Apply Now

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Next-generation catalysts for CO2 to methanol conversion 

About the Project

Background: The chemicals industry depends on fossil feedstocks and accounts for up to 7% of global CO2 emissions. Methanol is a versatile chemical feedstock that can be converted into the raw materials for producing plastics, paints, fine chemicals, and liquid aviation fuel. Methanol can be produced renewably via hydrogenation of CO2 (captured from cement and steel production, or directly from the air) with green hydrogen (produced via electrolysis of water using renewable electricity). 

CO2 hydrogenation catalysts are complex materials containing several different metals that cooperate to yield methanol with high selectively and activity. As a ‘promoter element’, gallium can convert

transition metals (e.g. iron, ruthenium, cobalt, nickel, copper) into selective catalysts for methanol synthesis, whilst suppressing undesired pathways such as methane production, but the chemistry behind this effect is poorly understood. Understanding the interaction between the catalyst and reactants at the molecular level will be crucial to develop the next generation of CO2 hydrogenation catalysts. 

Project: We will prepare new types of gallium-containing mixed metal complexes and study their novel modes of reactivity at the molecular level, providing a firm mechanistic basis upon which to design, test, and develop catalysts. 

By using specially designed ligands, we will target complexes with defined molecular structures, allowing CO2 reduction and hydrogenation chemistry to be studied in precise detail. The molecular-level insight gained will be used to design and test new heterogeneous catalysts containing gallium promoters, with a focus on identifying and optimising the active sites responsible for methanol synthesis. 

The successful candidate will utilise a variety of characterisation techniques such as single crystal/powder X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy to characterise novel complexes and catalysts. X-ray absorption and X-ray emission spectroscopy will also be utilised to identify the active species during catalysis. The Morris group also collaborates with expert computational chemists to understand aspects of electronic structure and reaction mechanism. 

This project will be co-supervised by Dr Louis Morris and Dr Russell Taylor. The successful candidate will be a member of both Morris and Taylor groups, and benefit from being part of the Chemistry for Sustainability theme within the Department. Training will be provided in underpinning areas of air-sensitive synthetic chemistry, homo- and heterogeneous catalysis, inorganic materials synthesis, characterisation methods, and catalyst testing.  

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Louis Morris: louis.morris@durham.ac.uk 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of a 2:1 integrated undergraduate Masters degree in Chemistry (MChem) or another relevant degree with sufficient focus on aspects of inorganic chemistry and catalysis
  (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) . 

• Experience in the undertaking of synthetic laboratory-based practical work and a good understanding of Health and Safety requirements essential for working in a synthetic chemistry laboratory.

• Experience of working under inert-gas conditions using Schlenk line and glove box techniques is desirable but not essential.

• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

 

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/MORRIS in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

AI-driven design of solar photothermal materials for sustainable recovery of lithium and critical materials

About the Project

Lithium and other critical materials are essential for batteries, electric vehicles and renewable energy, but recovering them today often relies on vast evaporation ponds or energy-hungry chemical processing. What if sunlight alone could do much of that work, faster and with a far smaller carbon footprint? 

One promising approach is to place solar-absorbing materials on the surface of brines or recycling streams. They turn sunlight into heat right where the water evaporates, concentrating valuable elements such as lithium using only solar energy. How well they work depends strongly on the material and its structure, and finding the best combination is still mostly done by trial and error in the lab, which is slow and expensive. 

In this PhD you will combine AI and physics-based simulation to speed up the discovery of better solar evaporation materials, evaluating designs on a computer so that only the most promising ones need to be made in the lab. Specifically, you will: 

• build simulation models that link how a material absorbs light, how it heats up, and how quickly water evaporates and minerals concentrate 
• train machine learning models, using open materials databases and AI tools already developed in our group, to identify the best designs made from abundant, low-cost and non-toxic materials 
• compare the most promising designs with published experimental results, and assess their cost and carbon savings against current recovery methods 

The project is fully computational, with no lab work involved. It sits where photonics, heat transfer, materials science and AI meet, so you will learn across all of these areas. You will build skills in scientific programming, simulation, machine learning and sustainability assessment, which are useful across research and industry. 

