Understanding the Micelle Architecture of Mild to Harsh Surfactant Blends

One full scholarship is available in the School of Food Science and Nutrition in 2025/26. This highly competitive EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award Studentship offers the award of fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant (currently £19,237 for academic session 2024/25) with a top up £4,000 per annum for 4 years. Training and support will also be provided.<br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to Colloid Science and the Physical Chemistry of Biomaterials. The research is part of an ongoing international collaboration between the University of Leeds and Croda, who have been directly allocated to an Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA) with a funding arrangement for 4 years.<br /> <br /> This project aims to investigate the structure-function relationships of commonly used surfactants in wash-off skin care formulations. These are typically tested by measuring the ability to solubilize various biological components and to some extent the behaviour can be related to the size and charge of the surfactant micelles, as well as the critical micelle concentration. However, for mixtures of classic and novel surfactants these relationships are sometimes far from clear and a more thorough analysis of micelle nanostructure is needed.<br /> The goal of the research project is to investigate how the surfactant self-assembly processes and the nanostructural characteristics of the formed micelles affect surfactant mildness versus foaming, cleansing and other important performance attributes at the micelle and monomer level. This with a view to maintaining environmentally-friendly formulations, preferably based on easily biodegradable and sustainable materials.<br /> <br /> During the project, the prospective student will gain experience in soft matter characterization techniques such as interfacial tensiometry, small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy. The research is part of an ongoing international collaboration between the University of Leeds and Croda.<br /> <br /> The student would join a vibrant, friendly and supportive research environment and exciting public engagement and outreach opportunities.

<p><strong>Understanding the Micelle Architecture of Mild to Harsh Surfactant Blends</strong><br /> <strong>Croda</strong><br /> Croda is a FTSE100 organisation driven around the Purpose of Smart Science to Improve Lives. With over 6,000 staff across 39 countries, Croda is focused on the research and development of novel and highly sustainable raw materials for the Consumer Care and Life Sciences sectors. A global leader in speciality chemicals, Croda is the name behind some of the world’s biggest brands providing practical, environmentally minded solutions to the problems of everyday life. The research is part of an ongoing international collaboration between the University of Leeds and Croda, who have been directly allocated to an Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA) with a funding arrangement for 4 years.</p> <p><strong>The Project</strong><br /> Surfactants are used in all personal care cleaning products, including shampoos, face washes, shower gels, and liquid soaps as well as all other formulations required for skin treatments, as well as general consumer cleaning products for surfaces coming into contact with food, etc. Formulators typically use a combination of anionic, amphoteric, and non-ionic surfactants to achieve optimal cleaning, foaming, and mildness where the products are likely to come into direct contact with the skin.<br /> This project aims to investigate the structure-function relationships of commonly used surfactants in wash-off skin care formulations. These are typically tested by measuring the ability to solubilize various biological components and to some extent the behaviour can be related to the size and charge of the surfactant micelles, as well as the critical micelle concentration. However, for mixtures of classic and novel surfactants these relationships are sometimes far from clear and a more thorough analysis of micelle nanostructure is needed.<br /> The goal of the research project is to investigate how the surfactant self-assembly processes and the nanostructural characteristics of the formed micelles affect surfactant mildness versus foaming, cleansing and other important performance attributes at the micelle and monomer level. This with a view to maintaining environmentally-friendly formulations, preferably based on easily biodegradable and sustainable materials.</p>

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Apply for a research place of study, through the online application form. Please state clearly that the funding you wish to be considered for is “EPSRC iDLA Studentship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition”. You will be expected to meet our  <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">Entry requirements | School of Food Science and Nutrition | University of Leeds</a> for PhD candidates.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">In your application please state in the Research Title/ Area section that you wish to apply for the position <strong>Understanding the Micelle Architecture of Mild to Harsh Surfactant Blends</strong> and add <strong>Professor Michael Rappolt</strong> as the named academic.</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">In order to be considered for the Studentship you must submit all the required supporting documents for your application for PhD study (please refer to <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">our website</a>)</p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing">If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p>

Applicants to this studentship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition are expected to hold a bachelor degree in a relevant subject (2.1 or above or equivalent) or a good honours degree together with a Masters degree. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Admissions Office prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study in the School of Food Science and Nutrition is an IELTS of 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p><strong>Information about the Award</strong><br /> A highly competitive EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award in collaboration with Croda, providing full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (£19,237 in academic session 2024/25) and an additional Top-Up of £4,000 per year for 4 years. Training and support will also be provided.</p> <p>This opportunity is open to all applicants, selection is based on academic merit. Please note UKRI guidance means up 30% of the cohort can be awarded to international applicants.<br />  </p> <p><strong>Important: </strong>Please note that that the award does not cover the costs associated with moving to the UK.  All such costs (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge, flights etc</a>) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source. <br /> Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA website</a> for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals.</p> <p>One full scholarship is available in the School of Food Science and Nutrition in 2025/26.  </p> <p><strong>Duration of the Award</strong><br /> o    Full-time (4 years). The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to three years, subject to satisfactory academic progress.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Other Conditions</strong><br /> o    Applicants must not have already been awarded or be currently studying for a doctoral degree.<br /> o    Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2025.<br /> o    Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship.</p>

<p><strong>For further information please contact </strong></p> <p><strong>Prof Michael Rappolt</strong> (<a href="mailto:m.rappolt@leeds.ac.uk">m.rappolt@leeds.ac.uk</a>) in the first instance, or Dr Arwen Tyler (<a href="mailto:a.i.i.tyler@leeds.ac.uk">a.i.i.tyler@leeds.ac.uk</a>) or <strong>Prof. Brent S. Murray (</strong><a href="b.s.murray@leeds.ac.uk">b.s.murray@leeds.ac.uk</a><strong>). </strong>Please contact the PGR Admissions team of the Faculty of envrionment (<a href="mailto:ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk">ENV-PGR@leeds.ac.uk</a>) for further details for your application</p>