Posted 26 June, 2026
PhD Studentship in Recycled Materials
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
Full Time
Reference: 965423040
Trinity is Ireland's leading university and is ranked 75th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026). Founded in 1592, the University is steeped in history with a reputation for excellence in education, research, and innovation, which has been inspiring generations of thinkers for over 400 years. Thrive: Trinity College Dublin's Strategic Plan 2025 - 2030
We are seeking a motivated and talented researcher to join the Research Ireland PUreTex project, which examines the valorisation of waste textiles into high-value materials. The PhD researcher will work closely with the PUreTex team, which includes those from Engineering, Business, Psychology, Chemistry and Industry. The wider PUreTex project is looking at new ways to recycle post-consumer textile waste into useful building blocks for new, more sustainable and circular, materials and products. The PhD student project will focus on the latter, taking these building blocks (chemicals, molecules and Polyurethane foams) and including them in material and component development and testing towards high-value products primarily for the construction sector, but with the possibility of other sectoral uses.
Activities: Some of the core PhD research activities will include (but not limited to)
• Investigating multiple material development routes from polyols and Polyurethane foams, including thermal or acoustic insulation, composites, cement or geopolymer based materials
• Performing laboratory thermal, moisture and strength tests following relevant European or National Standards (e.g. compression, thermal conductivity, water absorption)
• Investigating means of enhancing and optimising material or product performance, including working collaboratively with other disciplines on specific formulations that result in optimised behaviours in end-products.
• Analyse results and develop relationships using statistical methods and other analytical approaches such as finite element, and predictive techniques.
Application Procedure
• A 1-page cover letter, stating motivation and explicitly referring to how your past experience and achievements relate to: 1. Activities, 2. Knowledge and Experience, and 3. Skills and Competencies, listed in this advertisement.
• A CV, including experience, undergraduate results, postgraduate results (if applicable), and publications (if applicable)
• References: Names and email addresses of two referees
Please send the above to Dr. Aimee Byrne (she/her) by 12 Noon (GMT), 9th July 2026
Email Address: [email protected]
Our Values - putting our words into action
Values matter. They are key to the success of our Strategic Plan. We centre our behavioural values around the importance of belonging. We recognise that the university will thrive by each of us respecting and caring for one another. We know we can achieve much more through working together. We know too that we must take responsibility for our actions and be accountable. We must, and will never stop, imagining. And through being nature positive we connect not just with the environment but with our ambitions for a sustainable future.
At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those who have been displaced due to war.
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.
We are seeking a motivated and talented researcher to join the Research Ireland PUreTex project, which examines the valorisation of waste textiles into high-value materials. The PhD researcher will work closely with the PUreTex team, which includes those from Engineering, Business, Psychology, Chemistry and Industry. The wider PUreTex project is looking at new ways to recycle post-consumer textile waste into useful building blocks for new, more sustainable and circular, materials and products. The PhD student project will focus on the latter, taking these building blocks (chemicals, molecules and Polyurethane foams) and including them in material and component development and testing towards high-value products primarily for the construction sector, but with the possibility of other sectoral uses.
Activities: Some of the core PhD research activities will include (but not limited to)
• Investigating multiple material development routes from polyols and Polyurethane foams, including thermal or acoustic insulation, composites, cement or geopolymer based materials
• Performing laboratory thermal, moisture and strength tests following relevant European or National Standards (e.g. compression, thermal conductivity, water absorption)
• Investigating means of enhancing and optimising material or product performance, including working collaboratively with other disciplines on specific formulations that result in optimised behaviours in end-products.
• Analyse results and develop relationships using statistical methods and other analytical approaches such as finite element, and predictive techniques.
Application Procedure
• A 1-page cover letter, stating motivation and explicitly referring to how your past experience and achievements relate to: 1. Activities, 2. Knowledge and Experience, and 3. Skills and Competencies, listed in this advertisement.
• A CV, including experience, undergraduate results, postgraduate results (if applicable), and publications (if applicable)
• References: Names and email addresses of two referees
Please send the above to Dr. Aimee Byrne (she/her) by 12 Noon (GMT), 9th July 2026
Email Address: [email protected]
Our Values - putting our words into action
Values matter. They are key to the success of our Strategic Plan. We centre our behavioural values around the importance of belonging. We recognise that the university will thrive by each of us respecting and caring for one another. We know we can achieve much more through working together. We know too that we must take responsibility for our actions and be accountable. We must, and will never stop, imagining. And through being nature positive we connect not just with the environment but with our ambitions for a sustainable future.
At Trinity, we are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Trinity welcomes applications from all individuals, including those applicants with disabilities, those who may have had non-traditional career paths, those who have taken time out for reasons including family or caring responsibilities. We also welcome international applicants including those who have been displaced due to war.
Trinity College Dublin is Ireland's premier University. We are an EU Sustainable Gender Equality Champion and we hold an Athena Swan Silver award, recognising our ongoing work to advance gender equality both within Trinity and in the Higher Education sector. Trinity is committed to supporting work-life balance and to creating a family-friendly working environment.