You will be supervised by Dr Mehdi Hedayati, who uses AI to design optical and energy materials, and Dr Huashan Bao, who works on solar thermal energy and heat and mass transfer, both in the Department of Engineering at Durham. You will join a supportive, collaborative group and the wider ReNU+ cohort, training alongside other doctoral researchers working on net zero across three universities. 

We welcome applicants with backgrounds in engineering, physics, materials science, chemistry, computer science or mathematics. You don't need prior experience in photonics, heat transfer or machine learning, just curiosity, motivation and a willingness to learn. Some programming experience (for example Python or MATLAB) would be helpful but is not essential. 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Mehdi Hedayati: mehdi.keshavarz-hedayati@durham.ac.uk  

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate integrated Masters degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, or closely related subject, or International equivalent
   (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) . 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/HEDAYATI in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Please note that ReNU⁺ studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis between projects at Durham, and that there are fewer scholarships available than the number of projects advertised.

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Discovery chemistry for singlet fission materials to retrofit silicon solar cells 

About the Project

Silicon solar cells generate most of the world’s solar electricity, yet they waste much of the energy in blue and green sunlight as heat. What if a thin coating of π-conjugated organic semiconductor molecules could put some of that energy back to work, without replacing existing panels? Finding those molecules is a synthesis problem, and this PhD puts it at the centre. 

Singlet fission (SF) is a process in which certain organic molecules turn one high-energy photon into two excited states. Used as a coating, they could help silicon cells exceed their ~33% theoretical efficiency limit. The bottleneck is discovery: confirming SF needs specialist, time-consuming ultrafast laser spectroscopy, so only a handful of molecules are tested each year. 

You will use organic synthesis to break this bottleneck. Borrowing ideas from pharmaceutical screening, you will make libraries of π-conjugated molecules and test them with a chemical assay that any synthetic laboratory could run. Our early results show that SF can drive a simple photochemical reaction, read out by LC-MS and NMR from microgram samples with no laser needed. This could allow thousands of molecules to be tested and optimised. 

Your research will include: 

Synthesis: design and make π-conjugated molecules, using methods such as Pd cross-coupling and Grignard reactions. 

Screening and validation: test them in parallel at microgram scale under LED light, aiming to raise throughput from ~1–10 to 50–100 tests per week, while our collaborators confirm your best molecules by ultrafast spectroscopy. 

Translation: coat them onto silicon solar cells to test whether they boost photocurrent, and which parameters must be kept under control when scaling up. 

Meeting net-zero targets depends on generating far more electricity from solar, and quickly. Most of that capacity is, and will remain, silicon, and most of a panel’s lifecycle emissions are locked in when it is manufactured. Raising the output of panels that are already installed could therefore cut the carbon of solar electricity: each panel would repay its embodied carbon sooner and could displace more fossil generation, without new panels, factories or land. Because the coating has its own environmental cost, you will weigh it against the energy it could harvest over a panel’s lifetime. We aim to produce open protocols so any laboratory can screen for SF, and a structure–property database that could support future machine-learning work. 

Panels may be used for solar grazing, so we will also consider potential exposure of soils, plants and livestock, and talk to photovoltaic and agricultural stakeholders about practical requirements to feed into molecule and coating design. 

You will deepen your skills in multi-step and parallel synthesis, purification, and LC-MS and NMR quantification, in a group that develops water-compatible on-DNA chemistry and a laboratory working towards LEAF accreditation. Photochemistry and photoredox catalysis will become a key part of your work. You will also gain experience in high-throughput experimentation, solar cell testing and life-cycle analysis, and join the ReNU⁺ four-year cohort training programme alongside students from Durham, Newcastle and Northumbria. 

This project is designed for graduates in organic or materials chemistry, and experience of organic synthesis is strongly preferred. You do not need any background in photochemistry, photoredox catalysis, singlet fission or solar cells, just curiosity, motivation and a willingness to learn. You will be supervised by Jeffrey Gorman and Prof Gareth Williams in the Department of Chemistry at Durham University. 

