Description: A PhD Studentship is available within Department of Chemical/Biochemical Engineering at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) to carry out research in the area of fuel-ethanol production from lignocellulosic materials. The successful candidate will be enrolled in the PhD Program in Chemical Engineering at UWO, supervised by Dr. Jesse Zhu, while most of the research will be carried out in the Lakehead University Green Energy Laboratory (LUGEL), supervised by Dr. Charles Xu.

The LUGEL, funded by CFI, MRI and NSERC, is an advanced laboratory equipped with an array of state-of the art equipment and facilities dedicated to research and technologies development for production of bio-energy/bio-fuels and bio-based chemicals/materials from agricultural/forestry resources and wastes.

Major facilities include GC-TCD, GC-FID, GC-MS, HPLC, CHNS Organic Elemental Analyser, Bomb Calorimeter, TGA/DTA, Surface Area and Porosity Analyser and Pressure Reactors.

Contingent upon satisfactory performance in both research and teaching duties, a total financial support of approximately CDN$ 24,000 per annum (for international student) or CDN$ 19,000 per annum (for domestic student), for a maximum of 4 years, will be provided to the successful candidate. Students with a strong background in biotechnology, bio-chemical engineering, chemical reaction engineering or catalyst & catalysis are encouraged to apply.

Application: Inquiries on the position and the project can be obtained by contacting Dr. Jesse Zhu at University of Western Ontario ( ) or Dr. Charles Xu ( ). Additional information may also be available on http://publish.uwo.ca/~jzhu/ and http://flash.lakeheadu.ca/~cxu/.