PhD in Design and Evaluation of Sustainable Biomass-to-Biofuel Supply Chains within Food Systems Sheffield Hallam University in United Kingdom

This PhD project at Sheffield Hallam University, within the Advanced Food Innovation Centre, focuses on the design and evaluation of sustainable biomass-to-biofuel supply chains embedded in agri-food systems. The research is motivated by the UK's net-zero greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050, driving innovation in sustainable resource management and energy production. Livestock farming produces significant quantities of slurry and manure, which present opportunities for resource recovery and value creation through advanced valorisation strategies.

The project investigates the conversion of agri-food residues, particularly wet biomass such as livestock slurry, into sustainable fuels using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL). HTL is a promising thermochemical technology for wet feedstocks, avoiding energy-intensive drying and enabling the production of low-carbon fuels suitable for hard-to-electrify sectors like aviation and maritime transport. The research adopts a systems-level approach, integrating process-level performance with supply chain design to optimise economic and environmental outcomes.

Key research activities include analysing agri-food residue streams using public datasets and GIS tools, developing optimisation models for supply chain configuration, and evaluating these configurations through discrete-event simulation. The project also explores resilience under uncertainty, employing simulation and interpretable machine learning to identify robust supply chain strategies. Access to a hydrothermal liquefaction reactor at Sheffield Hallam University allows for experimental validation and integration of modelling with real-world process data.

The successful candidate will gain expertise in optimisation, simulation, data analytics, and sustainability assessment, with applications across academia and industry. The project is part of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) scheme, requiring up to 180 hours of teaching or research support per academic year as part of the scholarship. The GTA scholarship covers tuition fees (UK and international) and provides a maintenance bursary (£22,152 for 2025/26), supporting 3.5 years of full-time study.

Applicants should hold at least a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in a related discipline. International applicants must meet English language requirements (IELTS 7, minimum 6.5 in all areas, or equivalent, within the last two years). Applications from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged. Required documents include a personal statement, CV, two references, degree certificate and transcript, and for non-UK applicants, IELTS results and passport. The application deadline is 7 May 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit the project page.