The University of St Andrews and Macquarie University are pleased to offer a scholarship funded by both institutions to support an exceptional student undertaking doctoral research in the following project:
- PhD position on catalysis, polymer chemistry and recycling
Students will enrol at both institutions from the outset. It is expected that the successful student will spend 50% of their time at each institution, with details to be agreed by the student and supervisory team. For study location, two entry points are available. If beginning at St Andrews, these are 27 September 2027 or 27 January 2028. If beginning at Macquarie, entry points are either 1 October 2027 or 1 February 2028.
Doctoral Research at St Andrews
- As a doctoral student at the University of St Andrews, you will join a vibrant and intellectually stimulating postgraduate community within one of the world's leading research-intensive universities.
- The University of St Andrews Graduate School at St Leonard's College supports postgraduate students across the University, fostering opportunities for academic, professional and social engagement. Led by the Provost, it helps create connections across disciplines and enriches the postgraduate experience.
- Alongside School-based research training, doctoral researchers can access GRADskills, the University's postgraduate researcher development programme, as well as tailored careers and employability support.
- The Graduate School at St Leonard's College works closely with the Students’ Association and Saints Sports to ensure doctoral researchers can take full advantage of the University's societies, events, sports facilities and wellbeing opportunities, helping to create a rewarding and supportive research environment.
Doctoral Research at Macquarie
- Macquarie University is recognised globally as a leading university, consistently ranking among the world’s best due to a strong tradition of innovation and exploration. With an enviable reputation for research excellence and a driving desire to produce solutions with real-world impact, Macquarie’s discoveries are paving the way to a brighter future. As a doctoral student at Macquarie, you will be able to draw on the expertise of the university’s knowledgeable and passionate research community.
- The definition of a research problem, the exploration of the problem, and the dissemination of findings to the academic and general community, are central to the process of research candidacy at Macquarie. Candidates are supported throughout these stages by various central, faculty and departmental activities and assisted with the administration and management of their candidacy and research through the services provided by the Graduate Research Academy (GRA). Macquarie Law School is home to a vibrant and collaborative community of graduate researchers. Macquarie Law School organises a range of graduate activities including skills seminars, informal community meetings, careers events, and presentation opportunities. Macquarie University itself is set on a beautiful green campus with excellent facilities (including sporting facilities, student study spaces and over 90 clubs/societies).
- The doctoral program at Macquarie is a pathway to a career as a researcher in both academia and industry. In addition to managing their candidature and understanding their requirements as a researcher, doctoral students will complete a university-wide and a faculty-specific commencement program. They also have the opportunity to take advantage of a range of face-to-face courses and online training resources to leverage their degree to reach future career goals.
Project
PhD position on catalysis, polymer chemistry and recycling
This interdisciplinary PhD project is based in the areas of catalysis, polymer chemistry, recycling, batteries, and life cycle/techno economic assessment. The project will focus on developing new catalysts and methodologies for the transformation of renewable alcohols such as glycerol to polymers using organometallic catalysts and photocatalysts as well as explore their potential application in batteries and conduct life cycle/technoeconmic assessment.
The candidate will receive comprehensive, hands-on training in synthetic chemistry, catalytic process optimisation/development, polymer synthesis and characterisation, high-pressure reactions, and mechanistic studies, as well as several analytical techniques, in particular GPC, GC-MS, GC-TCD, NMR spectroscopy, and XRD. Additionally, the student will gain skills on conducting technoeconomic and life cycle analysis.
The position offers an exceptional opportunity to gain expertise across multiple cutting-edge areas of inorganic, organic and polymer chemistry/recycling as well as process assessment while contributing to impactful research in sustainability.
Supervisor names:
1. Dr. Amit Kumar (University of St. Andrews)
2. Prof. Vladimir Strezov (Macquarie University)
Collaborators:
1. Dr. Rob Armstrong (University of St Andrews),
- University of St Andrews profile webpage
2. Prof. Yijiao Jiang
- Macquarie University profile webpage
Subscribe for scholarship update!
