Undergraduate Vacation Studentship Scheme 2026 – Newcastle University Projects
Applications for our undergraduate vacation studentship scheme at Newcastle University are now open!
Closing date: 17:00, Friday 24 April 2026
Scroll down for details of available projects. New projects added!
About the scheme
The scheme aims to encourage students to consider a career in Chemical Engineering/Chemistry. During the scheme, selected undergraduate students will be based at either Newcastle University or the University of York for the duration of 6 weeks over the summer to complete a short-term research project within the Chemical Engineering or Chemistry discipline.
Eligibility
Students must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the scheme:
• Be undertaking their first undergraduate degree studies (or integrated Masters)
• Be expected to obtain a first or upper second-class UK honours degree
• Be eligible for subsequent EPSRC PhD funding within PINZ CDT (i.e., UK or right to remain in the UK)
• Be in their penultimate year of studies
Applications for Projects at Newcastle University
To be considered for the projects below at Newcastle University, please apply to pinz.cdt@newcastle.ac.uk by the closing date of Friday 24 April 2026. You should provide the following:
• A cover letter with details of the project you would like to be considered for and reasons for applying
• A CV
• A reference from your personal tutor
• A copy of your latest transcript
You can find information on the projects available at the University of York and how to apply for them here. Please note there is a different application process for for projects at the University of York.
Selection process and timescales
Applications will be screened for suitability and nominated candidates will be shared with the PINZ CDT panel.
Successful candidates will be notified no later than Friday 5 June 2026 with an indicative start date for the project of Monday 15 June 2026.
Payment
Students will be paid for their placement via their host institution. Both partner universities pay hourly rates which are based on the national living wage (£15.51 per hour).
Reporting
Following the placement, students will be required to prepare a summary report based on the outcome of their placement. You will also be asked to deliver a short talk on your project to staff and fellow students in Newcastle University’s Process Intensification Group (PIG) or the University of York Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence (GCCE)
Available Projects at Newcastle University
Details of available projects at Newcastle University are listed below. Details of available projects at the University of York are listed here. This page will be updated with details of further projects at Newcastle University as they are finalised.
Placement Title: Biorenewable Detergents
Location: School of Engineering, Newcastle University
Industry Partner: Procter & Gamble
Supervisors: Dr Fernando Russo Abegão and Professor Kamelia Boodhoo
Placement Description: Fast-moving consumer goods, such as fabric and home care products, have a high market volume and can contribute positively for industrial and consumer sustainability. This summer internship is co-sponsored by Procter and Gamble and will be focused on testing the viability of making a novel detergent building block through a circular economy approach. You will learn about catalyst preparation and test a green reaction to convert a biomass-based molecule into a biorenewable monomer. There will be opportunities to learn about analytical techniques to characterise the catalyst and/or reaction products.
Placement Title: Using particle simulations to predict milling performance
Location: School of Engineering, Newcastle University
Industry Partner: Johnson Matthey
Supervisor: Dr Colin Hare
Placement Description: Particle size reduction is a critical and energy intensive step in powder processing, in diverse sectors such as mining, catalysts, pharmaceuticals, foods and other fast moving consumer goods. Product performance is highly dependent on the particle size distribution, which should be controlled by the milling step. However, the dynamics of a mill are complex, meaning the influence of material properties and processing conditions on the resulting particle size distribution is not well understood in most applications. Therefore, this proof-of-concept project will use particle simulations (using the Discrete Element Method – DEM) to determine the influence of particle loading, impeller rotational speed and milling time on the resulting particle size distribution.
The DEM software we use is called EDEM, which is licensed by Altair. The software has a graphical user interface (GUI), meaning that coding is not required. If you scroll down to “Workflow examples” on the above link, and view the video for the first example, it shows what the software looks like.
The project would involve setting up and running simulations under different conditions, then analysing the results of the simulation output.