For informal enquiries please contact Jeffrey Gorman: jeffrey.e.gorman@durham.ac.uk 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate integrated Masters degree in Chemistry, Natural Sciences, or Materials Science, (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University). 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/GORMAN in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Turning Green Infrastructure into Network Infrastructure: Battery-Free Ambient IoT Hosted on Urban Trees

About the Project

Background: Wireless devices with no battery, powered by radio energy from the network and replying by reflecting it back, have just entered the mobile standard. 3GPP Release 19 calls them Ambient IoT, a microwatt device class with no battery and no transmitter of its own, and zero-energy devices like these are central to the 6G vision of massive, sustainable urban sensing. So far the standard covers only indoor use such as warehouse inventory. 

Why trees: Outdoors is where battery-free devices matter most, and the structures that host them set their value. Lampposts and buildings already have power, so a conventional powered device will do. The valuable hosts are those mains power cannot reach, and cities have millions of them in their trees. London alone has 8.4 million, over a million of them publicly managed, unpowered, unwired, and standing where canopy-level environmental data needs to be captured, from which trees are thirsty or stressed to the air and temperature under the canopy. Councils need that data and have no practical way to collect it at scale. Earlier tree-mounted sensors needed ground-tethered generators or batteries. The battery-free radio route has not been tried, and this project treats urban trees as hosts for the outdoor zero-power layer of future wireless networks, a first step towards turning green infrastructure into network infrastructure. 

The research: Three assumptions of existing work fail on a tree, and each becomes a strand of the PhD. First, Ambient IoT link budgets assume indoor propagation, and vegetation models describe signals passing through a canopy, not power delivered to a device mounted on the tree itself. You will measure what arrives in real streets across seasons. Second, antenna and rectifier design assumes a stable environment, but a living trunk is a lossy load whose electrical properties shift with water content and season, detuning the device where single decibels are the difference between working and failing. You will co-design a trunk-mounted antenna and rectifier robust to that drift. Third, the device must run on two energy sources with opposite behaviour, a weak but constant ambient radio background and strong but occasional bursts from a reader. No microwatt architecture manages this pairing yet, and you will design one, with cold start, storage sizing and a duty-cycled sensing payload. The project culminates in a season-long deployment on Durham campus trees, with datasets and hardware shared openly. 

Skills and training: This is a systems project by design. You will advance two components, the trunk-mounted rectenna and the microwatt energy management circuit, and integrate them with storage, sensing and backscatter communication into a working outdoor system, a first for this device class. You will design with electromagnetic and circuit simulation tools, develop the hardware in our laboratories and cleanroom, characterise it at component and system level, and validate it outdoors. Engineers who can carry an end-to-end electronics system from component design through integration to field deployment are in short supply in the UK electronics sector, and that is the training this project gives. 

Who we are looking for: We welcome applicants from electronic, electrical or communications engineering, physics, or a related subject. A solid grounding in electronics or electromagnetics, enthusiasm for hands-on work and a willingness to learn across disciplines matter most. Prior experience in RF component design and testing, PCB design or circuit prototyping is valuable, and programming or data skills are a plus, since there is room to shape part of the project around them. 

Supervision and cohort: The supervisory team spans RF systems, semiconductor devices and microfabrication, and you will join the ReNU+ cohort across energy and sustainability at Durham, Newcastle and Northumbria. 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Roy Simorangkir: roy.b.simorangkir@durham.ac.uk  

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate integrated Masters degree in Electronic, Electrical or Communications Engineering, Physics, or closely related subject (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University). 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/SIMORANGKIR in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Please note that ReNU⁺ studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis between projects at Durham, and that there are fewer scholarships available than the number of projects advertised.

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Life-Cycle Driven Design of Sustainable Electric Machines

About the Project

Electric machines are essential to our everyday lives, powering everything from electric vehicles to wind turbines, but making them more sustainable is a key challenge in achieving net-zero emission targets. Current electric machine designs focus mainly on efficiency, performance and cost, often overlooking their environmental impact, material use and long-term reliability. This PhD project aims to develop a new approach to designing electric machines that considers their entire life cycle, from material selection and manufacturing to operation and end-of-life recycling. Overall, this PhD project aims helping to reduce carbon emissions, minimise resource consumption and extend the lifespan of electric machine technologies.  

Working closely with industrial partner, the research will combine advanced computer modelling, design optimisation and environmental assessment to develop electric machines that are efficient, reliable, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, while reducing dependence on critical raw materials.  

