About the Project
Applications accepted all year round. Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide).
This PhD project will tackle the valorisation of lignin, the most abundant renewable source of aromatic carbon on Earth. Lignin is currently underused and largely burned for process heat; this project will convert it into well-defined aromatic and aliphatic building blocks through reductive catalytic fractionation, mechanocatalysis, and related depolymerisation strategies applied directly to lignocellulosic biomass. You will design and characterise heterogeneous catalysts, elucidate the structure and coupling chemistry of native and processed lignin, and translate laboratory findings into biorefinery processes that couple lignin upgrading with cellulose and hemicellulose utilisation. The ultimate goal is to establish efficient, scalable routes that convert lignin from a low-value by-product into a source of speciality chemicals and materials. We are particularly interested in candidates who enjoy tackling challenging chemical and engineering problems, conducting careful experimentation, and engaging in interdisciplinary research at the interface of chemistry and engineering.
The Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London offers an advanced 3-4-year research degree that provides in-depth specialist training and knowledge in a topical area pertaining to Chemical Engineering and related Engineering and Science disciplines. The Department has state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities and is the home of the Automated High-Throughput Platform Suite, the Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, and the Sustainable Futures Lab.
The Department holds a Silver Athena Swan award for good practice in supporting academic women and gender equality, renewed in 2024. This award recognises the good practices already in place for supporting women at all stages, as well as our commitment to removing barriers to equal progress and achievement.
In order to be considered for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships, you will need to submit your PhD application for admission through the online admissions system. Full details on the application and selection process can be found on our webpages.
We encourage all interested applicants to contact Dr Rinaldi before making an application.
Application enquiries to: r.rinaldi1@imperial.ac.uk
Deadline for applications:
- Round 1: 31 October 2026 for entry in October 2027
- Round 2: 31 December 2026 for entry in October 2027
- Round 3: 28 February 2027 for entry in October 2027
Funding Notes
Departmental PhD Scholarship and Departmental DTP Scholarship
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