{"id":895,"date":"2025-11-03T15:13:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T15:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/?p=895"},"modified":"2025-11-03T16:03:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T16:03:55","slug":"phd-in-process-industries-net-zero-chemical-engineering-for-sustainable-wastewater-to-resource-systems-at-newcastle-university-uk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/?p=895","title":{"rendered":"PhD in Process Industries: Net Zero &#8211; Chemical Engineering for Sustainable Wastewater-to-Resource Systems at Newcastle University, UK"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"690\" src=\"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Newcastle-University-2-1024x690.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-899\" srcset=\"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Newcastle-University-2-1024x690.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Newcastle-University-2-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Newcastle-University-2-768x518.jpg 768w, https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Newcastle-University-2-1320x890.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Newcastle-University-2.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">default<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This project is part of the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/pinzcdt.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ)<\/a>. The aim of the PINZ CDT is to train the next generation of chemical engineers and chemists to develop the new processes, process technologies and green chemistries required for the process industries\u2019 transition to Net Zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This PhD will focus on scaling up and optimising MEC technology for real industrial wastewater, bridging fundamental science with engineering design and energy\/resource recovery. The student will investigate how process intensification, energy integration, and resource recovery pathways can be combined to make MECs economically and environmentally viable at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project is part funded by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/metzero.co.uk\/\">MetZero<\/a>&nbsp;and will involve close collaboration with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Research Aims:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Process Intensification &amp; Scale-Up<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Design and evaluate scalable MEC architectures (cassette and containerised).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use CFD modelling and lab pilots to optimise hydraulics, mass transfer, and electrode configurations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Energy Integration<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Quantify full energy balances of MEC operation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Explore integration with renewable energy and wastewater treatment plant energy flows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Benchmark kWh saved per kg COD removed to build the business case.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resource Recovery Pathways<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Optimise MEC conditions for selective recovery of hydrogen, ammonia, and nutrients.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assess techno-economic potential for integration into breweries, distilleries, and utilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Number Of Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Start Date<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1 October 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Award Duration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>4 years<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Application Closing Date<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>28 November 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Supervisors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/engineering\/staff\/profile\/richardlaw2.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Richard Law<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncl.ac.uk\/engineering\/staff\/profile\/elizabethheidrich.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr Elizabeth Heidrich<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Eligibility Criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project. We\u2019re looking for motivated candidates with a background in chemical engineering, bioelectrochemical engineering, environmental engineering, or related disciplines. Interest in sustainability, circular economy, and process innovation is essential. Good organisational and communication skills, and the ability to work independently and in a team are essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Home students are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How To Apply<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You must apply through the University&#8217;s<a href=\"https:\/\/applyto.newcastle.ac.uk\/SignIn?returnUrl=\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>Apply to Newcastle Portal<\/strong><\/a>. Once registered, select \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/applyto.newcastle.ac.uk\/SignIn?returnUrl=\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Create a Postgraduate Application<\/a>\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Use \u2018Course Search\u2019 to identify your programme of study:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Search for the \u2018Course Title\u2019 using the programme code:<strong>&nbsp;8856F<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leave the \u2018Research Area\u2019 blank<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select \u2018<strong>PhD in Process Industries; Net Zero (PINZ)<\/strong>&#8216; as the programme of study<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You will then need to provide the following information in the \u2018Further Details\u2019 section:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A \u2018Personal Statement\u2019 (this is a mandatory field) &#8211; upload a document or write a statement directly into the application form&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The studentship code&nbsp;<strong>PINZ01-26<\/strong>&nbsp;in the \u2018Studentship\/Partnership Reference\u2019 field&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u2018Research Proposal\u2019 &#8211; when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal \u2013 select \u2018Write Proposal\u2019. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You must submit one application per studentship, you cannot apply for multiple studentships on one application.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Contact Details:&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:pinz.cdt@ncl.ac.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">pinz.cdt@ncl.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Overview This project is part of the&nbsp;EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ). The<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[149],"class_list":["post-895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-scholarship","tag-chemical-engineering"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=895"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":901,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/895\/revisions\/901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scholarshipidea.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}