Sustainable Green Chemistry Routes to Platform Molecules from Carbon Dioxide and Bio-Derived Feedstocks (Ref: SCI26/CM/SK)

Loughborough University offers a fully funded PhD project focused on sustainable green chemistry, exploring alternative carbon feedstocks for platform chemicals. The research involves catalyst design and biomass processing, aiming for a circular carbon economy. Candidates should have a relevant degree and will gain skills in catalyst synthesis and sustainable reaction engineering. The studentship provides a stipend and covers tuition fees, with funding awarded competitively.
Chemicals are essential components for modern life, underpinning products ranging from pharmaceuticals to plastics. However, their production is heavily dependent on fossil derived feedstocks. As carbon is essential to these compounds, full decarbonisation is not possible, but instead we should seek to defossilise, i.e. replace fossil derived carbon feedstocks.

This fully funded PhD project will explore the production of essential platform chemicals for dispersants and surfactants using alternative sustainable carbon feedstocks, including carbon dioxide and biomass waste. The research to be undertaken is framed around the concept of a circular carbon economy, in which carbon containing waste is valorised and recycled into value added products.

You will join a multidisciplinary team with expert supervisors in catalyst design (Dr Simon Kondrat) and sustainable organic synthesis (Dr Benjimin Buckley). The project will focus on designing heterogeneous catalysts that emulate key features of highly effective but industrially unscalable homogeneous catalysts, enabling the functionalisation of biomass derived molecules using carbon dioxide. Bioderived feedstock will be sourced through collaborative projects on biomass processing and extraction with Dr Jonathan Wagner (Chemical Engineering). You will develop new catalyst systems and reaction protocols that exploit the unique properties of supercritical carbon dioxide to catalytically convert these bio-feedstock to valuable compounds.

Throughout the project you will gain advanced skills in, catalyst synthesis and rational design, advanced catalyst characterization, kinetics analysis and monitoring of reactions, and sustainable reaction engineering.

The project includes opportunities to collaborate with nationally leading industrial partners, allowing you to communicate research outcomes, shape project direction, and ensure the development of chemicals with genuine industrial relevance.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:

Simon Kondrat s.kondrat@lboro.ac.uk

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/experts/simon-kondrat/

Name of secondary supervisor:

Benjamin Buckley

https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/chemistry/staff/benjamin-buckley/

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have or expect to achieve a minimum of a 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent international qualification) in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science or a related subject.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.

Funding information:

The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £21,805 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

Please note that studentships will be awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who have applied to this project and other advertised projects starting with advert reference ‘SCI26’ in the School of Science. Successful candidates will be informed during May 2026.

Funding for this studentship is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed; availability will depend on the outcome of the selection process and subject to final approval by the University.

Bench fees required: No

Closing date of advert: Sunday 19th April 2026

Start date: October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years, Part-time 6 years

Who is eligible to apply?: Both UK and International

How to apply:

All applications should be made online. Under Campus, please select ‘Loughborough’ and select Programme ‘Chemistry. Please quote the advertised reference number SCI26/CM/SK in your application.

To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents. The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.

Project search terms:

applied chemistry, inorganic chemistry, synthetic chemistry, Catalysis, sustainable chemistry, Carbon dioxide utilisation

Email Address Sci:

sci-pgr@lboro.ac.uk