phd chemical engineering london

Website navigation

In this section

• Imperial Home
• Faculty of Engineering
• Departments, institutes and centres
• Department of Chemical Engineering
• Postgraduate

PhD scholarships

Departmental phd scholarships.

The Department of Chemical Engineering has up to 15  fully-funded scholarships available for PhD applicants to start in 2025. Ten scholarships are open to all applicants regardless of their fee status while 5  are reserved for  Home  students.   The scholarships  cover both tuition fees and a tax-free contribution to maintenance costs of approximately between  £20,622 - £22, 9 00 per annum for 42 months.

Types of Scholarships available

• Departmental Scholarships
• EPSRC DTP Studentships

Scholarships for October 2025 entry are available in the following areas and groups for successful candidates regardless of fee status :

• Precision spray drying: droplet-to-particle drying in acoustic levitation; Morphogenesis in complex fluids droplets; with Professor Joao Cabral
• Mammalian cell engineering: synthetic biology tools for gene expression control; with Dr Francesca Ceroni  
• Sustainable production of bio-based chemicals using heterogeneous catalysis; or Catalytic upgrading of C 1 compounds (CO 2 , CH 4 ); Development of MOF-based materials for catalysis and separation technologies; with Dr Ceri Hammond
• Electrochemical catalyst synthesis for application in water electrolysers; solar energy conversion to fuel (specifically hydrogen); with Dr Anna Hankin
• General applied mathematics, computational science and engineering; Statistical mechanics; Macroscale fluid mechanics; Micro-/Multiscale fluid mechanics; with Professor Serafim Kalliadasis
• Interactions between high-pressure CO 2 and porous liquids with in situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopy; Interactions between high-pressure CO 2 and polymers studied with in situ FTIR spectroscopy; Studying secondary structural changes in a protein under flow using FTIR spectroscopic imaging and microfluidics as a model for monoclonal antibodies; ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of monoclonal antibody purification; Advanced studies of objects of cultural heritage using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and ATR-FTIR spectroscopic imaging; with Professor Sergei Kazarian
• Genome-scale modelling for mammalian cell engineering; cell-free protein glycosylation; transfer learning from early development to manufacturing; with Professor Cleo Kontoravdi
• Autonomous supervisory control of chemical processes; Modelling, control, and optimization of net zero industrial cogeneration systems; or Scalable stochastic control and optimization solutions using machine learning; with Dr Mehmet Mercangöz  
• Design of sustainable fluids using Molecular Simulation and Machine Learning . Example topics: removal of “forever chemicals” from water; development of thermal fluids for electrical vehicle cooling;  storage of hydrogen in ice cages; design of sugar-based “green" surfactants; with Professor Erich Müller
• Digital tools for next generation, sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing and supply chains; with Dr Maria Papathanasiou  
• Development of plasma technology for sustainable, continuous manufacture of chemicals and pharmaceuticals (aligned with IConIC project working with industrial partners BASF, Sterling Pharma, etc.); with Dr Chris Tighe
• CO 2 Electrochemical Reduction; with Professor Magda Titirici
• Thermophysical Properties of Hydrogen-Rich Mixtures; with Professor Martin Trusler
• SMART Chromatography for Peptide Purification; New Peptide Drug Modalities using Orthogonal Synthesis Methods; with Professor Daryl Williams
• Multiscale modelling of blood clot dissolution; Predicting valve thrombosis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation; with Professor Yun Xu

EPSRC DTP Studentships for October 2025 entry are available in the following areas and groups to successful candidates who are classified as Home students . 

