Your advisor should be the best person to answer this question.

In theory, he/she should be able to see the main steps to complete the research and "the light at the end of the tunnel". He\She must have seen insights from previous works that spike some directions to a new research path that would result in new research outcomes for the community.

In addition, he/she has the proper experience in the topic to see if research outputs would be feasible in nearly three ... four years.

In short, the advisor has a certain scientific maturity that a young researcher probably does not have.

My advice, choose your advisor with care.

Best regards,

Douglas

I think having an end use of the bio-lubricants in mind will help to streamline and channelize the focus during your research. There had been an increased interest in the bio-lubricants in the recent years and there is a variety of applications where they can be used. A very good article was published in the AOCS a few years ago that highlighted the use of bio-lubricants https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/inform-magazine/featured-articles/bio-based-(edible)-oils-feedstock-for-lubricants-of-the-future-january-2021?SSO=True).

Your 9+ years of experience in the field and hands on with the instrument will be instrumental in hand picking the required equipment and building relationships in order to get access to the ones that might be needed over the due course of your doctoral study.

All the best.

Hello!

Congratulations on starting your PhD program. Given your research interests and the facilities available to you, there are several promising topics you could explore in the lubricants area. Here are some suggestions:

Remember to choose a topic that aligns well with your interests and expertise. Discuss your ideas with your PhD advisor to refine and finalize the topic that suits your research goals and the current state of the field. Best of luck with your PhD journey!