Roberto Rinaldi

PhD Scholarship project at Imperial College London , Department of Chemical Engineering, with Assoc Prof Roberto Rinaldi . This project focuses on the utilisation of vegetable oils and fats to produce sustainable chemicals and biofuels . Research topics include oleochemical valorisation, catalytic transformations, hydrodeoxygenation, hydrotreatment, transesterification, selective bond cleavage of fatty acid chains, and the development of heterogeneous catalysts. The work aims to create renewable routes to fuels, biolubricants, surfactants, and platform chemicals, including applications relevant to sustainable aviation fuel and other bio-based replacements for petroleum-derived products. The project is embedded in a strong research environment with advanced experimental and computational facilities, and links to programmes in lignocellulose biorefining and chemical recycling of plastics. It is suitable for candidates interested in chemical engineering, chemistry, catalysis, and interdisciplinary research at the chemistry-engineering interface. Funding: Departmental PhD Scholarship and Departmental DTP Scholarship. The post is listed as a competition-funded PhD project. Eligibility/fit: Applicants should enjoy tackling challenging chemical problems, conducting careful experimentation, and working across disciplines. The page does not list specific GPA or language-test thresholds. Application: Applications are accepted all year round, with three deadline rounds for October 2027 entry: 31 October 2026, 31 December 2026, and 28 February 2027. Applicants should submit a PhD application through Imperial's online admissions system and are encouraged to contact Dr Rinaldi before applying.