2 PhD studentships: Fighting Emissions with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (Funded by Microsoft Research)

Department of Chemical Engineering

University of Cambridge

Professor L F Gladden, Dr M L Johns, Dr A J Sederman and Dr M D Mantle
Department of Chemical Engineering, Pembroke Street,
Cambridge CB2 3RA (E-mail: recruitment@cheng.cam.ac.uk)

This project will set up a team of researchers at the Magnetic Research Resonance Centre to develop the next generation of magnetic resonance techniques. The overall objective of the programme is to improve the sensitivity of magnetic resonance methods such that they can be used directly to improve the design of real industrial processes. We will then implement these new imaging protocols on low magnetic field instrumentation which can be taken out of the laboratory and used directly in the industrial environment. Applications are encouraged from those with interest in both the development of new magnetic resonance techniques and/or application of magnetic resonance in the industrial environment. The initial aim of the project is to work with Microsoft Research to develop next-generation magnetic resonance pulse sequences which reduce current data acquisition times by an order of magnitude. This requires not just an understanding of magnetic resonance techniques but also an interest in learning and using Bayesian signal processing methods. In the second phase of the project we will work with other industrial partners to explore the extent to which we can use data obtained by magnetic resonance to help re-design or optimise real process operations. Initial areas of application are in the field of single- and multi-phase flow, and in reaction engineering. The success of the project will be measured by the reduction in carbon footprint that is achieved as a result of this work!