Applications for our undergraduate vacation studentship scheme are now open!
Closing date: 17:00, Friday 24 April 2026
Scroll down for details of available projects. New project 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
To be considered for this opportunity, 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
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
Details of available projects are listed below. This page will be updated with details of further projects 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.
Wednesday 21 January 2026, 12:30 – 15:30 and
Thursday 22 January 2026, 09:00 – 15:30
Newcastle University, Stephenson Building, NE1 7RU
Event summary
Join us at the second EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ) 2026 Conference for an engaging day and a half of connection, discovery, and innovation. This event brings together researchers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to explore the latest progress in student-led research within the EPSRC PINZ Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT).
Expect insightful presentations, valuable networking opportunities, and fresh perspectives from across the process industries as we work towards a net zero future.
Day 1 will include a collaborative session uniting academics and industry to explore future industry challenges and co-develop project opportunities.
Day 2 will highlight the real-world research of Cohorts 1 and 2 as they address the net-zero challenges of their industrial partners, alongside direct insights from industry leaders on their current hurdles, offering valuable opportunities for networking and collaboration.
Day 1 Agenda
12:30 – 13:15 Registration and Lunch
13:15 – 13:30 Introduction: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training Process Industries: Net Zero
13:30 – 14:00 Technical overview: Newcastle University Process Intensification Group (PIG) and University of York Green Chemistry Centre for Excellence (GCCE)
14:00 – 15:30 Interactive session
This interactive session brings together industry professionals and academic experts to spark collaboration around shared challenges and innovation opportunities. In the session, academics will deliver concise elevator pitches showcasing their expertise, while facilitators help each group uncover barriers, explore potential solutions, and identify areas ripe for partnership. It’s a dynamic way for industry to tap into the specialist knowledge at Newcastle and York, and for academics to gain insight into real-world priorities.
16:00-17:30 Industrial Advisory Board Meeting
Day 2 Agenda
09:00 – 09:30 Registration and Refreshments
09:30 – 09:45 Welcome and Opening Remarks
09:45 – 10:15 Keynote Speaker
Further details to follow
10:15-10:30 Funder perspective
Karen Davies, EPSRC Portfolio Manager
10:30 – 10:45 Morning Break
10:45 – 12:15 PINZ CDT Cohort 2 Students: Flash presentations
12:15 – 13:15 Networking lunch and poster display
13:15 – 14:00 Industry perspective
Further details to follow
14:00 – 15:00 PINZ CDT Cohort 1 Students: Industry research project updates
15:00 – 15:15 Summer placements overview
15:15 – 15:30 Closing remarks
15:30 Close
If you have issues accessing the Registration form, please contact us at pinz.cdt@newcastle.ac.uk.
PINZ CDT students attend this year’s event at Newcastle University
On Friday 10 October, we were delighted to host the students from both Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 for our 2025 PINZ CDT Welcome Event at the School of Engineering, Newcastle University.
Over lunchtime, students joined a meeting of the Process Intensification Research Group (PIG), to hear presentations by Salome Usakuhyel Raymond and Ben Chapman, two Cohort 1 students from the University of York. Salome and Ben shared updates on their ongoing research projects in collaboration with industry partners, highlighting the real-world impact of their work.
Following the research session, students took part in the Welcome Event itself, offering an introduction to the CDT programme and an opportunity to connect with their peers and staff.
The day concluded with a relaxed early evening social – the perfect way to foster new connections and celebrate the collaborative spirit that defines our CDT community.
PINZ CDT Cohort 1 – Left to right: Louise Amor-Seabrooke, Salome Usakuhyel Raymond, Abubakar Kuburi, Vaishnavi Jambhorkar, Ben Chapman, Zuhair Ali, Abdul Samad
PINZ CDT Cohort 2 – Left to right: Aditya Tiwari, Kyle McLean, Max Atkinson, Alex Bradley, Kudzaishe Chiwara, Annabel Bowkett, Kypros Iakovou, Aarcha Kudzaishe Chiwara, Sam Bury, Robyn Haley, Amy Lumsdon, Dominic Gardiner
Cohort 1 students present to the Process Intensification Research Group
On Friday 10 October, had the pleasure of seeing two of our students, Salome Usakuhyel Raymond and Ben Chapman, present their ongoing research to the Process Intensification Group (PIG) at Newcastle University. Their work, developed with industry sponsors Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd. and Johnson Matthey, sparked insightful discussions.
Students share results of their placement projects
We were pleased to host presentations from our 2025 EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Process Industries Net Zero (PINZ CDT) Vacation Placement Students at the Newcastle University Process Intensification Group meeting on Friday, 26 September.
Eight current Level 4 MEng students — Faizah Ashraf, Izzy Coles, Jessica Ensor, Basmalah Etri, Nyah Greenwood, Charlotte Mellor, Anahita Shahbakhsh, and Anesh Tahir — shared the results of their summer placements, undertaken in collaboration with industrial partners. Their projects addressed a diverse range of challenges, all contributing to the overarching goal of supporting the process industries in their transition to net zero.
Congratulations to the students for their excellent work!
Our thanks go to the industry sponsors who made these placements possible: Northumbrian Water Group Limited, Clean Carbon Solutions, METzero Technologies, Syngenta, Procter & Gamble, Merck Group, Johnson Matthey, AM Technology, and SSE Thermal.
Poster prize success for PINZ CDT student at chemical physics conference
We’re proud to announce that Salome Raymond, a PINZ CDT student at the University of York, has won a poster prize at this year’s Annual Northern Universities Meeting on Chemical Physics.
Salome’s research focuses on Ethyl Lactate as a Green Solvent – Processes, Performance and Air Quality Impacts, contributing to the development of more sustainable chemical processes.
Her work was recognised for its scientific quality and potential impact. Congratulations to Salome on this well-deserved achievement!
The PINZ CDT Team recently held a Team Day at Beamish Museum
A group of EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ CDT) Cohort 1 students, incoming Cohort 2 students, Summer Placement Sutdents and members of the Management Team from Newcastle University School of Engineering and the University of York Department of Chemistry came together for a team-building day at Beamish Museum on 24 July.
Highlights included a ride on the upper deck of the open-top tram and an insightful trip down the Beamish drift mine. The day provided a valuable opportunity for everyone to strengthen relationships, exchange experiences, and enjoy some relaxed time outside the usual work and study setting.
PIN31 took place at Newcastle University on 10 July 2025
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Process Industries: Net Zero (PINZ CDT) was delighted to welcome the 31st Meeting of the Process Intensification Network (PIN31) to Stephenson Building at Newcastle University on 10 July.
This free event brought together our academic and industry partners, current PINZ CDT students, PINZ placement students, and staff from Newcastle University and the University of York.
The programme featured engaging presentations from academic and industry experts, including our PINZ CDT students, giving an opportunity for knowledge exchange, networking and celebrating cutting-edge research in process intensification in addition to hearing updates on the PINZ CDT.
PINZ CDT Management Team and students hosted a panel session at ChemUK 2025 at the NEC, Birmingham on 21st and 22nd May.
PINZ CDT PhD student, Louise Amor-Seabrooke and PINZ CDT Management Team, Professor Adam Harvey, Dr Jonathan McDonough, Dr Richard Law and Ryan Sidall, joined the panel. In this session, the panel introduced the centre, set out how industry can get involved and highlighted three ongoing projects:
– Filter optimisation for flue gas treatment
– Biofuels from food waste
– Saving energy and heat recovery across a waste-water treatment site.
Listen to the recording of the panel session
