A 3-Year PhD Studentship in A Plug-and-Play Enzymatic Platform for the Capture and Upcycling of CO2 to Industrial Commodities

Supervisors: Dr. Michele Crotti (UCL), Dr. Poh Chee Kok (ISCE², A*STAR, Singapore)

Application deadline: 15/04/ 2025

Interview date: TBC

Start date: 22 September 2025

Location: London (1.5 years), Singapore (2 years)

Subject areas: Biocatalysis, Enzyme Engineering, CO₂ Capture, Environmental Chemistry

The studentship

This position is fully funded by the UCL-A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore) Collaborative Programme via the Centre for Doctoral Training in Molecular Modelling and Materials Science (M3S CDT) at UCL. The student will be registered for a PhD at UCL where he/she will spend year one followed by second and third years of the PhD at the Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE²) of A*STAR in Singapore, then return to UCL for the final six months to write up the thesis. If successful, the PhD will be awarded from UCL. The studentship will cover tuition fees at the home rate, and an annual stipend of no less than £21237 increasingly annually with inflation (tax free) pro rata in years 1 and 4. During years 2 and 3, the student will receive a stipend of S$3200 per month directly from A*STAR. In addition, A*STAR will provide the student a one-off relocation allowance.

The Project

Industrial CO₂ emissions are a major contributor to global warming and are driven up by the increasing industrial activity required to meet the demands of a growing global population. The chemical and pharmaceutical industries are among the most demanding sectors, consuming large amounts of materials and energy. This PhD project aims to develop a platform for the enzymatic capture and utilization (CCU) of carbon dioxide (CO₂), transforming this abundant anthropogenic pollutant into industrial commodities. The platform will combine the advantages of enzymatic and heterogeneous catalysis technologies and provide a next-generation sustainable chemistry tool to mitigate atmospheric CO₂ accumulation while replacing carbon-intensive industrial processes with greener alternatives. The candidate will work on establishing and optimizing a multi-enzymatic procedure designed to convert CO₂ in valuable industrial commodities. The candidate will work at the new UCL Manufacturing Futures Lab (MFL) and will have access to the MFL cutting-edge facilities for this project. During the following attachment at A*STAR, the candidate will work on the design and development of a proof-of-concept pilot reactor to host the multi-enzymatic cascade.

The Candidate 

The applicants should have, or be expecting to achieve, a first or upper second-class integrated Masters degree (MSci, MChem, MEng etc.) or a 2:1 minimum BSc plus a stand-alone Masters degree with at least a Merit in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a related discipline. The successful applicant will demonstrate strong interest and self-motivation in the subject, good experimental practice and the ability to think analytically and creatively. Good computer skills, plus good presentation and writing skills in English, are required. Previous research experience in contributing to a collaborative interdisciplinary research environment is highly desirable but not necessary as training will be provided.

Interested candidates should initially contact the supervisors Dr. Michele Crotti (UCL, m.crotti@ucl.ac.uk) and Dr. Poh Chee Kok (A*STAR, poh_chee_kok@isce2.a-star.edu.sg) with a CV, a degree transcript and a motivation letter expressing interest in the project. Informal inquiries are encouraged. 

Please note that a suitable applicant will first be required to complete MS Form entitled Application for Research: degree Chemistry programme. In addition, it is essential that suitable applicants complete an electronic application form at https://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/research-degrees/chemistry-mphil-phd (Select Research degree: Chemistry programme) prior to the application deadline and advise their referees to submit their references as soon as they possibly can. All shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview no more than 4 weeks after the application deadline. Any admissions queries should be directed to Dr. Zhimei Du (z.du@ucl.ac.uk).