Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering – United Kingdom
Numerical investigation on the dependence of washcoats viscosity on ionic strength and particle loading
Applications are invited for Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, United Kingdom.
Details
Within the Multiphase Systems group, the UCL Department of Chemical Engineering is seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated post-graduate student to research the rheological behavior of washcoats. This project is in collaboration with Johnson Matthey, a global science and chemicals company with strong focus on research & development. The post-holder will have the opportunity of sharing results and ideas with the industrial partner and collaborate with its research team.
Understanding of multiphase flows and numerical codes for multiphase simulations is desired – but not essential – because it will be developed during the project.
The scope of this studentship is practical, but the research is fundamental. The research question is how the ion concentration in the solvent of the dispersion (via the interparticle forces that the ions induce) and the particle loading (via the fluid-particle interactions and the fluid-mediated interactions between the particles) affect the effective viscosity of the dispersion.
The post-holder will learn how to use multiphase numerical codes (Discrete Element Methods and Computational Fluid Dynamics), and postprocess and interpret the results of the simulations, which will be validated against experimental data.
The techniques and skills are transferable to technological problems relevant to several industrial sectors, including healthcare, cosmetics, catalysis and food industries.
The post-holder will present the research results at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journal articles of high international standing.
Benefits
Successful applicants will receive the following benefits:
- Annual stipend of £17,810 + UK/EU fees
Eligibility
To be eligible for Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering, applicants must:
- have completed a first-class degree at the MEng or MSc level in Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, Physics or a related discipline
- be a dedicated student, preferably with advanced understanding of transport phenomena and research methods
- willingness to perform independently, yet within a collaborative environment
- demonstrable knowledge of research methods and Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations is desirable but is not a necessary requirement
Application
For Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering, applicants are required to contact:
Dr Luca Mazzei: l.mazzei@ucl.ac.uk