EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Integrated Catalysis

Lead Research Organisation: University of Manchester
Department Name: Chemistry

Abstract

The EPSRC CDT in Integrated Catalysis (iCAT) will train students in process-engineering, chemical catalysis, and biological catalysis, connecting these disciplines in a way that will transform the way molecules are made.
Traditionally, PhD students are trained in either chemocatalysis (using chemical catalysts such as metal salts) or biocatalysis (using enzymes), but very rarely both, a situation that is no longer tenable given the demands of industry to rapidly produce new products based on chemical synthesis. Graduate engineers and scientists entering the chemical industry now need to have the skills and agility to work across a far broader base of catalysis - iCAT will meet this challenge by training the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists and engineers who are comfortable working in both bio and chemo catalysis regimes, and can exploit their synergies for the discovery and production of molecules essential to society.

iCAT features world-leading chemistry and engineering groups advancing the state-of-the-art in bio and chemo catalysis, with an outstanding track record in PhD training. The CDT will be managed by a strong and experienced team with guidance from a distinguished membership of an International Advisory Group. The rich portfolio of interdisciplinary CDT projects will feature blue-sky research blended in with more problem-solving studies across scientific themes such as supramolecular-assisted catalysis using molecular machines, directed evolution and biosynthetic engineering for synthesis, and process integration of chemo and bio-catalysis for sustainable synthesis.

The iCAT training structure has been co-developed with industry end-users to create a state-of-the-art training centre at the University of Manchester, equipping PhD students with the skills and industrial experience needed to develop new catalytic processes that meet the stringent standards of a future sustainable chemicals industry in the UK. This chemical industry is world-class and a crucial industrial sector for the UK, providing significant numbers of jobs and creating wealth (currently contributing £15 billion of added value each year to our economy). The industry relies first and foremost on skilled researchers with the ability to design and build, using catalysis, molecules with well-defined properties to produce the drugs, agrochemicals, polymers, speciality chemicals of the future. iCAT will deliver this new breed of scientist / engineer that the UK requires, involving industry in the design and provision of training, and dovetailing with other EPSRC-, University-, and Industry-led initiatives in the research landscape.

Planned Impact

iCAT will work with industry partners to create an holistic approach to the training of students in biocatalysis, chemocatalysis, and their process integration. Traditional graduate training typically focuses on one aspect of catalysis and this approach can severely restrict innovation and impact. Advances in technology and fundamental reaction discovery are rendering this silo-approach obsolete, and a new training modality is needed to produce the next generation of chemists and engineers who can operate across a far broader chemical continuum. iCAT will meet this challenge with a state-of-the-art CDT, equipping the next generation of scientists and engineers with the skills needed to develop future catalytic processes and create the functional molecules of tomorrow.

The UK has one of the world's top-performing chemical industries, achieving outstanding levels of growth, exports, productivity and international investment. The UK's chemical industry is a significant provider of jobs and creator of wealth, with a turnover in excess of £50 billion and a contribution of over £15 Billion of value to the UK economy [2015 figures]. iCAT will deliver highly skilled people to lead this industry across its various sectors, achieving impact through the following actions:

1. Equip the next generation of science and engineering leaders with the interdisciplinary skills and knowledge needed to work across the bio and chemo catalytic remit and build the functional molecules we need to structure society.

2. Provide a highly skilled workforce and research base, skilled in the latest methodologies, strategies and techniques of catalysis and engineering that is crucial for the UK's Chemical Industry.

3. Build the critical mass necessary to support effective cohort-based training in a world-class research environment.

4. Develop and disseminate new catalytic technologies and processes that will be taken up by industrial and academic teams around the world.

5. Encourage Industry to promote research challenges within the CDT that are of core relevance to their business.

6. Provide cohesion in the integration of biocatalysis, engineering and chemocatalysis to create a more unified voice for strategic dialogue with industry, funders and policy makers, and more generally outreach and public engagement.

7. Draw-in and bring together Industrial partners to facilitate future Industrial collaborations.

8. Benefit Industrial scientists through interactions with the CDT (e.g. training and supervisory experience, exposure to cutting-edge synthesis and catalysis etc).

9. Link with other activities in the landscape: bringing unique expertise in catalysis to, for example, externally-funded University-led initiatives, EPRSC Grand Challenge Networks, and the National Catalysis Hub.

Publications

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Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/S023755/1 31/03/2019 29/09/2027
2279460 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 31/12/2023 Anastasios Charitou
2279462 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 29/09/2023 Jonathan Trimble
2751716 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 31/03/2024 Lewis Caiger
2279405 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 29/09/2023 Stanley Sowerby Thomas
2279459 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 29/09/2023 Romain Jamagne
2279379 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 29/09/2023 Ivan Paul
2279351 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 29/09/2023 Ewan Moody
2279391 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 31/12/2023 Emma Pye
2279370 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2019 31/12/2023 Jacob Kenyon
2503911 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Stuart Angiolini
2466761 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 William McDevitt
2465805 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Euan Hossack
2466173 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Thomas Lister
2466112 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 William Jobbins
2887508 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Jake Foster
2466770 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Alfie Taylor
2465749 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Valentina Cuomo
2607949 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 John Davidson
2465808 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2020 29/09/2024 Mantas Jarockis
2608096 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 14/01/2022 Madison Newby
2608082 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Alexander Betts
2608091 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Weng Ieong
2608089 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Aimee Haggarty
2608094 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Bethany Moore
2608083 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Alexander Clarke
2608093 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Henry Jones
2608088 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2021 29/09/2025 Charlotte Griffith
2887513 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 George Bilionis
2752686 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Ethan Lim
2752685 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Yuanshu Jiang
2752680 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Aife Conboy
2747748 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 George Bilionis
2752688 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Heather Partlow
2752687 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Ali Najmi
2752674 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Robbie Clark
2752689 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Chi Wong
2752683 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2022 29/09/2026 Orla Conboy
2885387 Studentship EP/S023755/1 01/01/2023 29/09/2027 Chung Doan
2887503 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Natalia Sanchez Castro
2886562 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Ben Hillman
2886507 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Celine Zurr
2887502 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Maria Kolyagina
2887504 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Michael Yuen
2886548 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Nilanjan Bhaduri
2887501 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Akash Das
2886619 Studentship EP/S023755/1 30/09/2023 29/09/2027 Chloe Haigh