AI-Enabled Life Cycle Assessments to Transform Material Recovery and Recycling

This fully funded PhD studentship at The University of Manchester is part of cohort 3 of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Developing National Capability for Materials 4.0, in partnership with the Henry Royce Institute. The project aims to revolutionize material recovery and recycling by developing advanced machine learning methods to co-optimise environmental (life cycle assessment, LCA) and economic (return on investment, ROI) metrology. The research will accelerate the circular economy for plastics and multi-materials by overcoming the laborious calculations that currently limit innovation and iteration in materials science. As a student in this program, you will design and implement AI-led multiparameter optimisations, applying Materials 5.0 principles to optimize waste fates—including reuse, recycling, and hydrogen recovery—for plastics. The project also seeks to predict waste composition for plastic, glass, and aluminium, with significant potential impacts for industry partners such as Resource Futures, a data-driven waste management SME based in Bristol. The outcomes of this research are expected to inform recycling investment and policy interventions at both local and national government levels, reshaping the circularity of materials in the UK and beyond. You will join the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub, working within an interdisciplinary team and benefiting from the collaborative environment of the Materials 4.0 CDT. The project is suitable for candidates from a range of academic backgrounds, including machine learning, computer science, sustainability metrics, life cycle assessment, and materials engineering. The CDT is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion, and strongly encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Funding for this studentship is co-sponsored by Resource Futures and covers full tuition fees and a stipend. Some travel to the Resource Futures site in Bristol may be required as part of the project. The application process is managed by each partner of the CDT, and applicants should apply online via the University of Manchester postgraduate application portal, selecting Postgraduate Research, the 2026/27 academic year, and CDT in Materials 4.0. For project-related queries, contact Prof. Mike Shaver at [email protected]. For general or application queries, email [email protected]. This opportunity is ideal for purpose-driven researchers keen to learn, collaborate, and make a global impact as change-makers in the field of sustainable materials and circular economy. The deadline for applications is March 3, 2026.