Chemical Engineering research and PhD programmes

Research activities within the chemical engineering degree programmes at Brunel cover a wide range of multidisciplinary topics. Academic staff involved investigate diverse future facing questions relevant to chemical process engineering, bioprocess engineering, materials manufacturing, energy technologies and low carbon economics. We develop innovative processes and products focusing on clean growth, sustainable development, digitalisation and process safety. Besides advancing scientific knowledge, we also aim to work closely with various industries and communities to provide world-class solutions to current and future social challenges. We conduct our research together with various university-level research centres and institutes. We have a world-leading collection of chemical and materials characterisation facilities at our disposal. At the core of your research study will be the relationship with your supervisor. We encourage you to contact the academic with related interests using our supervisor search tool online to discuss your proposal before submitting your application.

Research opportunities for students 

Research students are welcomed to Brunel as valued members of our thriving, research-intensive community. Browse PhD opportunities below and find out about the funding available for students.

Research in Chemical Engineering

Find people, projects, groups and publications in Chemical Engineering and read more about related research to this area. 

Independent assessment of our research quality (REF 2021)

View REF 2021 details for Engineering (UoA 12)

Wrexham firm decked out with Brunel research

REF 2021

Research groups and centres

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels

We have particular strengths in improving the efficiency and reducing energy cost of existing engines through developing low temperature combustion processes and their controls and regenerative braking, as well as unique methodologies for the study of fuels and engines.

Assessment of Structures and Materials under Extreme Conditions

Thermo-mechanical modelling of metallic, non-metallic and composite structural materials; numerical methods development for solid and structural mechanics applications; experimental methods to support the development and application of advanced material and structural models.

Bioprocess and Biopharmaceutical Engineering

We pursue research into separation and purification techniques and associated instrument design/operation, to ensure further improvements are made in the speed, through-put, economy, resolution and efficiency of downstream processing

Digital Process and Simulation

Emerging Energy Technologies

Energy Efficient and Sustainable Technologies

Thermal systems including renewable systems and their application; Single and two-phase heat transfer processes–enhanced heat transfer; Refrigeration; Heating-cooling and ventilating systems; cooling of electronics; Coatings and nanofluids in thermal applications; Modelling and energy efficiency in thermal systems; Carbon capture systems; Energy storage, renewable hydrogen and fuel cell systems; Energy materials; Energy use in communication systems.

Experimental Techniques Centre

A highly regarded cross-disciplinary characterisation facility, with specialist staff that have expertise from various scientific disciplines, e.g. biology, metallurgy, geology and engineering.

Institute of Energy Futures

We have particular strengths in environmental design in refrigeration, heating and cooling and disruptive energy and fuels bringing together researchers from different disciplines as well as mainstream engineering research.

Institute of Materials and Manufacturing

Aims to improve the performance of materials and structures and become the leading international provider of materials and manufacturing research.

Mechanics of Solids and Structures

Internationally leading research in the areas of experimental testing and computational modelling of solids and structures.

Two Phase Flow and Heat Transfer

Focussing on various aspects of fluid flow and heat transfer, from the nano to the macro scale with applications to industrial thermal systems, aerospace, energy generation, process industries as well as carbon capture and utilisation.

Wolfson Centre for Sustainable Materials Development and Processing

Research into the development and processing of new materials including nano-materials, nano-phosphors and nanostructured carbon, biofuels, polymers and bio-polymers.

Work with our experts

Research degrees at Brunel

Research services for Business

Courses

Advanced Powertrain and Fuels PhD

Chemical Engineering PhD

Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering PhD

Materials Characterisation and Processing PhD

Materials Engineering PhD

Micro-Nano Manufacturing PhD

Synthetic Biology PhD

View all courses

Fully-funded studentships

Development of waste-derived adsorbents for CO2 capture from humid gas