PhD Studentship: Intelligent Molecular & Process Design for Advanced CO2 Electrochemical Sorbents (IMPACT) UCL in United Kingdom

[Fully funded for 4 years: circa £22,780 per annum stipend plus UK home tuition fees. Overseas students must cover the difference between home and overseas fees.]

The Department of Chemical Engineering at University College London (UCL) is offering a fully funded 4-year PhD studentship in Process Systems Engineering, focusing on the intelligent molecular and process design for advanced CO2 electrochemical sorbents. This project, titled IMPACT, aims to develop an AI-enhanced design framework for novel electrochemical absorbents to accelerate the discovery of high-performance materials for CO2 capture.

Electrochemical CO2 capture is a promising alternative to traditional carbon capture technologies, offering greater energy efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability. The success of these technologies depends on discovering sorbents with strong CO2 affinity and efficient electrochemical regeneration. The PhD student will develop next-generation computational tools, including physics-informed and data-efficient machine learning models, to predict sorbent behavior and design new candidate molecules within realistic chemical and process constraints.

The research will be highly interdisciplinary, combining chemical engineering, machine learning, molecular design, and sustainability. The student will analyze existing datasets, develop modeling approaches, and create generative design and screening tools. The project is closely connected to the Sargent Centre and industrial partners, providing access to global experts and state-of-the-art research facilities.

Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, at least a 2:1 degree at MEng, MSc, or equivalent level in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Physics, or a closely related discipline. Experience in machine learning, numerical optimization, or process systems engineering is advantageous. Familiarity with electrochemical CO2 capture, redox-active materials, or amine-based absorbents is beneficial but not required. Overseas applicants must be able to cover the difference between home and overseas tuition fees.

The studentship provides a stipend of circa £22,780 per annum plus UK home tuition fees for four years. The start date is May 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applications should be submitted via the UCL application portal, nominating Dr Lauren Lee as supervisor and including a statement of interest. For informal enquiries, contact Dr Lauren Lee at [email protected]. Further information about the MPhil/PhD course and recruitment process is available on the UCL Chemical Engineering website.