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to address real-world engineering challenges, gain experience in advanced simulation and sustainable design techniques, and collaborate with industry experts, while contributing to the future of clean energy and electrification. The research will contribute to the development of next-generation electric machines and support more sustainable manufacturing and resilient supply chains.  

Help shape the future of sustainable electric machines and clean energy technologies! 

For informal enquiries please contact Dr Nur Sarma : nur.sarma@durham.ac.uk

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate integrated Masters degree in Electrical or Electronic Engineering, or closely related subject (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) in Engineering, Materials, Physics or a closely related field. 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

• A background or strong interest in electrical machines, numerical modelling, simulation, optimisation or sustainable engineering would be advantageous.

• Experience with engineering simulation tools would be desirable but is not essential.

• Applicants should demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills and an interest in interdisciplinary research addressing the challenges of net-zero technologies.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/SARMA in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Please note that ReNU⁺ studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis between projects at Durham, and that there are fewer scholarships available than the number of projects advertised.

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Membrane Technologies for Selective Rare Earth Metal Recovery and Recycling 

About the Project

Rare earth metals are essential to electric vehicles, wind turbines and modern electronics, but separating and recovering them remains energy-intensive and chemically demanding. What if we could develop a fundamentally different approach, using chemical gradients to control how metals move across membranes? 

The project. Biological cells use membrane transport systems to move substances between compartments, sometimes against their natural concentration gradients. This project asks whether we can harness similar principles in synthetic membranes to control the transport and separation of rare earth metals. 

The research will focus on lanthanides, a family of metals with remarkably similar chemical properties that make them difficult to separate. You will investigate how molecular recognition, membrane composition and salt concentration gradients influence metal transport. Can a chemical gradient drive the directional movement of a metal, even against its concentration gradient? Can this behaviour be harnessed to achieve selective separation? And could multiple membrane stages be combined to improve recovery? 

These are fundamental questions about how molecules interact, move and behave in nonequilibrium systems. Answering them could also open up a new approach to recovering critical materials from complex waste streams, with potentially transformative implications for recycling and more sustainable supply chains. 

Why this project? The project combines fundamental chemistry with an ambitious applied challenge. Rather than simply optimising an existing separation process, you will investigate new principles for controlling molecular transport and explore how they might be used to transform metal recovery. 

Based in Durham University's Department of Chemistry, you will work across chemistry and Earth sciences, with additional expertise in lanthanide chemistry from the University of Edinburgh. You will develop skills in membrane experiments, molecular recognition, spectroscopy and quantitative kinetic analysis, while learning to connect molecular-level mechanisms with real-world materials challenges. 

Who should apply? We welcome applicants from chemistry, natural sciences, chemical engineering and related disciplines. Previous experience in membrane transport, supramolecular chemistry or rare earth recovery is not required. We are looking for someone curious about how chemical systems work, interested in sustainability and keen to tackle challenging scientific questions with practical implications.  

For informal enquiries please contact: Dr Stefan Borsley: stefan.h.borsley@durham.ac.uk

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 integrated Masters undergraduate degree in Chemistry (or other relevant degree with sufficient focus on one of these areas, e.g. Natural Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science),(or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) . 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/BORSLEY in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Please note that ReNU⁺ studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis between projects at Durham, and that there are fewer scholarships available than the number of projects advertised.

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Simulation and Analysis of Ultra-High Efficiency Free-Piston Engine Power Generators

About the Project

Achieving thermal efficiencies beyond 50% represents a transformative opportunity for low-carbon power generation. Dual-piston Free-Piston Engine Generators (FPEGs), which directly couple a linear combustion engine to an electrical generator, offer a fundamentally new pathway to highly efficient, compact, and fuel-flexible power systems. These devices have strong potential in hybrid vehicles, distributed generation, and off-grid energy systems where efficiency, robustness, and fuel flexibility are critical. 

This PhD project aims to deliver a step change in FPEG performance by combining first-of-a-kind experimental data with advanced computational modelling and artificial intelligence-driven control. Building on unique datasets generated by the University in collaboration with H2CHP Ltd, the research will address key technical barriers that currently limit efficiency, stability, and controllability in free-piston systems. 

