Developing sustainable polymeric encapsulation solutions for pest control

About the Project

Pest control is significant for agriculture, as infestations decrease crop yields and can harm livestock, threatening the security of global food supplies. Existing control strategies typically rely on toxic non-sustainable pesticides which often affect the broader ecosystem and surrounding environment. While sustainable controlled and targeted specific delivery mechanisms are studied and implemented extensively for human health applications, translation into agriculture has been limited. By 2050, the world will need to feed a population of 10 billion, making more effective and sustainable pest management essential.

This project will focus on the development of sustainable bio-polymer based pest control formulations to protect and deliver natural substances, such as semiochemicals (pheromones) and biological control agents (living organisms that interfere with the productivity of other living organisms).

The project will be divided into three interconnected stages. The first stage will focus on the modification of commercially available polysaccharides, which will serve as the building blocks for encapsulated pest control systems. The aim is to engineer polymers with targeted and controllable degradation properties. This approach will later be expanded to include industrial waste–derived materials, supporting the development of a circular economy framework. The second stage will focus on the encapsulation of biological control agents (kill component) alongside the lure components, with the goal of developing a stimuli-responsive pest control system. The final stage will involve detailed characterisation of the capsules, including their material properties, stability and degradation behaviour, as well as experimental testing and evaluation of the overall pest control system.

This project builds on existing national and international collaborators, who will support the development and testing of the bio-polymer based pest control agents.

Upon completion, the successful student will have gained knowledge and experience of polymer chemistry and colloids, including state-of-art sustainable chemistry approaches.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. With expected starting date of October 2026. In addition to undertaking cutting edge research, students are also registered for the Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Development (PGCert), which is a supplementary qualification that develops a student’s skills, networks and career prospects.

Information about the host department can be found by visiting:

http://www.strath.ac.uk/engineering/chemicalprocessengineering

http://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/research/chemicalprocessengineering/

Funding Notes

This fully funded PhD opportunity covers tuition fees and stipend for home students for 3.5 years.

Students applying should have (or expect to achieve) a minimum 2.1 undergraduate degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and/or Materials Science/Engineering with experience in polymer chemistry, and be highly motivated to undertake multidisciplinary research.