Vacancy information

The Department of Chemical Engineering at University College London (UCL) is one of the top research and teaching departments in the UK with a world-class standing. The department has an extensive research portfolio across a wealth of areas, from the molecular scale to the scale of industrial plants, that is collaborative, ground-breaking and focused on solving societal problems.

The Department is seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated PhD student to conduct research at the forefront of sustainability science, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and energy system modelling, to support the transition to a net-zero economy. The project is a collaboration between the Department of Chemical Engineering and the UCL Energy Institute, which aims to help building a globally sustainable energy system, by bringing to bear multiple disciplinary perspectives to observe, analyse, model and interpret energy use and energy systems.

The studentship is fully funded for 3.5 years, starting in September 2025 or shortly thereafter.

Studentship description

The UK Government has committed to at least 95% of electricity generation coming from low-carbon sources by 2030. After that, there are more difficult challenges to decarbonise the remainder of the energy system by 2050. The transition to a net zero economy must be done with care to avoid locking in technologies that may cause transgression of other ecological limits (e.g. biodiversity loss, freshwater use).

This project aims to identify energy system configurations that are truly environmentally sustainable by combining UK TIMES - the UCL energy systems model for the UK - with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the pioneering Planetary Boundaries (PBs) framework. The ultimate objective is to support policy- and decision-making in the UK, whilst developing an approach that can be replicated worldwide.

The student will work closely with Dr. Andrea Paulillo (UCL Chemical Engineering) as part of a prestigious RAEng Research Fellowship focused on the concept of Absolute environmental Sustainability, and with Prof. Paul Dodds (UCL Energy Institute) who oversees the development of the UK TIMES model. The student will be integrated in the LCA Research Group at UCL Chemical Engineering and the Energy Transitions Modelling Lab at the UCL Energy Institute.

The studentship will develop an approach to combine LCA and PBs with the UK TIMES model, to assess the environmental sustainability of carbon neutral scenarios for the energy system and optimise future scenarios based on transgression of planetary boundaries and costs.

Person specification

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dedicated PhD student with a strong interest in sustainability, environmental issues and energy systems. The successful candidate will have or will be close to completing a first-class degree at Meng/MSc level in a quantitative subject such as physics, chemical/environmental engineering or a closely related discipline, and if appropriate an MSc in a discipline related to this project Previous experience of energy system modelling, LCA, or analysing large datasets is desirable. The successful applicant will be able to work independently while being a productive member in a collaborative team.

Eligibility

A first-class degree at the MEng or MSc level is required.

Funds are only available to cover UK-equivalent fees. Overseas applicants may apply but if successful would have to find funding to cover the difference between the UK and overseas fees rates.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through:

https://evision.ucl.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_ipp_lgn.login?process=siw_ipp_app&code1=RRDCENSING01&code2=0039

Please nominate Dr. Andrea Paulillo as supervisor and include a statement of interest.

For informal enquiries please contact Dr. Andrea Paulillo at: andrea.paulillo@ucl.ac.uk.

For further information on the MPhil/PhD course as well as the recruitment and selection process, please click on the link below:

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemical-engineering/study/mphilphd

Funding notes

Stipend: c. £21,870 per annum + UK fees

Duration of Studentship: 3.5 years

Start date: 22 September 2025