• New algorithms for the computer-aided design of sustainable molecules and processes; Machine learning approaches for crystal structure prediction; Designing high-throughput experiments to optimise reaction kinetics; with Professor Claire Adjiman  
• Precision spray drying: droplet-to-particle drying in acoustic levitation; Morphogenesis in complex fluids droplets; with Professor João Cabral
• Next generation deterministic global optimisation algorithms; with  Professor Benoit Chachuat and Professor Claire Adjiman
• Bio-inspired nanostructures for targeted delivery of pharmaceutical agents; with Professor Rongjun Chen
• Robust data driven optimisation for uncertain chemical processes; with Dr Antonio Del Rio Chanona
• Design and construction of stimuli-responsive synthetic cells; Microfluidic technologies for next-generation lipid nanoparticle therapeutic; Building a biomimetic anti-cancer micromachine; with Dr Yuval Elani
• Novel materials and architectures for solar fuels and feedstocks; with Dr Salvador Eslava
• Decarbonisation of industrial processes via a combination of process improvements, heat integration and carbon capture and storage; Novel industrial process: The fluidised bed production of cement clinker to improve clinker quality and increase the total amount of supplementary cementitious materials which can be added;  with Professor Paul Fennell
• Modelling the thermodynamic properties of electrolytes for Li-ion battery design; Incorporating molecular conformation for the prediction of the thermodynamic properties of biological molecules; with Professor Amparo Galindo
• Textile dye recycling using ionic liquids; Biobased chemical and materials production using ionic liquidss; with Professor Jason Hallett
• Sustainable production of bio-based chemicals using heterogeneous catalysis; or Catalytic upgrading of C 1 compounds (CO 2 , CH 4 ); with Dr Ceri Hammond
• Addressing key challenges in climate compatible economic growth: co-creation of energy systems modelling and sustainable development with the Global South; with Professor Adam Hawkes  
• Downstream separation of peptides; with Professor Jerry Heng
• A number of PhD research projects in the  Molecular Systems Engineering group in the general areas of carbon capture, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products; with Professor George Jackson . These will involve the use of a range of tools including Monte Carlo and molecular-dynamics simulation, SAFT-gamma, gPROMS process modelling, and DFT appropriate for the research of current relevance to the group.
• Information processing in engineered and natural cell populations: mathematical modelling and systems analysis; with Dr Krishnan
• Development and application of innovative, advanced laser-based and other optical measurement techniques to boiling, solidification and similar phase-change processes; Design and development of next-generation energy components and devices with enhanced capabilities; with Professor Christos N. Markides
• Modelling and simulation of CO 2 transport in pipelines and porous media for CCS applications; or Physical modelling of respiratory diseases transmission (in collaboration with MIT); or AI-enhanced reactor design for chemicals and pharma manufacturing ; with Professor Omar Matar
• Design of sustainable fluids using Molecular Simulation and Machine Learning . Example topics: removal of “forever chemicals” from water; development of thermal fluids for electrical vehicle cooling;  storage of hydrogen in ice cages; design of sugar-based “green" surfactants; with Professor Erich A. Muller
• Porous materials for gas separation; Porous materials for CO 2 photoreduction; or Automated high throughput methods for materials discovery and development; with Professor Camille Petit
• Chemical Transformation and Valorisation of Biopolymers: Reshaping Lignin and Cellulose for Sustainability; Exploring Mechanochemistry: Pioneering Green Technologies for a Sustainable Circular economy; Advancing Chemical Approaches to Synthetic Polymer Recycling; Chemical Transformation and Valorisation of Vegetable Oils as Renewable Feedstocks for the Chemical Industry ; with Dr Roberto Rinaldi
• Development of membrane materials and applications for clean energy conversion and storage, from batteries, fuel cells to green hydrogen production; with Dr Qilei Song  
• Advanced measurement and modelling of high pressure hydrogen and carbon dioxide permeation in polymeric materials, for compressed transport and storage applications; Thermochemical upgrading of natural and man-made polymers for a bio-based and closed loop economy; with Dr Chris Tighe
• CO 2  Electrochemical Reduction ; with Professor Magda Titirici
• Multiscale modelling of blood clot dissolution; Predicting valve thrombosis following transcatheter aortic valve implantation ; with Professor Yun Xu
• Artificial Intelligence Augmented Optical Biosensors; Optical Biosensors for Wearable Diagnostics; with Dr Ali K. Yetisen

Upcoming deadlines:  

• 31 October 2024 for the first selection round
• 31 December 2024 for the second selection round
• 28 February 2025 for the third selection round (subject to availability of scholarships)

How the departmental scholarship scheme works

• How to apply
• The selection process for departmental and College scholarships
• What happens if my scholarship application is unsuccessful?
• What can I expect in the interview?
• When will I find out about my application?
• Who do I contact if I have any questions?

