About the Project
Project ID: 2531cc1090
EPSRC Theme: Energy and Decarbonisation
Supervisor: Andrew Beale
Department: Chemistry, UCL Faculty of Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MAPS)
Project type: Collaborative project
Industrial partner: Finden Ltd
Research location: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
Application deadline: 8 January 2027 at 12:00 noon (UK time)
Interviews: Expected February 2027
Proposed start date: 1 October 2027
Supervisor profile: Andrew Beale – UCL
Project overview
The UCL Department of Chemistry is offering a fully funded four-year PhD studentship through the UCL EPSRC Doctoral Landscape Award (UELA) for a highly motivated candidate to undertake research in advanced chemical imaging, catalysis and digital twin technologies for renewable fuel production, commencing in October 2027.
The development of sustainable fuel technologies requires a better understanding of how catalysts and reactors perform under realistic operating conditions. This project aims to use advanced scattering-based chemical imaging to investigate catalyst and reactor performance, with a particular focus on improving the efficiency, stability and reliability of renewable fuel production systems.
The research will investigate operational stability, changes in active catalytic phases and deactivation mechanisms, including mineral scaling, carbon build-up and hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) poisoning. These challenges will be studied in 3D-printed metal electrodes and compact CO₂ methanation reactors used in technologies that convert municipal solid waste into sustainable fuels.
The successful candidate will combine advanced materials characterisation, including the development of state-of-the-art five-dimensional (5D) chemical imaging approaches, with process modelling, machine learning and digital twin methodologies. By integrating chemical imaging data into computational models, the project aims to improve our understanding of the relationships between catalyst behaviour, reactor performance and the economic viability of renewable fuel technologies.
This is a highly interdisciplinary project offering training across chemistry, materials science, catalysis, process engineering and data science. The student will gain hands-on experience with advanced X-ray characterisation techniques, including X-ray diffraction computed tomography (XRD-CT) and operando measurements, while developing computational and data analysis skills.
The project will be based at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, providing access to major research infrastructure, including Diamond Light Source and the UK Catalysis Hub. The student will work closely with academic researchers, the industrial partner Finden Ltd and collaborators from European research organisations.
This combination of experimental and computational research will provide excellent training for a career in academia or industry, particularly in advanced materials characterisation, renewable fuel technologies, catalysis and data-driven process optimisation.