The project will develop high-fidelity numerical models of dual-piston FPEGs using advanced moving-mesh CFD coupled with detailed chemical kinetics. These models will be used to analyse and optimise gas exchange, combustion dynamics, and energy conversion processes across a range of net-zero fuels, including hydrogen, ammonia, and synthetic e-fuels. Particular emphasis will be placed on low-temperature combustion strategies (such as HCCI and RCCI) which offer the potential for ultra-high efficiency with inherently low emissions when properly controlled. 

A defining innovation of this research is the integration of AI-based control frameworks into the engine design process. Reinforcement learning and machine-learning algorithms will be trained on large simulation datasets to develop adaptive control strategies capable of real-time optimisation of piston motion, combustion phasing, and electrical load management. This approach moves beyond traditional rule-based control, enabling the engine to respond intelligently to changing operating conditions, fuels, and power demands. 

The successful candidate will gain expertise at the intersection of combustion science, computational fluid dynamics, machine learning, and advanced energy systems, while working on a technology with clear commercial and societal relevance. The project offers a rare opportunity to contribute to the development of next-generation net-zero power generators, combining fundamental research with strong industrial engagement and a clear pathway to real-world impact. 

For informal enquiries please contact Prof Andrew Smallbone: andrew.smallbone@durham.ac.uk 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate integrated Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related subject,  (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University). 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/PISTON in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) with an additional £2500 per year and full tuition fees. 

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Flexible Valve Control for Disruptive, High-Efficiency Clean-Fuelled Power Generators 

About the Project

The global transition to net-zero demands radically new approaches to power generation. High-power, compact engines fuelled by ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol have the potential to deliver clean, reliable electricity for remote communities, off-grid infrastructure, and resilient backup systems. Unlocking this potential, however, requires a step-change in engine design, control, and efficiency. 

This PhD project will explore a new generation of ultra-high-efficiency free-piston engines (FPEs) equipped with fully flexible valve control. Unlike conventional engines constrained by crankshafts and fixed valve events, free-piston architectures offer unprecedented thermodynamic freedom. When combined with adaptive valve actuation, they enable real-time optimisation of combustion, efficiency, and emissions across multiple low-carbon fuels. 

The research will focus on developing and applying advanced control strategies that exploit this freedom. The student will investigate innovative operating modes including variable bounce chambers, two-stroke and four-stroke operation, and dynamically optimised combustion phasing to push engine efficiency beyond current state-of-the-art limits while minimising pollutant formation. 

The project will begin with high-fidelity numerical modelling of the complete engine system, using state-of-the-art simulation tools to evaluate performance across hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol operation. Key metrics such as thermal efficiency, combustion stability, load response, and emissions will be analysed under a wide range of valve, fuelling, and control strategies. These models will directly inform experimental work, creating a tightly coupled simulation–experiment feedback loop. 

A defining feature of the PhD is hands-on experimental validation. The student will work closely with a UK-based engine technology start-up developing free-piston systems for net-zero power generation. This collaboration provides a rare opportunity to test novel control strategies on a real prototype engine, bridging fundamental research and industrial deployment. The student will design and implement control algorithms for valve timing, fuelling, and energy recovery, aiming for demonstrable gains in efficiency, emissions, and operational flexibility. 

This project is ideally suited to a highly motivated student interested in advanced thermodynamics, combustion, control systems, and clean energy technologies. It offers training in cutting-edge simulation, experimental engine research, and industry-aligned innovation—equipping the successful candidate with skills highly valued in both academia and the clean-energy sector. 

For informal enquiries please contact Prof Andrew Smallbone: andrew.smallbone@durham.ac.uk 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 2:1 undergraduate integrated Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related subject, (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University). 
• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/VALVE in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) with an additional £2500 per year and full tuition fees. 

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027 

 

 

This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2027 11:59pm

Microbial and Molecular Drivers of Feedstock Co-Digestion for Resilient Biomethane Production

Can we unlock more renewable energy from organic waste by understanding the invisible microbial communities that power it?

Every day, enormous quantities of organic waste contain energy that could be recovered as renewable gas. Anaerobic digestion can turn these materials into valuable biogas, but a challenge remains: while combining different wastes can boost methane production, the wrong combinations can disrupt microbial communities, reduce efficiency, and even cause digesters to fail. Why do some mixtures work while others don't? And could microorganisms hold the key to making biomethane production more predictable and resilient?

