Functional Sugar-derived Polymers for Sustainable Agricultural Applications University of York in United Kingdom

Beyond plastics, polymers play a vital role in our lives as key ingredients of liquid formulations. They are found in millions of everyday products, from the shampoo in our bathrooms to the paint on our walls. Polymers in liquid formulations are also key to improve food productivity, by controlling the delivery of agrochemicals, enabling low doses to be used while coping with ever-evolving climate conditions. However, the way these polymers are made, used and disposed of is currently unsustainable. Every year around 36 million tonnes of these materials are made from fossil sources – enough to fill Wembley Stadium 32 times over, and most are never recovered. The agrochemical industry is now facing the significant challenge of finding sustainable alternatives, and suitable bio-based monomers/ polymers are needed. Specifically, current renewable monomers are either too few to meet the needs of PLF end- users, not done at scale or not functionalisable. In collaboration with Syngenta and the research group of Prof. Charlotte Williams in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Oxford, this project will investigate the utilisation of abundant natural carbohydrate feedstocks to produce degradable bio-based polymers, towards more sustainable materials for agricultural applications. We will specifically focus on building blocks derived from hemicellulose and which do not compete with food-crops (waste biomass). Our approach will involve the incorporation of unfunctionalised sugar units into synthetic polymer backbones with degradable linkages, to produce artificial polysaccharide mimics with some of the desirable attributes of sugar feedstocks, including renewability, diversity, functionalisability, degradability, abundance, low price, and crucially for liquid formulations, solubility in water. Your research will involve all aspects of the development of sustainable polymers. You will develop new reactions for the synthesis of novel monomers from renewable feedstocks, design new polymerisation catalysts and processes (including studying their mechanism via kinetics and computational studies), and produce innovative polymers for new technologies and applications, with a focus on the discovery and elucidation of structure-performance of such water-soluble sugar-derived polymers towards agricultural applications. Our academic-industry partnership will help design polymers with better physical and chemical properties (e.g., degradability, soil pH tolerance, low toxicity) properties, together with a better overall life cycle sustainability, to help safely feed the world while taking care of the planet. Useful links: Buchard research group: www.buchardgroup.org Supervisory Team:Antoine Buchard - ([email protected]), Charlotte Williams (Oxford) Further information:The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Chemical Synthesis for a Healthy Planet (CSHP CDT) is a new EPSRC-funded centre focused on training the next generation of synthetic chemists, developing a sustainable, innovative chemistry culture that equips students to address major emerging and future global challenges in Human Health, Energy & Materials, and Food Security. We offer a fully-funded four year PhD programme, delivered jointly by the Universities of Oxford and York, comprised of taught courses and a substantive research project. Student cohorts will work together in a 4-month training period at both Oxford and York, before embarking on their main PhD projects. These substantive projects will be industry co-supervised, and based at either the Department of Chemistry in Oxford, or the Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence at York and the associated Department of Chemistry. This PhD project will primarily be based at the University of York.  The first application deadline is 15th November 2024. We will continue to receive applications following this deadline, however some of the projects may be filled following the assessment of the first round of applications. We therefore encourage you to submit your application early to ensure that your first-choice project is available. A full list of CSHP CDT projects on offer for 2025 entry can be found here. All project partners recognise the importance of equal participation, progression and success for all. We strive to provide a working, learning, social and living environment that will enable all our staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish and to excel - a place where we can ALL be ourselves. The Department of Chemistry in York holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award, and is committed to supporting equality and diversity for all staff and students. The Department strives to provide a working environment which allows all staff and students to contribute fully, to flourish, and to excel; for more details, see: https://www.york.ac.uk/chemistry/ed/. In particular, we recognise the importance of the equal participation of women at all levels in a subject that has traditionally been male-dominated. We also particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented in science. Eligibility Criteria:You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum UK 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a subject relevant to the proposed PhD project (usually chemistry or chemical engineering, but please get in touch if you think your qualification may be relevant). Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements. Check the entry requirements for your country: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/your-country/ and English language requirements: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/international/english/How to apply:   Submit an online PhD in Chemistry application: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/courses/apply?course=DRPCHESCHE3 You will then need to provide the following information:  1000-word personal statement, focusing on your interest and experience in your proposed field of research Clearly state your 1-2-3 choice of substantive research projects chosen from our list in the section of the form entitled Research Proposals. Please clarify in your personal statement your preferred project. A CV (Curriculum vitae) Transcripts detailing your university-level qualifications and marks to date Two Academic/Professional References: you will be required to submit contact details for 2 referees  The start date of the PhD will be 15 September 2025.For more details on the application and selection processes, and for answers to general questions (i.e. funding eligibility, project allocation, etc.) please visit our FAQs section (https://cshp-cdt.chem.ox.ac.uk/apply/FAQs.html).