Enthusiastic, self-motivated, talented and diligent researchers and students are welcome to join the group to conduct research in biopolymers, biocomposites and related areas. You will have opportunities to develop your expertise in (bio)polymer science and engineering and a wide range of technical and transferable skills that are ideally suited to careers in both academia and industry. Please contact Dr Xie with your CV well in advance (preferably a few months) to discuss support options, application procedures and potential projects.

Students

Generally, funded PhD vacancies will be listed on Newcastle University’s postgraduate funding page, FindAPhD.com, and jobs.ac.uk.

• PhD studentship: New biopolymer-based tools for mapping environmental water pollution with toxic metal ions (Closes 16/01/2022) (FindAPhD.com, How to apply, Applicant-support webinars)
• PhD studentship: 3D-printable Biopolymer Functional Composite Materials, School of Engineering, Newcastle University (Closes 16/03/2022) (FindAPhD.com, jobs.ac.uk)

Besides, there are funding opportunities for postgraduate students (e.g. China Scholarship Council – Newcastle University PhD Scholarships) to study for a doctoral degree at Newcastle University. Citizens of other Commonwealth countries may consider Commonwealth Scholarships. Your plan to apply for a scholarship from other sources, such as your home government, may also be supported.

You may also consider self-funding for a master’s or PhD study. Please check the requirements for specific degrees:

• Chemical Engineering – Advanced Materials
• Materials Engineering

• About self-funded PhD students, read more and apply here.

Visiting/occasional students are welcome to conduct collaborative research here. Please discuss with Dr Xie well in advance your funding application (e.g. Chinese Scholarship Council, Newton Bhabha Fund).

Postgraduate (including occasional students) applications need to be made online here. You may also need to check the University’s term and semester dates for your start date.

Undergraduate and taught master’s students at Newcastle who wish to conduct polymer-related projects under Dr Xie’s supervision are also welcome to get in touch.

Early-career researchers

Generally, open postdoctoral positions will be shown on jobs.ac.uk and general job board websites.

• Research Assistant / Associate in Biopolymers (Closes 6/11/2022) (jobs.ac.uk, jobs.ncl.ac.uk)

Early-career researchers currently outside the UK may consider the European Commission’s MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships, and The Royal Society’s fellowships and grants under the Newton Fund. Besides, there is a wide range of other fellowship schemes in the UK for early-career researchers, such as UKRI Future Leaders Fellowships, EPSRC Fellowships, Ernest Rutherford Fellowship, Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellowships, among others.

Newcastle University invites applications for the prestigious EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship, which provides EPSRC-funded PhD students with 24 months of additional support following the successful completion of their PhD.

Visiting

Visiting scholars are welcome to our group to exchange knowledge, conduct research, and establish collaborations. Overseas visitors may consider The Royal Society’s International Exchanges and Wolfson Visiting Fellowship, The Leverhulme Trust’s International Fellowships and Visiting Professorships. Your plan to apply for funding from other sources, such as your home government (e.g. CSC), would also be supported.