Placement Title: Clearing the Air: Optimising Filtration Performance in Industrial Waste-to-Energy Systems
Location: School of Engineering, Newcastle University
Industry Partner: Durham Filtration
Supervisor: Dr Jonathan McDonough
Placement Description: Waste-to-energy plants typically use baghouse filtration systems to prevent the emission of harmful particulate matter into the atmosphere. While the build-up of particulate matter on the bags over time increases the filtration efficiency, the pressure drop also increases which eventually negatively impacts the overall energy efficiency of the plant. To maintain a desirable pressure drop, the bags must therefore be routinely cleaned. This is typically achieved using pulsed air jets, where compressed air is released in short bursts into the bags from a series of header pipes fitted with nozzles positioned above the bags.
The wider goal of this project is to investigate the trade-off between filtration performance and operational cost, with a particular focus on compressed air usage and cleaning/scheduling strategies.
Some key objectives are as follows:
• Develop a dynamic model of a typical baghouse
• Conduct a lifecycle cost analysis of compressed air use during filtration and normal operation
• Evaluate the impacts of different pulse-cleaning schedules on overall system efficiency
• Contribute to identifying optimal cleaning strategies for real industrial systems
This project is sponsored by Durham Filtration. Given the proximity of their site to the university, there will be opportunities to engage directly with Durham Filtration throughout the project, including potential site visits. Additionally, this project also aligns with an ongoing PhD project also sponsored by Durham Filtration, and so you will also work alongside this PhD researcher to inform on the development of CFD models of the pulse-jet behaviour.
This placement is ideal for students interested in energy systems, process optimisation/modelling, and industrially relevant research.
Placement Title: Food waste conversion via anaerobic digestion: improving the separation units
Location: School of Engineering, Newcastle University
Industry Partner: Suez
Supervisor: Dr Sharon Velasquez Orta
Placement Description: Anaerobic digestion is an attractive technology to convert organic wastes into a valuable biogas product. One of the challenges within the anaerobic digestion processes is separating the inorganic from the organic waste fractions. This becomes more relevant towards the end of the processing. Final separation refinements require the removal of small inert particles from the resulting digestate sludge. The student internship will evaluate the distribution of particles inside fermenters and stabilisation units, and their optimal removal via screening. This includes the characterisation of particles at different tank depths to propose possible changes in fluid/unit operation, and the modelling and testing of screening ranges to provide the procedures required for optimum segregation.
Placement Title: Promoting circular economy in filtration systems
Location: School of Engineering, Newcastle University
Industry Partner: PPT Filter Cycle Ltd
Supervisor: Dr Shayan Seyedin
Placement Description: Air filters are often utilised within industrial air pollution control systems that capture particulates from exhaust gases using fabric filter media, commonly made of materials such as polyester. These are often on the exhaust side of the system.
Exhaust filters are widely used in automotive paint processes to collect overspray during coating operations.
This summer internship project aims to promote the circular economy within filtration. This internship is co-sponsored by PPT Filtercycle Ltd. The main focus will be on the high calorific value of end-of-life paint exhaust filters, where polyester media is coated with dry paint overspray. The key area of investigation is the combustion behaviour of this material, for instance, whether it can be safely incinerated as a standalone fuel or requires blending and whether any explosive or other risks arise during combustion.
This project will also explore opportunities for the reuse or repurposing of filters to support circular economy approaches and reduce reliance on incineration or landfill.
Key objectives of the project include:
• Assess the explosive (or non-explosive) nature of dry paint-soaked filters
• Evaluate the feasibility of classifying the waste as a fuel
• Investigate reuse or repurposing routes for baghouse filters
• Review regulatory and compliance considerations
This placement is ideal for students interested in circular economy and sustainable chemical processing.
Placement Title: Optimisation of the acid esterification reaction of FFA for biodiesel production
Location: School of Engineering, Newcastle University
Industry Partner: Greenergy
Supervisor: Professor Adam Harvey and Dr Marija Vicevic
Placement Description: Studying the reaction of a high percentage FFA feed with sulphuric acid and methanol at different ratios, temperatures, residence times etc to determine the optimum operating conditions.