Chris QIU

PhD Student | UoB | UCL | Durham • Sustainability • Applied Problem Solving • Strategy & Consulting

London Area, United Kingdom

About

PhD student in sustainable chemistry at the University of Birmingham, focusing on sustainability-driven research and applied problem solving. I bring experience in managing complex projects, working across disciplines, and translating technical insights into practical outcomes. Beyond academia, I have a strong interest in strategy and consulting, particularly in how analytical frameworks are applied to solve real-world challenges

Experience

  • Strategy Consulting Project at OC&C Strategy Consultants
    Aug 2025 - Sep 2025 · 2 mos

  • Research Project at UCL
    Feb 2024 - Sep 2024 · 8 mos

    Conducted a master’s research project focused on improving the sustainability of DABCO-based catalysis through polymer immobilisation. • Designed and synthesised a polystyrene-supported DABCO catalyst to improve atomic utilisation efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance cost-effectiveness. • Achieved high catalytic performance in halogenation reactions, reaching up to 98% yield and enabling catalyst reuse for five consecutive cycles without significant activity loss. • Developed solvent-free and low-solvent reaction conditions, significantly reducing hazardous solvent use while improving reaction selectivity in line with green chemistry principles.

  • Project Intern at Durham University
    Jun 2023 - Jul 2023 · 2 mos

    Completed a 6-week research internship focused on the sustainable management of rare earth elements (REEs in the context of climate change mitigation. The project assessed supply chain resilience, recycling strategies, and cost–sustainability trade-offs relevant to clean energy technologies. • Led and structured a sustainability-focused research project addressing REE scarcity in climate-related technologies, applying a problem-driven and hypothesis-led approach. • Analysed REE supply chains and evaluated recycling-based optimisation strategies to reduce environmental impact and reliance on primary extraction. • Assessed financial and environmental implications of alternative REE sourcing scenarios, estimating potential reductions in raw material costs under more sustainable supply models. Project context included clean-energy applications relevant to companies such as Tesla

  • Research Project at Durham University
    Sep 2022 - Apr 2023 · 8 mos

    Conducted an undergraduate research project based on an in-depth literature review of chemical looping technologies for sustainable CO₂ capture and hydrogen production. The project focused on evaluating material design strategies, performance trade-offs, and scalability considerations for low-carbon energy systems. • Reviewed and synthesised academic literature on metal-based oxygen carriers, identifying key factors influencing CO₂ capture efficiency, redox stability, and long-term reusability. • Analysed dual-function material concepts for simultaneous hydrogen production and carbon capture, comparing reported performance improvements and operational limitations. • Critically assessed characterisation techniques including XRD, TGA, and SEM as reported in the literature to understand structure–property relationships and material degradation mechanisms.

  • Audit Intern at KPMG UK
    Jun 2022 - Aug 2022 · 3 mos