Research Fellow in Sustainable Process Engineering

Do you have a strong interest in sustainable processes? Do you have experience in Process Systems Engineering and Sustainability? Are you keen to develop your career in optimising novel separations? Do you want to join one of the UK's research Intensive Universities?

A key challenge in decarbonising pharmaceutical manufacturing is the production of high-purity solvents required for active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) synthesis, chromatography and cleaning operations. Existing bio-based solvents often fail to meet the stringent moisture, purity and quality specifications demanded by the pharmaceutical sector, while conventional purification methods are highly energy intensive and economically prohibitive.

In this project, you will focus on the development, optimisation and scale-up of advanced solvent production and purification processes, integrating novel membrane separation technologies, process design and mathematical models to deliver pharmaceutical-grade solvents at industrially relevant scales. The work will involve process design, separation and dehydration system optimisation, mass and energy integration, and integrated process performance and evaluation. These activities will establish scalable manufacturing routes that reduce energy consumption, improve resource efficiency and enable the production of low-carbon solvents suitable for deployment across global medicines manufacturing supply chains.

This project is funded via the InnovateUK Industrialising UK Bio-based Solvents for Global Medicine Manufacturing, with partners across the University of Leeds, Queen Mary University London, Exactmer Limited, Celtic Renewables Limited, OXCCU Tech LTD, Solve Chemistry LTD, Atmospheric AI Limited and the Centre for Process Innovation Limited.

What we offer in return:

- 26 days holiday plus approximately 16 Bank Holidays/days that the University is closed by custom (including Christmas) – 42 days a year
- Generous pension scheme plus life assurance – the University contributes 14.5% of salary
- Health and Wellbeing: Discounted staff membership options at The Edge, our state-of-the-art Campus gym, with a pool, sauna, climbing wall, cycle circuit, and sports halls
- Personal Development: Access to courses run by our Organisational Development & Professional Learning team
- Access to on-site childcare, shopping discounts and travel schemes

For further enquiries, please contact Dr. Keeran Ward, Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering, at [email protected]