Be among the first to know whenever new University of St scholarship is going on
Global St Andrews and Macquarie Doctoral Scholarship - Chemistry and Natural Sciences PhD Scholarship
Aim and Benefits of Global St Andrews and Macquarie Doctoral Scholarship - Chemistry and Natural Sciences PhD Scholarship
The student will be expected to spend half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctorate degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.
Funding arrangements are made on the basis that:
- For the period spent at the University of St Andrews, the scholarship will comprise full tuition fees and an annual stipend paid at a rate set by the University of St Andrews. For 2026-2027, the stipend rate is £20,467.
- The rate for 2027-2028 will be reviewed later this year, with confirmation expected by the end of December 2026. The maintenance or stipend rate will remain at the 2027-2028 rate for the duration of your studies, unless notified by your academic school of any uplifts.
- Macquarie will fund a living allowance scholarship per position at an annual rate of AU40,900 (2027 rate, tax exempt), paid pro-rata while the student is in Australia. A tuition fee scholarship will be granted for the period of joint enrolment up to 42 months.
- Macquarie will also provide an airfare allowance for flights between the UK and Australia up to a maximum of $4,000 AUD to be arranged by the Graduate Research Academy, and a Single Overseas Student Health Cover with Macquarie’s preferred provider.
Unless otherwise specified, the scholarships do not cover:
- Any continuation, extension, or resubmission period/fees.
- A research training grant or another equivalent award for research expenses.
- Support for travel, immigration, health insurance and related charges between the partner institutions.
Up to 3.5 years. The student will be expected to spend half of the award term at the University of St Andrews and half at Macquarie University. The successful candidate will be expected to have completed the doctoral degree by the end of the award term. The award term excludes the continuation period and any extension periods.
Requirements for Global St Andrews and Macquarie Doctoral Scholarship - Chemistry and Natural Sciences PhD Scholarship Qualification
Applicants must not already:
- hold a doctoral degree;
- be matriculated for a doctoral degree at either the University of St Andrews, Macquarie University or another institution.
Admission and scholarship criteria of both universities must be met. For St Andrews, please refer to details of how to apply and of entry requirements at Postgraduate research.
Application Deadline
December 18, 2026How to Apply
Students are to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to the MQ and St Andrew’s supervisor and copy the following email address on the email: [email protected].
The participating schools at St Andrew's and the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie, in coordination with the academic supervisors, will complete the selection process.
As part of your EOI, please submit the following documents:
- CV including information about publications
- Transcripts of most relevant/recent degrees
- Information about thesis components (thesis mark, word count, weight and length in comparison to the degree overall)
- Statement of suitability as a candidate for the project (max 500 words)
- Indication that the student meets the English language requirements for entry into a PhD program at both universities, or willingness to obtain relevant English language proficiency test results
The Global Office at St Andrews will work with the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie to arrange official notification of scholarship awards, invite scholarship awardees to formally apply for admission to both universities by the beginning of April 2027, and conclude contractual arrangements which must be in place prior to the start of the degree.
Students who are nominated for the award will be asked to formally apply for the relevant PhD course code and Co-tutelle or joint PhD scholarship through the Macquarie application portal.
Next steps
Successful scholarship applicants will be invited to apply for admission to both universities from April 2027, and then formal outcomes of the position will be made, subject to provision of full application details and materials for entry to the programme at the agreed entry point in 2027-2028.
Admission and scholarship criteria of both universities must be met:
When will I know the outcome?
- During February 2027. Awards are subject to final signatures on the parties' contracts and successful admission to both institutions.
Contact
- Please contact the Scholarships Team should you have any questions regarding the scholarship: [email protected]
- Informal enquiries regarding this scholarship may be addressed to the Global Office at St Andrews via [email protected] or to the Graduate Research Academy at Macquarie via [email protected] or via the co-supervisors:
For more information, kindly visit University of St Andrews scholarship webpage.
Menu
