This year, following the merger of departments, the scheme was opened to students on Materials Science and Engineering degree programmes as well as those studying Chemical Engineering. This resulted in the highest number of offered projects and applications since the scheme began.
During the summer holiday, over the course of eight weeks, 15 students worked with academics on cutting-edge research projects spanning all the CMBE research themes. Projects included fluid rheology for medical applications, catalysis, renewable electrification, bioinspired materials, sustainable cements, digital twins, sustainable aviation fuels, and even engineering education.
The SURF scheme concludes with a poster showcase, where students get to present their work to a mixed audience of students, staff, and invited members of the public (including friends and family). The showcase is an opportunity for the student fellows to talk in-depth about their project, their research idea and the techniques they developed over the course of the project. The posters are judged based on design, visual appeal, technical content and the presentation from the student. The top three are awarded prizes. This year’s prizes are sponsored by Priorclave (top prize) and Britvic-Carleberg (second and third prize).
The SURF scheme benefits both students and supervisors. Students gain valuable research experience, from writing proposals to presenting their findings. Key learning outcomes from the scheme include independent learning, time and project management, communication skills, and critical thinking. Many of the supervisors are PhD students or Postdoctoral Research Associates who are new to supervising projects. This scheme allows them to experience supervision, design small, tailored projects, and quickly explore ideas that could contribute to larger research projects.
The opportunity is available to all undergraduate students in CMBE, with recruitment taking place between February (project communication) and April (project allocation) in a competitive format consisting of the development and submission of an application and an interview phase.
2025 prize winners
Aseye Banibensu (1st prize)
Aoife Foskett (2nd prize)
Deepti Kulandaivelan Priya (3rd prize)
Aseye Banibensu (student, 1st prize)
The effect of conditioning protocols on the internal resistances of a water electrolyser
“I really enjoyed learning more about electrolysers, as well as seeing the detailed research that goes into optimising technology performance for successful implementation into industry. I would recommend SURF to any students who are interested in research and are eager to build their confidence in a practical setting, as this is one key area in which this experience greatly benefitted me!”
Olivia Linley (PhD researcher, supervisor of Aseye)
“As a PhD student, the SURF scheme provided an invaluable way to practice my supervisory skills. The student was engaged and provided a fresh perspective, which made me think about my research in a new way.”
Aoife Foskett (student, 2nd prize)
Understanding the chemistry and engineering of alkali-activated cements
"Participating in the SURF scheme provided invaluable hands-on experience in a lab setting where I learnt how to plan, conduct and present experimental data in an effective and engaging way. Working alongside an active research group offered real insight into PhD life, and being part of such a supportive and collaborative team was incredibly rewarding. This experience has inspired me to consider continuing this work for my final-year master’s project and I would highly recommend the scheme to anyone interested in exploring research or lab-based study."
Will McMahon (PhD researcher, supervisor of Aoife)
“Having Aofie as a placement student over the summer has been a fantastic experience for the both of us. It has been great to see her learn so much in such a short period of time, and I was especially impressed at how she was able to go from knowing nothing about the subject to giving a PhD standard presentation at her final group meeting.
As a supervisor I have also learnt a lot about how best to support students, especially when it comes to enabling them to deliver significant projects in short timeframes.
Deepti Kulandaivelan Priya (student, 3rd prize)
Revealing the 3D architecture of nanostructured material with ptycho-tomography
“This project gave me invaluable insight into what real research involves, from solving problems, adapting when things don’t go as planned, and constantly learning. It was challenging but incredibly rewarding, and strengthened both my technical and analytical skills, as well as my confidence in approaching open-ended problems. The support and guidance from my supervisors and PhD mentors were instrumental in helping me navigate the learning curve and gain a deeper appreciation for research as a collaborative process. ”
David Gregory (academic), Nicholas Farr (PDRA) - Deepti’s supervisors
“It was a fantastic experience supervising Deepti as a summer project student. She showed outstanding engagement and enthusiasm throughout, going above and beyond expectations to achieve the project’s goals. Despite challenging circumstances, Deepti mastered complex techniques within a very short timeframe, demonstrating impressive determination and ability.”
