Pathways to a Circular Bioeconomy: Strategic Systems Modelling for Sustainable Biomass Valorisation into Biofuels

About the Project

Overview:

Applications are invited for a fully funded four-year PhD studentship under the prestigious EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA), co-sponsored by Arup. This project will explore how the UK can transition towards a circular bioeconomy by developing systems-based approaches to convert bio-waste and biomass residues into sustainable biofuels. The successful candidate will be based in the Resilience and Sustainability Group, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, supervised by Professor Evina Katsou, and will collaborate closely with Arup through ongoing mentorship and short industrial placements.

Working at the intersection of systems engineering and sustainability/circular economy policy, the research will deliver new guidance, frameworks, and tools to help decision-makers identify optimal biomass pathways that maximise environmental, economic, and social value. The project directly supports the UK’s Net Zero and circular economy goals, and will provide evidence-based guidance for sustainable technology deployment and investment strategies in the bio-based sector.

Project Details:

The UK must urgently reimagine its approach to biomass, not just as a combustion feedstock, but as a strategic enabler for industrial decarbonisation, resource efficiency, and circular value creation. This PhD project addresses that challenge by developing strategic systems models to identify optimal pathways for valorising bio-waste streams (such as agricultural residues, wastewater sludge, and industrial by-products) into sustainable biofuels and bioproducts. As global pressures on land, energy, and resources intensify, the efficient use of bio-waste is emerging as a cornerstone of the circular economy. However, decisions on which feedstocks to use, where to process them, and which technologies to prioritise are complex and often fragmented. This project will provide the strategic guidance and decision support frameworks/tools needed to align these choices with the UK’s 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation targets.

This research offers a systems perspective on bio-waste valorisation for the UK circular bioeconomy. While most studies focus on individual technologies or feedstocks, this project will integrate technological, spatial, economic, and policy dimensions into a unified decision-support framework. Key innovations include:

• Developing a systems model linking bio-waste generation, conversion technologies, logistics, and regional industrial clusters;
• Embedding environmental and social sustainability metrics (e.g., life-cycle assessment, resource efficiency, and regional employment indicators) into decision-making;
• Producing evidence-based scenarios to inform national investment, infrastructure, and policy choices under different climate and circular economy strategies.

The outcomes will include tools and strategic insights to support national and local decision-makers, industry, and investors in deploying sustainable biofuel and bioproduct pathways. Beyond academic impact, the work will generate actionable outputs for Arup and other stakeholders, enabling them to design and plan resilient, low-carbon systems with tangible societal and environmental benefits.

ARUP Sponsorship

A detailed description of support the successful candidate will receive as part of this ARUP-sponsored studentship is provided on the studentship advert on the Imperial website. This includes an overview of the ARUP research programme, ARUP University, ARUP Skills Network, and Skills Leader Supervision. Please review this before submitting an application.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• First Class or strong Upper Second-Class degree (or international equivalent) in engineering, environmental science, sustainability, or a related discipline.
• A Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., systems engineering, process design, energy systems, or environmental modelling) is desirable but not essential.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience in systems modelling, data analysis, or sustainability assessment.
• An understanding of sustainability assessment methods such as life-cycle analysis (LCA) or circular economy frameworks.
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to engage with industry, policy, and academic stakeholders.

Applicants must meet the UKRI eligibility requirements for PhD funding, including UK residency or equivalent criteria for home-fee status.

How to apply:

Applicants are recommended to contact Prof Evina Katsou (e.katsou@imperial.ac.uk) for further details, informal discussions and information about the project. Applicants wishing to be considered for this opportunity should send the following application documents to Prof Katsou:

1. Current CV including details of their academic record, and if possible, class ranking (2 pages maximum).
2. Covering letter explaining their motivation, suitability, skills and/or experiences (1 page maximum).
3. Contact details of two academic referees.

Application via the Imperial College Registry is not necessary at this stage. Applications will be regularly reviewed until the position is filled. Administrative questions should be emailed to civilphdadmin@imperial.ac.uk.

Funding:

The studentship will provide funding for 4 years from the start date of the PhD. The start date of the scholarship will be 1 October 2026. The funding includes tuition at the UKRI rate and a tax-free stipend at the standard UKRI London rate (for 2025/26 this is £22,780 year). The successful candidate will receive the to-be-announced equivalent 2026/27 funding.