PhD Project - Developing high-speed electrochemical impedance cleaning sensors
An opportunity to come and work within a dynamic research group at the University of Southampton on a PhD studentship within the Electrochemistry section has just become available. This exciting research project will develop novel in-situ sensors to investigate surface cleaning.
Surface cleaning is a remarkably important process affecting many different industries and inhibiting technological advancements. For example, in the food industry, cleaning plays a major role in the loss of productivity of a plant. To minimise such losses, new cleaning methods are required and critically, assessing whether a surface is clean/contaminated after cleaning remains a key issue. This project seeks to answer some of the relevant questions. First, how fast is a surface cleaned? Second, how ‘clean is clean’ and, third, does cleaning an area mean other parts of the surface receive re-deposition of material. To solve these problems a set of new electrochemical sensors will be developed with the ultimate aim of using arrays of sensors within a system. This will allow the dynamics of the cleaning process to be monitored in real time. The approach will utilise the novel expertise in our group combined with high-speed imaging. See gallery for examples.
The approach we will adopt is highly novel and you will be at the forefront of exploring the processes that occur. The work will produce ground-breaking results, leading to entirely new insights into important processes which have a significant fundamental impact on society today.
This position (3.5 years funding) is available to UK students only with a first or upper second class degree in a relevant subject. The project would ideally commence in October 2023. For informal enquiries, and further details, please email Dr Peter Birkin who will be the project supervisor.
Equality, diversity and Inclusion is central to the ethos in Chemistry, having held an Athena SWAN Silver award since 2014. Hence, we encourage all qualified and eligible candidates to apply for this position. Chemistry also considers applicants that wish to work flexibly and due consideration is given to applicants who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy and onsite childcare facilities. For further information please visit here.
The University of Southampton is in the top 1% of world universities and in the top 10 of the UK’s research-intensive universities. We are committed to sustainability and being a globally responsible university having recently been awarded the Platinum EcoAward. Our vision is to embed the principles of sustainability into all aspects of our individual and collective work, integrating sustainable development into our business planning, policy-making, and professional activities.