This PhD project at Durham University, developed in collaboration with Moeve (Spain), will tackle these questions by exploring the hidden microbial processes that determine the success or failure of feedstock co-digestion. Rather than simply measuring how much methane is produced, you will investigate why microbial communities thrive, struggle or recover under different conditions, and whether their responses can help us anticipate changes in digester performance.

What will you investigate?

You will explore how different organic wastes interact, investigate the microorganisms responsible for methane production and uncover the biological signals associated with efficient and stable digestion.

Your research will combine experimental microbiology, advanced DNA and RNA sequencing, and computational approaches across five interconnected activities:

1. Explore feedstock combinations: Screen approximately ten organic feedstocks and evaluate selected mixtures using biochemical methane potential (BMP) experiments to investigate methane yields, production kinetics and potential synergistic or inhibitory effects.

2. Discover microbial communities: Use DNA sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR) to identify microorganisms associated with efficient methane production, inhibition and process stability.

3. Investigate microbial responses: Operate laboratory-scale anaerobic bioreactors to examine how microbial communities respond to changing feedstock mixtures, operating conditions and process disturbances.

4. Uncover microbial functions: Apply shotgun metagenomics and targeted metatranscriptomics to investigate microbial metabolic potential, active biological pathways and interactions during stable operation, inhibition and recovery.

5. Predict digester performance: Combine microbial, feedstock and reactor data using mathematical modelling and machine learning to explore whether microbial indicators can help predict methane production and process stability.

Ultimately, the research aims to move beyond trial-and-error approaches towards a better understanding of how microbial communities can inform feedstock selection and process management.

Training and research opportunities

You will join an interdisciplinary research environment spanning microbiology, biotechnology, renewable energy and computational science. The project will provide opportunities to develop practical skills in anaerobic cultivation, biochemical methane potential assays, laboratory bioreactors, molecular biology and advanced sequencing technologies.

You will also gain experience in analysing complex microbial datasets, including metagenomic and metatranscriptomic information, and integrating these findings with statistical analysis, mechanistic models and machine-learning approaches.

Working with researchers at Durham University and industrial collaborators at Moeve will provide opportunities to connect fundamental microbiological discoveries with industrial challenges and explore how scientific evidence can support more resilient biomethane production.

Who are we looking for?

We welcome applications from highly motivated candidates interested in microbial biotechnology, microbial ecology, genomics, bioinformatics and renewable energy.

We are particularly interested in candidates with a background in Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology or closely related disciplines. Applicants combining biological knowledge with computational, bioinformatics or data analytical skills are especially encouraged to apply.

Candidates from related disciplines, including Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Environmental Sciences, Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, are also welcome, particularly where they demonstrate relevant biological expertise.

Previous experience in anaerobic digestion is not essential, as specialist training will be provided.

Above all, we value scientific curiosity, analytical thinking, enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research and a desire to understand how microorganisms can contribute to a more sustainable energy future.

Informal queries to Dr. Marcos Quintela Baluja: marcos.quintela-baluja@durham.ac.uk 

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain before enrolment, a Master's degree (MSc, integrated Master's or international equivalent) in Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology or a closely related discipline, alongside a minimum UK 2:1 Bachelor's degree or equivalent,(or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) . 

• Experience in the undertaking of synthetic laboratory-based practical work and a good understanding of Health and Safety requirements essential for working in a synthetic chemistry laboratory.

• Experience of working under inert-gas conditions using Schlenk line and glove box techniques is desirable but not essential.

• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required. 
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

To apply please navigate to our Applications Widget.  If this link does not work on your computer, please go to our applications page, scroll to the bottom, and click on the ReNU course link – H1A601.

When completing the form on the application portal:  

• Under the additional information tab and programme related information section, please input RENU+ CDT Funding and then write RENU/MARCOS in the name of the scholarship.  No research proposal or scholarship documents are required.

• When asked if you intend to apply for a scholarship to fund your studies – enter ‘yes’ 

• When asked which person you have discussed your research proposal with, please name the primary contact for the project you are applying for.

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Cohort 8 Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees. 

Please note that ReNU⁺ studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis between projects at Durham, and that there are fewer scholarships available than the number of projects advertised.

Deadline for applications: 1 Feb 2027  11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2027