Tag Archives: technology

PHD STUDENTSHIP: LINKING MOLECULAR ARCHITECTURE TO THE FUNCTIONALITY OF HYDROCOLLOIDS USING ADVANCED CHARACTERIZATION TECHNIQUES

Application Deadline: Friday, October 23, 2026

LOCATION: United Kingdom

This University of Leeds PhD Studentship is a fully funded, 4-year industrial doctoral research project focusing on how the microscopic structure of natural food polymers dictates their macroscopic texture and stability. This project aims to help the development of next-generation sustainable, healthy food ingredients by improving our molecular understanding of how natural food polymers, known as hydrocolloids, behave and function in foods.

ELIGIBILITY:

Theme of project: Soft Matter Physics, Food (Bio) Chemistry

Primary Host Institution: University of Leeds, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, School of Physics and Astronomy

Secondary Institution: University of Leeds, Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Industry Partner: Nestlé Research, Lausanne

They welcome applicants from a wide range of scientific backgrounds, including physics, physical and bio-chemistry, food science or related disciplines. The successful candidate will possess a minimum 2:1 Honours degree. An MPhys, MPhil, MEng, MSc, or relevant industrial experience would be an advantage. Experience in any of the following is helpful but not essential: soft matter physics, rheology, advanced microscopy and/or scattering techniques, carbohydrate chemistry, enzymology, and analytical chemistry. Due to the multidisciplinary nature of this programme, we do not expect the successful candidate to have knowledge and experience in all relevant areas; support and training will be provided by experienced staff. Curiosity, problem‑solving ability, and willingness to work across disciplines are essential.

English language requirements:: Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.

How to apply: For more information and a link to the application form, please click here. Please return all completed forms to idla@reading.ac.uk The email subject line must read IDLA 2607 LLN Surname

Start date: January 2027

Duration of award: 48 months

BENEFIT:

Fully funded for four years by Food Consortium IDLA and Nestlé (Société des Produits Nestlé SA). The studentship covers UK tuition fees plus an enhanced annual UKRI stipend of £23,303 tax-free.

International students may apply but must cover the difference between home and international fees, which is ~£20k pa and increases annually.

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GLOBAL PRIZE FOR INNOVATION IN WATER

Application Deadline: September 30, 2026

LOCATION: Saudi Arabia

The Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) is an international initiative established by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA) to identify, recognize, and accelerate breakthrough innovations addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing the global water sector. The prize aims to honor participants and support pioneers from around the globe.

ELIGIBILITY:

The GPIW is designed to be open, inclusive, and accessible to a broad range of applicants working to advance innovation in the water sector. Applications are welcomed from, among others:

Early-stage startups and venture-backed scale-ups;

Multinational corporations and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs);

Universities, public or private research institutes, and laboratories; – Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society groups;

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), municipal water utilities, and utility consortia; – Individual innovators, research teams, and project teams.

Applicants must ensure that their submission is aligned with at least one Prize track and category and complies with all eligibility requirements set out in these Guidelines.

To preserve the integrity, independence, and impartiality of the Prize, employees, representatives, and members of the GPIW management and delivery teams are not eligible to submit applications. This exclusion includes personnel directly involved in the design, administration, evaluation, governance, or delivery of the Prize within the Saudi Water Authority and The European House – Ambrosetti (TEHA Group).

All applications must be submitted in English and must contain complete, accurate, and truthful information. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that they possess all necessary rights, permissions, and authorizations related to the submitted innovation, project, initiative, or nomination. Participation in the GPIW must not infringe any third-party rights, including intellectual property rights, confidentiality obligations, contractual restrictions, or applicable laws and regulations. The GPIW reserves the right to exclude or disqualify any application that is incomplete, misleading, inconsistent with the eligibility requirements, submitted by an ineligible party, or otherwise incompatible with the principles of fairness, transparency, and independence of the Prize.

Applications to the GPIW are submitted online through the official application portal. The application is organized into 8 sections and can be completed at your own pace: your progress can be saved as a draft, allowing you to leave the form and return at any time before the submission deadline. Applications are only considered once formally submitted; saving a draft does not constitute submission.

For more information, visit: https://gpiw.net/auth/terms-conditions

BENEFIT:

The GPIW offers a financial prize purse, dedicated recognitions, and selected piloting support to advance the development, validation, and market adoption of high-potential water innovations. Awards are distributed as follows:

Grand Prizes—USD 100,000 per winner: Two winners in total, one winner from Track A (TRL 1-3) and one winner from Track B (TRL 4-7)

Impact Medals—USD 50,000 per winner: Twelve winners in total, six winners from Track A (TRL 1-3) and six winners from Track B (TRL 4-7)

Special Mentions—non-monetary recognition: Up to 6 winners in total under Track C (TRL 8–9), with up to two recognitions in each category.

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