Applications

In order to be considered for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships, you will need to submit your PhD application for admission through the online admissions system . The programme title is 'Chemical Engineering (PhD)'. Your application form must include:

• Full transcripts of your university studies to date.
• A personal statement to support your application, which should outline your research interest and experience.
• A copy of your English Language certificate if applicable. You must meet the College’s English language requiremen t at the higher level.
• The contact details of two referees , at least one of whom must be an academic referee, for example your project supervisor or personal tutor.  

The scholarships are very competitive and our aim is to select the most outstanding PhD students and offer them financial support. Your application should demonstrate an outstanding academic record and research skills.

We have one selection process for all the scholarships that are administered by the College, including President's Scholarships, CSC Imperial Scholarships and the Departmental Scholarship.

You will need to submit your PhD application by the following deadlines in order to be considered for these:

• Round 1:  31 October for entry in October of the following year
• Round 2: 31 December for entry in October of the following year
• Round 3: 28 February for entry in October of the same year

Please note that the majority of scholarships are likely to be allocated in Round 1. We therefore recommend that you submit your PhD application in time for the Round 1 deadline.

Please note that where there is a later deadline advertised for College scholarships, the departmental deadline  before  the College deadline will apply, as you will need to go through the departmental selection process, including interviews, before we can put you forward for a College Scholarship.

An academic selection panel will screen the applications that demonstrate the necessary achievement and potential and will shortlist the most outstanding candidates for interview. If you are shortlisted and successful in your interview, you will be asked to select 2 projects offered by different supervisors in the order of your preference.

Once we have received the project selections from all the successful candidates, we will contact your first-choice and ask them if they are happy to take you on under the departmental scholarship scheme. If there is more than one successful applicant who wants to work with the same supervisor, the supervisor will be asked to choose the student who is most suited to the project. If you are not selected by your first-choice supervisor, we will contact your second-choice supervisor. If you are not selected by either of the supervisors, we will try our best to match you up with another eligible supervisor.

We will consider all successful applicants for any scholarships offered at College level and put forward the most outstanding candidates who fit the eligibility criteria for a particular scholarship.

All the scholarships offered through the Department are highly competitive and it can happen that candidates who are academically very good will not be selected because the competition was too high. If your application meets the expected standard, we will be happy to make it available to potential supervisors, as they may be looking for students for funded projects. You may be contacted by a supervisor with details of a particular project and invited for an interview.

If you meet the academic requirements for PhD studies and you have your own funding, either as a self-funded student or through an external sponsor such as a sponsoring company, your employer, or the government of your home country, you will need to identify a potential supervisor (the list of academic research groups may be useful) who is prepared to supervise you subject to successful interview with an independent academic panel. The supervisor will need to put you forward for a self-funded interview.

The scholarship interviews last for 20 minutes and will be held by a panel of academic staff, normally chaired by the Postgraduate Admissions Tutor. If you are based in or near London, the interview will be held in person; otherwise it will be by MS Teams video call. You should be prepared to answer technical questions related to your research interest, questions about your motivation, and generally demonstrate that you are an outstanding student.

We have two selection rounds for the Chemical Engineering PhD Scholarships and any of the College scholarships:

• Application deadline: 31 October for October entry in the following year
• The shortlisting panel will meet in mid-November and interviews will be held in late November or early December
• Successful candidates will be notified within a week of the last interview and we will endeavour to allocate projects by the end of December
• Application deadline: 31 December for October entry in the following year
• The shortlisting panel will meet in mid-January and interviews will be held in late January or early February
• Successful candidates will be notified within a week of the last interview and we will endeavour to allocate projects by the end of February
• Application deadline: 28 February for October entry in the same year
• The shortlisting panel will meet in mid-March and interviews will be held in late March or early April
• Successful candidates will be notified within a week of the last interview and we will endeavour to allocate projects by the end of April

Application screening is done in line with the scholarship selection timeline. If you have external funding and need to be considererd for a self-funded interview outside these timelines, please contact us .

If you have any questions about the application process or any specific queries that are related to a PhD in the Department of Chemical Engineering our your PhD application, please email the Departmental PhD team . 

If you already hold an offer and have specific queries about fulfilling your offer condition, please contact the  Engineering Admissions team.

Please remember to quote your College ID (CID) in all correspondence with the College.

Key contacts

Chem Eng PhD Team

[email protected]

Search our site...

Phd chemical process and energy engineering.

• Course finder
• Chemical Process and Energy Engineering - PhD

• Entry Requirements
• Course Content
• --> Related Courses -->