EPSRC IDLA: Design of the Next Generation of Environmentally Friendly Skin Care Formulations Supported by AI

One highly competitive EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award in collaboration with Croda International Plc is available for take-up by the 1st of February 2026, offering full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant of £20,780 (academic session 2025/6 rate) and an additional annual tax-free top-up of £4,000 per year for 4 years. Additional support to cover training, conference attendance, travel costs is available, as well as training.<br /> <br /> This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to Surfactant Science and the Physical Chemistry of Biomaterials. The goal of the research project is to investigate how lipid and surfactant self-assembly processes, plus the nanostructural characteristics of the formed micelles, affect mildness versus foaming, cleansing and other important performance attributes in skin-care products. This project will focus on the development of environmentally friendly formulations, based on easily biodegradable and sustainable novel materials developed by Croda (Industrial partner).<br /> <br /> During the project, the prospective student will gain experience in soft matter characterization techniques such as small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy. Additionally, to accelerate the formulation design, machine learning methods/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) will be applied. Thus, going beyond common wet lab techniques, a bespoke bottom-up approach will enable you to understand the micelle architecture of different surfactant and lipid blends on the nanoscale. This will allow a more thorough analysis of the nanostructure assemblies that will help to address open unanswered questions in the design of the next generation of environmentally friendly skin-care products.<br /> <br /> The research is part of an ongoing international collaboration between the University of Leeds and Croda. The student would join a vibrant, friendly and supportive research environment and exciting public engagement and outreach opportunities.

<p><strong>Design of the Next Generation of Environmentally Friendly Skin Care Formulations Supported by AI</strong><br />  </p> <p><strong>Croda</strong></p> <p>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 and a studentship total of £149,500.</p> <p><strong>The Project</strong></p> <p>This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to Surfactant Science and the Physical Chemistry of Biomaterials. The goal of the research project is to investigate how lipid and surfactant self-assembly processes, plus the nanostructural characteristics of the formed micelles, affect mildness versus foaming, cleansing and other important performance attributes in skin-care products. This project will focus on the development of environmentally friendly formulations, based on easily biodegradable and sustainable novel materials developed by Croda (Industrial partner).</p> <p>During the project, the prospective student will gain experience in machine learning/artificial intelligence and in soft matter characterization techniques such as small angle X-ray and neutron scattering, differential scanning calorimetry and electron microscopy.</p> <p>The student would join a vibrant, friendly and supportive research environment and exciting public engagement and outreach opportunities.</p>

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Apply for a research place of study, through the <a href="https://prod.banner.leeds.ac.uk/ssb/bwskalog_uol.P_DispLoginNon">online application form</a>. 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> <ul> <li class="MsoNoSpacing">You will need to create a login ID with a username and pin password.</li> <li>For ‘Application type’ please select ‘Research Degrees – Research Postgraduate’.</li> <li>The admission year for this project is 2025/26 Academic Year.</li> <li>You will need to select your ‘Planned Course of Study’ from a drop-down menu. For this project, scroll down and select ‘PhD Food Science and Nutrition Full-time’</li> <li>The project start date for this project is 1^st October 2025, please use this as your Proposed Start Date of Research.</li> <li><strong>Please state clearly that the funding you wish to be considered for is ‘EPSRC IDLA Studentship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition’.</strong></li> <li><strong>Please state clearly in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is ‘EPSRC IDLA: Design of the Next Generation of Environmentally Friendly Skin Care Formulations Supported by AI’ as well as <a href="https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/food-nutrition/staff/7154/professor-michael-rappolt">Professor Michael Rappolt</a> as your proposed supervisor.</strong></li> </ul> <p>You will be required to provide a personal statement which outlines your interest in the project you are applying for, why you have chosen it and how your skills map onto the requirements of the project. You will also need to provide the following documents:</p> <ul> <li>certificates and transcripts of any academic qualifications</li> <li>English language qualification certificates, if applicable</li> <li>a copy of your CV</li> <li>visa and immigration documents, if applicable</li> </ul> <p>More information on how to apply is available on our website <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">here</a>. If you do not follow all of the above instructions, we may not be able to consider your application.</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></p> <p>This Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award (IDLA) is allocated directly to Croda with funding arrangement for 4 years with a studentship total of £149,500. We are offering one PhD scholarship in the School of Food Science and Nutrition for one Home fee rated candidate, covering a maintenance stipend for four years (£20,780 for session 2025/26, to rise annually) and UK tuition fees. There will also be an additional annual tax-free top-up of £4,000 per year for 4 years. Additional support to cover training, conference, travel costs is also available.</p> <p>This opportunity is open to <strong>Home fee rated applicants </strong>and selection is based on academic merit. 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><strong>Duration of the Award</strong><br /> Full-time (4 years) or part-time (7 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><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 February 2026.<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: Prof Michael Rappolt</strong> (<a href="mailto:m.rappolt@leeds.ac.uk">m.rappolt@leeds.ac.uk</a>) in the first instance, or <strong>Dr Arwen Tyler</strong> (<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>) if you have questions on how to apply.</p>