Dr Greg Sulley is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Sustainable Polymer-Biopolymer Hybrid Materials at iCAST, based at the University of Oxford. He is investigating the use of carbohydrates in enhancing the properties of CO2-derived polymers (plastics and synthetic rubbers). We asked him to explain his roles as a Core Postdoc and Technology Translator, and the benefits of iCAST for academics and industry members.
How did you get started with iCAST?
I started as a Core Postdoc with iCAST in December 2021, after I was completed my PhD in inorganic chemistry at the University of Oxford. My initial focus at iCAST was on core programme research in the biobased feedstocks theme, investigating sustainable polymer-biopolymer hybrid materials, but towards the end of this two-year project, I started to become more involved with industry.
In what ways have you been involved with industry through iCAST?
I’ve worked on a consultancy-style project, which involved a team of international collaborators from a major electronics manufacturer and a consultancy with expertise in carbon accounting and life-cycle analysis. This was an explorative project looking at scoping potential carbon-negative materials for the value chain of the major electronics manufacturer.
I’ve also been involved in the procurement and testing of specialist equipment, purchased with the help of iCAST and Royce Institute funding, for polymer compounding, injection moulding and impact testing. This has included site visits to a manufacturer in the Netherlands to have hands-on experience with the instruments and test materials.
In addition, I’ve helped to design industry projects (submitting proposals and liaising with industry sponsors in the early stages) for other postdocs to work on through iCAST, which was interesting because, for me, this was a new aspect to research that I hadn’t experienced before.
What industry-facing project are you working on now?
I’m now working as a Technology Translator, undertaking a Joint Industry Project (JIP) with a large automotive manufacturer where I’ve been heavily involved in the technical and scientific design of this project. It aims to develop new sustainable polyester compounds for automotive thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) applications.
Thermoplastic elastomers are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber) that consist of materials with both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. They are used in various automotive components because they combine the elastic properties of rubber with the recyclability and processing advantages of thermoplastics.
What is the difference between your role as a Core Postdoc and this role within the JIP?
My role as a Core Postdoc is to work on fundamental research that has the potential to be translated into practical applications. Tech Translators work on multiple, often shorter-term projects with industry partners, and this is a role I’ve naturally transitioned into through iCAST.
What are the benefits of working with iCAST for you, as an academic?
Throughout my PhD and even before, during my undergraduate degree, there wasn’t the opportunity to work on industry-sponsored or related projects. The great thing about iCAST is that I have been exposed to the translation of fundamental research for industrial applications.
One aspect of this that always jumps out at me is the differences in scale at which we work. For example, in our lab at the University of Oxford, the amount of polymer we’re producing for our testing is usually only several grams at a time, but we also need to consider the feasibility of scaling up for industry. iCAST’s link with industry is a huge benefit because you can start to have a real understanding of the production scales needed.
And what are the benefits for iCAST industry members?
It’s a relatively fast and agile route for companies that may not have the facilities for research. Certainly, iCAST provides an accessible route to developing research into proof-of-concept stage. This stage is critical in the development process because it provides evidence that the concept can be successfully turned into a viable product, service or solution, and this, in turn, enables a company to secure follow-on funding.
The same iCAST advantages apply to the low TRL (Technology Readiness Level) stage, which typically refers to the early phases of technology development where a company’s concept or idea is still in its infancy and has not yet been proven in practical applications.
All of iCAST’s industry members are also invited to several events, the aim of which are to facilitate interaction and networking between academic researchers and the other industry members. One of the benefits of this is that they can link up in myriad ways to identify challenges and solve problems; for example, it can work really effectively where we have a number of industry members present that sit in the same supply chain and share similar challenges.
Find out more about our Joint Industry Projects.
