PhD profiles

Could algae solve 21st century problems?

Thomas Butler Postgraduate researcher

PhD graduate Tom has is now working in industry as Senior Researcher for SynAlgae. SynAlgae are a team of committed biologists, aquaculturists and engineers that develop stable, scalable, simple algae-growth technology that opens a world of opportunities across a number of industrial sectors.

PhD student in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

From sewage to sustenance

James Bezzina Postgraduate researcher

Could sewage be the answer to our long-term fertiliser needs? James Bezzina's PhD research is exploring how to transform our waste into a sustainable resource.

Dyeing for clean water

Eleni Routoula Postgraduate researcher

Eleni's research is focused on reducing environmental pollution from dyes in water.

At the University of Sheffield, you have the opportunity to take a new step forward in life. Be courageous and be independent with your thoughts.

Liangxu Lin PhD Engineering Materials

Since graduating in 2014 with a PhD in Engineering Materials Liangxu Lin has had a number of roles in academia before starting their position of Professor at Fujian Normal University in China. In their current position they lead a research group, undertake their own research and supervise other researchers. Liangxu Lin’s research is looking at surface and interface phenomena of two-dimensional materials and applications of electrochemical functional devices, material discovery and application expansion.

The material which I learned, the skills obtained and the people that I met have all been and continue to be instrumental, in my ongoing career.

Owen McGann UG Chemical Physics, MSc Nuclear Environmental Science & Technology, PhD Nuclear waste vitrification

After completing their PhD Owen started working at Glass Technology Services through a KTP (Knowledge transfer partnership) between GTS and the University of Leeds. This introduced Owen to the area of photonic glass materials. Once the KTP finished GTS employed Owen on a permanent basis and over the following eight years has risen to their current position leading the R&D work in the area of photonics. Owen has been involved in a wide range of interesting and impactful research work while at GTS.

There are people from all walks of life and every culture I can think of and it makes it a fantastic place to work

Elizabeth Davis-Fowell Rare-Earth Free Bulk Permanent Magnet Alloy Development

This Pride Month, we spoke to Elizabeth about her experiences in the Department. She graduated as a Physicist, but always had an interest in materials physics. Having spent some time with 'nuclear binmen' in Scotland, she now develops new magentic alloys for electric cars.

I’ve studied in lots of unis/departments, but I’ve found this department in Sheffield to be the warmest and most welcoming of the lot!

James Mansfield Immobilisation Science Laboratory

To celebrate Pride month, we talked to James about his research and his experience of being part of the growing LGBTQIA+ community in the department. James is working towards his PhD in researching how glass dissolved over long periods of time to understand how nuclear waste may be safely disposed of. His project is about "Long-term Glass Behaviour Testing In Action + some other stuff (LGBTQIA+ ??)”

Proper science means you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. At first that can be a bit scary, but your experience will guide you through.

Chris Morris Currently a member of the Centre for Doctoral Training for Nuclear Energy Futures

Chris studied Materials Science with Nuclear Engineering and has gone on to join the Centre for Doctoral Training in Nuclear Energy Futures.

The Future of Pharma

Kawther Kadim Postgraduate Researcher

Kawther Kadim is looking into the quality of tableting drugs and good, quality granule which affects the tablet properties, such as strength, dissolution and disintegration.

We've really enjoyed our time here and bringing up our children in the city

Zena Jehad Wally PhD Materials Science and Engineering

Zena and her family moved to Sheffield from Iraq so that she could research small-scale 3D printing for her PhD.

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

School of Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering

PhD profiles

Could algae solve 21st century problems?

From sewage to sustenance

Dyeing for clean water

At the University of Sheffield, you have the opportunity to take a new step forward in life. Be courageous and be independent with your thoughts.

The material which I learned, the skills obtained and the people that I met have all been and continue to be instrumental, in my ongoing career.

There are people from all walks of life and every culture I can think of and it makes it a fantastic place to work

I’ve studied in lots of unis/departments, but I’ve found this department in Sheffield to be the warmest and most welcoming of the lot!

Proper science means you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. At first that can be a bit scary, but your experience will guide you through.

The Future of Pharma

We've really enjoyed our time here and bringing up our children in the city

PhD profiles

Find a PhD