eng.ed.ac.uk/redial

https://www.suspromgroup.eng.ed.ac.uk/redial

https://www.ai4biomed.io/research/projects-2025/#cmsm

https://www.ai4biomed.io/

Application deadline: 20 January 2025

We offer fully funded 4-year studentships, covering tuition fees, stipend (£19,237 in 2024/25) and an individual budget for travel and research costs. There are also allowances for sick pay, maternity leave and other purposes. Funding has open eligibility regardless of your nationality and domicile.

The CDT offers additional funding for public engagement activities, evaluation experiments and research visits.

Each student will also benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, including unique data and computational resources. The CDT has access to EPCC facilities including the University’s HPC Centre of excellence offering unique AI capability (Cerebras CS-1/CS2, Graphcore Bow Pod), supercomputing (ARCHER2, DiRAC, Cirrus), and analytics platforms, assisted by over 100 technology experts. EIDF will provide research compute capacity for AI via a new cluster of 136 Nvidia A-100 GPU cards.

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

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. Further information on English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants.

Tuition fees + stipend are available for Home/EU and International students

CDT AI in Biomedical Innovation Conditions

We offer fully funded 4-year studentships, covering tuition fees, stipend (£19,237 in 2024/25) and an individual budget for travel and research costs. There are also allowances for sick pay, maternity leave and other purposes. Funding has open eligibility regardless of your nationality and domicile.

The CDT offers additional funding for public engagement activities, evaluation experiments and research visits.

Each student will also benefit from state-of-the-art facilities, including unique data and computational resources. The CDT has access to EPCC facilities including the University’s HPC Centre of excellence offering unique AI capability (Cerebras CS-1/CS2, Graphcore Bow Pod), supercomputing (ARCHER2, DiRAC, Cirrus), and analytics platforms, assisted by over 100 technology experts. EIDF will provide research compute capacity for AI via a new cluster of 136 Nvidia A-100 GPU cards.

Further information and other funding options.

https://suspromgroup.eng.ed.ac.uk/

I joined the University of Edinburgh in 2020 as Chair in Thermodynamics of Materials and Processes after working 15 years at the University of Bologna, Italy‚ where I hold an Associate Professorship in Chemical Engineering. My international experience includes research stays at the North Carolina State University (USA), National Technical University of Athens (Greece), Universidad Nacional del Sur (Argentina), University of Melbourne (Australia). My work is focused on the study and development of materials, processes and simulation methods for fluid separations, CO₂ capture, biofuels upgrading, water purification, packaging, biomedical processes.   The research approach is problem-oriented and adopts a systematic strategy that encompasses experimental testing, molecular, macroscopic and multiscale modeling tools.  

Go to the  Group SusProM Website 

-PhD in Chemical Engineering, 2002, University of Bologna -Master Degree in Chemical Engineering, 1998, University of Bologna

-Chair of the Working Party on Thermodynamics and Transport Properties, European Federation of Chemical Engineers (EFCE) , 2022-present 

-Treasurer and Vice President, European Membrane Society Council, 2019-2023  

Associate Member of IChemE Member of AIDIC (Italian Association of Chemical Engineering) Member of European Membrane Society Member of AIChE

-Member of the Editorial Board of Membranes

-Editor of the Special Issue "Fundamentals of Transport in Polymers and Membranes—Honorary Issue for Professor Giulio C. Sarti" 2022 

-Editor of the Special Issue "Gas Transport in Glassy Polymers" 2020-2021

-Watch my webinar “Membranes for CO₂ Capture: Thermodynamic aspects” given during the EFCE Spotlight Talks, December 3rd 2020.  Organized by the European Federation of Chemical Engineers. -Host of the European Membrane Society Live Webinars Series, watch them on Youtube 

https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/weili-group/

I joined the University of Edinburgh (UoE) in 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering. I studied chemical engineering at the Nanjing University of Technology, obtaining a BEng with Highest Distinction in 2003 and PhD in 2008. In the last year of my PhD, my first employment started at The University of Hong Kong (Department of Chemistry). The next position was at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Department of Physics) from 2010 to 2013 a. Early 2013, I moved to the University of Liverpool (Department of Physics) and assisted to set up a new research group. Before I joined UoE, I had a four-month spell working in the National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, and five-year experience as Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, Aston University.

2016              Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching for Higher Education in the UK. 2003-2008     Nanjing University of Technology (NJUT), PhD in Chemical Engineering. 1999-2003     NJUT, BEng (1st Honours) in Chemical Engineering.

IChemE, RSC, EPSRC Associate Peer Review College

Chemical Engineering Design 4 (CHEE10010) - Course Organiser

Supervising students' projects in various chemical engineering courses: Study Project 4, Research Project 5, etc.

1.    Over 10 years’ expertise in nanomaterials, photocatalysis, greenhouse gas removal, reaction engineering,  electrochemistry and physical chemistry. 2.    Extensive practices on preparation and characterization of nanomaterials, design and evaluation of photocatalytic reactions/photoreactors, antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials.   3.    Leading multidisciplinary projects involving both academic and industral resources, comprehensive collaboration and interpersonal skills in a team environment. 4.    Skills in electron microscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy, thermal analysis, chromatography, atomic force microscopy, X-ray crystallography and synchrotron radiation spectroscopy

https://blogs.ed.ac.uk/weili-group/

I joined the University of Edinburgh (UoE) in 2021 as a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering. I studied chemical engineering at the Nanjing University of Technology, obtaining a BEng with Highest Distinction in 2003 and PhD in 2008. In the last year of my PhD, my first employment started at The University of Hong Kong (Department of Chemistry). The next position was at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Department of Physics) from 2010 to 2013 a. Early 2013, I moved to the University of Liverpool (Department of Physics) and assisted to set up a new research group. Before I joined UoE, I had a four-month spell working in the National Graphene Institute, University of Manchester, and five-year experience as Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, Aston University.

2016              Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching for Higher Education in the UK. 2003-2008     Nanjing University of Technology (NJUT), PhD in Chemical Engineering. 1999-2003     NJUT, BEng (1st Honours) in Chemical Engineering.

IChemE, RSC, EPSRC Associate Peer Review College

Chemical Engineering Design 4 (CHEE10010) - Course Organiser

Supervising students' projects in various chemical engineering courses: Study Project 4, Research Project 5, etc.

1.    Over 10 years’ expertise in nanomaterials, photocatalysis, greenhouse gas removal, reaction engineering,  electrochemistry and physical chemistry. 2.    Extensive practices on preparation and characterization of nanomaterials, design and evaluation of photocatalytic reactions/photoreactors, antimicrobial properties of nanomaterials.   3.    Leading multidisciplinary projects involving both academic and industral resources, comprehensive collaboration and interpersonal skills in a team environment. 4.    Skills in electron microscopy, time-resolved spectroscopy, thermal analysis, chromatography, atomic force microscopy, X-ray crystallography and synchrotron radiation spectroscopy