Join BonLab as a PhD student in 2027

We are looking for enthusiastic, dedicated people to join BonLab as PhD students. Start dates are mid- to late 2027. Do you have what it takes to work at the forefront in sustainable polymer and colloid chemical engineering? 

You will be working under the guidance of prof. dr. ir. Stefan A. F. Bon on an exciting 4-year project, often in collaboration with industry in the area of polymer and colloid science. We have a number of fully funded opportunities available in my team:

Project 1: Nanoplastics in Fresh Water Systems (Applications must be submitted by 23:59 GMT on Wednesday 6th January 2027.)

This is a collaborative project between my team and the team of prof. Soroush Abolfathi (School of Engineering) and focuses on the fate of polymer colloids in freshwater systems, such as streams, rivers, and lakes, as well as wet soil environments. You will fabricate a range of commercially relevant polymer colloids used in coatings, adhesives, etc. We will analyse their long-term stability and fate from different angles. We will examine how external factors influence these particles and how they change/degrade over time. We will investigate how these particles behave in model “live” freshwater systems by looking at their transport behaviour. We hope to develop a scientific understanding of their behaviour. More detailed information can be found here.

Enquiries, which should include a CV with the names of two referees, should be made to prof. dr. ir. Stefan A. F Bon (s.bon@warwick.ac.uk)

Requirements:

An eligible student must hold, or be predicted to obtain, at least a 2.1 4-year degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or an equivalent scientific discipline. Exceptional students with a 3 year BSc degree will also be considered. This studentship is open to UK nationals and those of equivalent status (fees paid, plus annum stipend). The award is available for 3.5 years.

Project 2:  Precision Engineering of Emulgels for Controlled Nutrient Delivery in Sustainable Agriculture (Applications must be submitted by 23 November 2026)

This is a collaborative project between my team and dr. Joe Webber and prof. Tom Montenegro-Johnson (dept. of Mathematics) will deal with studying the transport phenonema in emulgels, hydrogels that contain oil droplets, with the aim to apply these in sustainable agriculture as delivery systems. More information can be found here.

Enquiries, which should include a CV with the names of two referees, should be made to prof. dr. ir. Stefan A. F Bon (s.bon@warwick.ac.uk)

Requirements:

An eligible student must hold, or be predicted to obtain, at least a 2.1 4-year degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, or an equivalent scientific discipline. Exceptional students with a 3 year BSc degree will also be considered. This studentship is open to UK nationals and those of equivalent status (fees paid, plus annum stipend). The award is available for 3.5 years.

Project 3: Open Warwick Scholarship competition and for you to co-design with BonLab (Warwick Chemistry Post Graduate Scholarships, deadline 7 December 2026)

Warwick University runs annual applicant-led scholarship schemes: Chancellors Scholarship, China Scholarship Council (CSC) Joint Scholarship, and Pathways & Sanctuary Scholarships. More information. For you to join us as one of these you HAVE to meet ALL of the following criteria:

☐ Outstanding academic achievement.

First Class UG degree or International Equivalent, Distinction at Masters level, strong class rank, high marks across transcript.

☐ Institutional Standing.

Highly regarded institution and/or strong evidence of excellence relative to peers at that institution.

☐ Research Experience.

Research projects, laboratory experience, internships, placements, industry experience.

☐ Research Potential.

Evidence of independence, critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, intellectual curiosity.

☐ Project Fit.

Clear alignment between applicant’s background and proposed PhD project.

☐ Academic References*

Detailed and enthusiastic references that distinguish the applicant from peers.

☐ Additional Indicators of Excellence**

Publications, presentations, prizes, scholarships, awards, outreach, leadership activities.

Enquiries, which should include a CV, how you address all of the points above, and the names of two referees, should be made to prof. dr. ir. Stefan A. F Bon (s.bon@warwick.ac.uk)

Requirements:

This studentship is open to students of any nationality. The award is available for 3.5 years.

Professor Stefan Bon has been honoured by McMaster University with the prestigious Les Shemilt Lectureship for his achievements in chemical engineering.

The Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster University (Ontario, Canada) has awarded Prof. dr. ir. Stefan Bon, University of Warwick, the 2025/2026 Les Shemilt Lectureship. This prestigious Lectureship is an annual lecture series that highlights speakers who have made significant contributions in chemical engineering and is reserved for their most distinguished speakers. Professor Stefan Bon's work in developing functional and sustainable polymers for a wide variety of applications in chemical engineering makes a perfect fit for this series.

Professor Stefan Bon said:

"I am absolutely honoured to have been selected by McMaster University as the Les Shemilt Lecturer for the coming academic year. I am proud of all the work my research team, BonLab, has done over the years in the area of polymer and colloid chemical engineering. I am very much looking forward to the visit and meeting the people at the Department of Chemical Engineering at McMaster's".

About Les Shemilt

Leslie Shemilt (1919—2011) received his PhD from the University of Toronto, started his academic career at the University of British Columbia, was the founding Head of the University of New Brunswick’s Department of Chemical Engineering, served as Dean of Engineering at McMaster from 1969 to 1979, and was subsequently active at McMaster as an Emeritus Professor. Among many other contributions and achievements, Les was the editor of the Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering for seventeen years, and was appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineers, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Mars Poxon and Emily Brogden clinch top honors at Warwick Chemistry postgraduate symposium

The Chemistry Department at the University of Warwick organizes a postgraduate symposium each year, where final year PhD researchers present their work with a talk, second year PhD researchers and MRes researchers present their work with a poster and where the winner of the Science, Engineering, and Medicine (SEM) Faculty for the best PhD thesis is announced.

At this year’s event, final-year PhD researcher Mars Poxon won a best PhD talk award for their work on degradable polymers (left image below). Mars showed two synthetic strategies for polymers produced by radical polymerization that can reduce their average molecular weight at end-of-life, thereby facilitating end-processing or environmental degradation.

Emily Brogden won the 2026 University of Warwick SEM faculty prize for best PhD thesis on innovative approaches to improve pressure-sensitive adhesive performance (right image above).

Prof. dr. ir. Stefan Bon says: “I am incredibly proud of both Mars and Emily for their achievements, and their dedication and commitment to their scientific research and the team. These awards are a great recognition of the research we do and fantastic news for everybody who is part of BonLab.”