PhD Studentship in Applied [R1.1] Mathematics for Formulated Products

Funding for UK students: a fully-funded 3.5-year PhD studentship covering UK home student fees and an annual stipend of £21,805.

About the research area and team

SUM4Products (Scale Up Mathematics for Formulated Products) is an EPSRC-funded UK network advancing the use of mathematics in formulation engineering. The network develops predictive modelling capabilities to unlock innovation across the formulated product sector, collaborating directly with industry. The consortium includes the University of Birmingham, University of Edinburgh, UCL, and University of Bristol. The PhD studentship is co-located with the network, offering support from network leads and opportunities to collaborate with industry partners.

More information about the project: https://www.sum4products.co.uk/about

Background

The formulated product sector influences many aspects of everyday life, producing food and drink, personal-care products, cosmetics, washing and cleaning products, and medicines. It contributes £142bn (GVA) annually to the UK economy. The sector is shifting toward smarter, greener, and more personalized products, including:

• Developing high-quality, nutritious, and sustainable foods that reduce fat and sugar without compromising flavor and texture.
• Rapid formulation of medicines, therapeutics, and foods for cost-effective, personalized products tailored to different age or health groups.
• Reformulating existing products to incorporate new ingredients due to regulatory changes, shortages, or to prevent degradation during storage.

Companies across the sector face shared challenges in processing, engineering, and performance. Mathematics is key to addressing these complexities through predictive models linking processing and microstructure to final function and performance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct mathematical modelling of formulated products using experimental data provided by industry partners.
• Work on projects such as fluid dynamics of thermal change, modelling taste release of chocolate, and sustainable beverage emulsions.
• Collaborate with a team on diverse research opportunities with industry partners.
• Develop cross-cutting PhD projects with multiple industry applications.
• Explore interdisciplinary methods for mathematical modelling in the formulation sector.
• Gain experience working directly with industry on real-world challenges.
• Potential opportunity for a research internship with an industry partner.

Requirements

• A first-class master’s level degree (or equivalent) in Mathematics, Chemical Engineering, or a related discipline by Autumn 2026.

Benefits

• Annual stipend of £21,805.
• Full coverage of UK home student fees for 3.5 years.
• Opportunities to collaborate with industry partners and researchers across the SUM4Products network.
• Potential for a research internship with an industry partner.

Schedule

Full-time, 3.5-year studentship beginning Autumn 2026.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Professor Rosemary Dyson prior to applying. Email: r.j.dyson@bham.ac.uk (cc: sum4products@contacts.bham.ac.uk), including a short summary of research interests, suitability for the position, and a CV.