PhD: Self-Driving Lab for Emulsion Research

Most chemical products consist of multiple compounds that are formulated together, of which the development process is iterative, laborious, and complex. The formulated products sector, contributing over £149bn to the Gross Value Added of the UK economy, requires innovative methods to accelerate the innovation pace and to address the environmental impacts. The aim of this project is to apply a highly innovative 'Self Driving Lab (SDL)' setup, integrated with Machine Learning algorithm, as a high throughput method to investigate emulsion systems that are used in a broad range of applications.

The project has the following objectives:

• to further develop the SDL setup that incorporates microfluidics with miniaturized characterization techniques;
• to integrate a suite of combinations of emulsion and polymer with high throughput efficiency;
• to bridge the first principle understanding with multi-component complexity.

Working closely with the consortium partners, the PhD candidate will develop a wide range of skills in colloidal and interface science, computer science, and instrumentation, establishing a broad appreciation of formulation engineering. They will develop a portfolio of transferrable skills such as project management, communication and team working, which ensures excellent employability upon completion of the project.

The project will be supervised by Professor Zhenyu Jason Zhang ().

If you have a background in Chemistry, Physics, or Chemical Engineering and are passionate about sustainability and instrumentation, this is an excellent opportunity.