China Scholarship Council-University of Bristol PhD Scholarships!

Posted on October 3, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

国家留学基金委 (CSC) 与英国布里斯托大学 (UoB) 合作奖学金 – 博士研究生项目:

The annual 4-year fully funded CSC/UoB PhD Scholarship round for 2026/2027 entry is now open for application to join the FRG!

Sixty full PhD scholarships are available at the University of Bristol this year. The University of Bristol provides full tuition fees for each PhD programme, while the China Scholarship Council provides monthly stipend.

Please check the CSC official website for eligibility and details for domestic and overseas applicants. Please contact Prof. Charl F. J. Faul directly (with CSC/UoB PhD Scholarship in the subject line) for further information and to discuss your application. The FRG’s internal deadline for discussion of any applications is Monday, 24th of November.

See the UoB’s website for all application details here. Please note that the PhD programme application with a valid English language certificate must be submitted to the University of Bristol by 12 noon (UK time) on Monday, 1st of December 2025.

EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway Fellowship

Posted on September 25, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

2-year funded EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway Fellowships, which support EPSRC-funded PhD graduates who are starting their independent research, are now open for application!

The Postdoctoral Pathway Fellows will propose their own bespoke programme to conduct innovative research at the frontiers of Science and Engineering. Project proposals are invited across the full range of topics in the EPSRC research portfolio. Successful applicants will receive funding for up to 2 years. Please contact Prof. Charl F. J. Faul directly (with EPSRC Postdoctoral Pathway Fellowship application in the subject line) for further information and to discuss hosting you.

See application details here. Please note that the closing date for applications will be at 23:59 UK time on Sunday 2nd November 2025.

Viva success! Congratulations to Dr Ulia!

Posted on September 16, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

An important milestone reached for FRG member Ulzhalgas (Ulia) Karatayeva – passed her viva with flying colours on Sep 11th!

Many congratulations to Dr Ulia, and well done for the fantastic job, and excellent research output focussed on the capture and conversion of CO₂ to useful fuels and feedstocks!

Thank you to external examiner Prof. Deepa Khushalani, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and internal examiner, Dr Avinash Patil!

ChinaNano 2025!

Posted on August 31, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

Charl is enjoying being back in Beijing again. ChinaNano is a great meeting, and an opportunity to showcase research from the group in an invited talk – and also to see many friends, including Prof Kun Liu from Jilin University, Changchun!

China conference season!

Posted on August 26, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

Charl is back in China, attending two conferences to speak about the groups work. The first is in Enshi, in a beautiful part of China, close to Chengdu – POPs 2025!

After Enshi, Charl will be heading to Jilin University (JLU) in Changchun and then to ChinaNano 2025 in Beijing. JLU is a close partner of the University of Bristol, and the School of Chemistry, and sent almost 40 students to Bristol for the advanced chemistry summer school!

Feiyang returning to Tsinghua University

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

We are very pleased to have hosted Feiyang Li, a visiting undergraduate student from the Tsinghua Xuetang International Chemistry Exchange Programme. Feiyang joined the Faul Research Group for a two-month research experience, and is now heading back to Beijing!

During his time here, Feiyang worked alongside PhD student Jerry Mintah on porous polyimide materials for CO₂ capture and conversion. His contribution to the project and enthusiasm were greatly appreciated!

As he returns to China, we wish him all the best in his future studies, and hope to see him in Bristol soon again!

Paper published in Communications Materials!

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

Continuing from previous work, a paper has just been published Open Access in Communications Materials, entitled “Biocompatible low-voltage electrothermal actuators with biological operational temperature range“. This new study is authored by Adéla Slavíková, Benjamin C. Baker, Marcos Villeda-Hernandez, undergraduate contributors Annabel Coekin and Julia Kwasniewska, collaborators from NHS and Bristol Medical School within the emPOWER project, and Charl Faul.

This study presents a low-voltage (3.6 V) electrothermal actuator, Bio35, that operates at mild hyperthermic temperatures (38.9 °C). Bio35 features facile synthesis, high chemical stability, excellent cyclic actuation performance, and non-cytoxicity. Two systems have been demonstrated: a simple gripper and a sphincter-like valve, showcasing Bio35‘s potential for use in treating conditions like urinary incontinence, where precise, muscle-like actuation is critical for function.

Check the paper for more details!

Prof. Yulan Chen visits Bristol from Jilin University

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Faul Research Group - Functional Polymers

It was a pleasure to host Professor Yulan Chen from the Collage of Chemistry, Jilin University, to give a research seminar as part of the “Functional Molecules and Materials” research theme. Her group works on polymer mechanochemistry and mechano-responsive polymeric materials.

Prof. Yulan Chen is currently visiting Bristol, accompanying the 40 senior UG students from Julin University participating in our Advanced Experimental Chemistry summer school here in Bristol.