PhD Studentship: Waste-derived Bioplastics for a Circular and Sustainable Food Packaging Economy

Is the project University funded or unfunded?: University funded

Funding eligibility (please select one): Competition funded project (students worldwide)

Is the project UKRI funded?:  No

Is the project industry funded?: No

Is the project part of the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship?: No

Closing date of advert: 11^th February 2025

Start date: October 2025

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years

Who is eligible to apply?: Both UK and International

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead: Dr Jonathan Wagner

Name(s) of secondary supervisor(s) if known: Prof Anna Croft

Primary supervisor email address: j.l.wagner@lboro.ac.uk

Primary supervisor telephone number: +441509222546

Link to supervisor's online staff profile page: https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/chemical/staff/jonathan-wagner/

Link to secondary supervisor(s) online staff profile page(s): https://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/chemical/staff/anna-croft/

Project detail:

Food packaging plays an essential role in containing, portioning and protecting food products against contamination, reducing food waste and associated emissions. Packaging is also an important way for manufacturers to brand and sell their products and provide important information such as the composition, origin, storage and preparation instructions. However, global plastic production, use and disposal is responsible for ~5% of total carbon emissions, and plastic packaging accounts for almost 70% of all UK plastic waste. Packaging recycling is currently limited by contamination with food residues and other waste streams, while many bioplastic alternatives are incompatible with current waste collection schemes and practices.

To address these challenges, this project seeks to develop and evaluate circular food-waste derived biopolymers, which can be fully recycled after use. We will start by using food waste as a substrate for cultivating fast growing microbes, before using the resulting biomass to produce sustainable biopolymers. Experimental work on microbe cultivation, polymer synthesis and testing will be complemented through whole system analysis to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed process.

Entry requirements:

Students should have or expected to have a minimum of a 2.1 class masters or bachelors in Chemical Engineering, Materials, Chemistry/Biochemistry or related Engineering or Science discipline.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Funding information:

The studentship is for 3 years and provides a tax-free stipend of £19,237 per annum for the duration of the studentship plus university tuition fees.

Bench fees required: No

How to apply: All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select AACME/Chemical Engineering. Please quote the advertised reference number AACME-24-036 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: biotechnology, chemical engineering, materials science - other

Other search terms not listed:
Circularity
Sustainability
Renewable
Waste valorisation
Bioplastic
Biodegradable
Algae

Email Address AACME: Aacme.Pgr@mailbox.lboro.ac.uk

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