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Prof Danny O'Hare
Dr I Stoianov
Applications accepted all year round
About the Project
Applications are invited for an EngD studentship to work on the development of a reliable low-cost sensor technology for the continuous in-pipe and reagent free monitoring of chlorine in water supply networks. This is a cross-disciplinary research project which builds upon expertise from biomedical engineering, fluid mechanics and signal processing. We have considerable experience in developing biocompatible sensor technology for in-vivo and in-vitro bioanalysis as well as the hydraulic and water quality monitoring and modelling of water supply systems. The project is co-supervised by Dr O’Hare (www.imperial.ac.uk/people/d.ohare) and Dr Stoianov (www.imperial.ac.uk/people/ivan.stoianov) and it is in collaboration with Bristol Water and Cla-Val UK. The EngD studentship is within the EPSRC STREAM Programme (http://www.stream-idc.net/) and it offers unique opportunities to carry out innovative and industrially relevant research.
A wide range of processes affect the water quality and the disinfectant residual in water transmission and distribution networks and these are little understood. A major obstacle is the lack of reliable and low-cost (both capital and O&M) water quality sensors for continuous in-pipe and reagent free monitoring. The key research challenges that this proposal will address are: (i) How do biofilms affect electrochemical sensors, (ii) How can we remove biofilms?; (iii) How can we know if the sensor is still reliably working?; (iv) How can we achieve a reliable long-term operation of in-pipe reagent free water quality sensors?
The research will include a systematic investigation into electrochemical chlorine sensors to exploit recent technological advances in materials and signal processing and to transfer the considerable progress that has been made at Imperial in biocompatibility in biomedical devices and bio-inspired technologies into the environmental monitoring field.
Applicants for the studentship should have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours degree or equivalent, in engineering (Chemical, Bioengineering/Biomedical engineering) or physical sciences (physics, chemistry) or related subjects with experience of chemistry of biology laboratory work being highly desirable. Good computing and communication skills are required. A master's degree in a relevant subject would be advantageous but is not essential.
Applications will be assessed as received and all applicants should follow the standard College postgraduate admissions process (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus/howtoapply). Should you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Dr Danny O’Hare (d.ohare AT imperial.ac.uk), or phone on +44 (0)207 594 5173.
A wide range of processes affect the water quality and the disinfectant residual in water transmission and distribution networks and these are little understood. A major obstacle is the lack of reliable and low-cost (both capital and O&M) water quality sensors for continuous in-pipe and reagent free monitoring. The key research challenges that this proposal will address are: (i) How do biofilms affect electrochemical sensors, (ii) How can we remove biofilms?; (iii) How can we know if the sensor is still reliably working?; (iv) How can we achieve a reliable long-term operation of in-pipe reagent free water quality sensors?
The research will include a systematic investigation into electrochemical chlorine sensors to exploit recent technological advances in materials and signal processing and to transfer the considerable progress that has been made at Imperial in biocompatibility in biomedical devices and bio-inspired technologies into the environmental monitoring field.
Applicants for the studentship should have or expect to obtain a first or upper second class honours degree or equivalent, in engineering (Chemical, Bioengineering/Biomedical engineering) or physical sciences (physics, chemistry) or related subjects with experience of chemistry of biology laboratory work being highly desirable. Good computing and communication skills are required. A master's degree in a relevant subject would be advantageous but is not essential.
Applications will be assessed as received and all applicants should follow the standard College postgraduate admissions process (http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus/howtoapply). Should you have any queries regarding the application process please contact Dr Danny O’Hare (d.ohare AT imperial.ac.uk), or phone on +44 (0)207 594 5173.
Funding Notes
The PhD studentship is four (4) years. Funding is available for UK and EU fee status applicants. For UK applicants, the studentship offers a stipend of £19,600 in the first two years and then £20,600 in the latter two years (tax free) and covers fees at the UK/EU student rate.
EU/overseas applicants are eligible for funding if they satisfy the following EPSRC eligibility criteria:
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/students/pages/eligibility.aspx
EU/overseas applicants are eligible for funding if they satisfy the following EPSRC eligibility criteria:
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/funding/students/pages/eligibility.aspx
Project supervisors
Career overview
Professor Danny O''Hare graduated in chemistry from Imperial College London in 1984. He obtained a PhD from the Physiological Flow Studies Group (PFSG) at Imperial College London in 1991, focusing on the development of electrochemical sensors for the study of intervertebral disc nutrition. He is a Chartered Chemist and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Electrochemical Society, and the British Society for Matrix Biology. Following his doctoral studies, he completed postdoctoral work in the PFSG, where he investigated the electrokinetic characterization of articular cartilage. From 1992 to 2001, he served first as a Lecturer and then as a Senior Lecturer in Analytical Chemistry at the School of Pharmacy & Biomolecular Sciences at the University of Brighton. He is also a member of the Advisory Board for Analytical Abstracts, which is associated with the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Research interests
Professor O''Hare''s research focuses on biosensor technology, with specific interests in analytical chemistry, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, biochemistry and cell biology, and physical chemistry. His work includes the development of electrochemical sensors for studying intervertebral disc nutrition and electrokinetic characterisation of articular cartilage. He has also been involved in various collaborations, including the Centre for Antimicrobial Optimisation and the Leverhulme Centre for Cellular Bionics.
Biosensor Technology
Analytical Chemistry
Biomedical Engineering
Nanotechnology
Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Physical Chemistry
Electrochemical Sensors
Intervertebral Disc Nutrition
Electrokinetic Characterization
Articular Cartilage
Chemical Biology
Antimicrobial Optimisation
Cellular Bionics
Organ-on-chip
Career overview
Professor Ivan Stoianov is a Professor of Water Systems Engineering at Imperial College London and a Royal Academy of Engineering Senior Research Fellow in Dynamically Adaptive Water Supply Networks. His fellowship, supported by Anglian Water Services and CLA-VAL UK, focuses on developing and experimentally validating methods for designing, optimising, and controlling resilient water supply networks that can dynamically adapt to changing conditions. These networks represent a new category of cyber-physical systems that integrate physical processes with computational control to enhance adaptability, resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. Professor Stoianov founded and leads InfraSense Labs, a cross-disciplinary research group, and was the Principal Investigator for the NEC–Imperial Smart Water Systems Project from 2012 to 2016. Prior to his tenure at Imperial, he worked as a Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he collaborated with Intel Research to develop novel wireless sensor network technologies for real-time monitoring of water distribution and sewer systems in Boston. In recognition of his contributions, he was awarded the Telford Gold Medal by the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2010 for co-authoring a paper on wireless sensor networks. He co-founded Inflowmatix Ltd, a spin-out company from his research, which focuses on monitoring and analysing dynamic hydraulic conditions in water networks, successfully raising over £9 million in venture capital. At Imperial, Professor Stoianov teaches various undergraduate and postgraduate modules, including Water and Wastewater Engineering, Water Supply and Distribution, Hydroinformatics, and Computational Methods. He has supervised and completed fifteen PhD students and over ninety MSc dissertations on diverse topics related to water systems engineering.
Research interests
Professor Stoianov''s research focuses on the design, optimisation, and control of next-generation resilient water supply networks that dynamically adapt their connectivity, hydraulic conditions, and operational objectives. He is developing and experimentally validating fundamental scientific methods for these systems, which can adjust in response to changes in operational conditions, performance objectives, demand growth, and failures. His work represents a new category of cyber-physical systems that integrate physical processes with computational control to achieve dynamic adaptability, resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. He has collaborated with various organisations, including Anglian Water, Cla-Val, Bristol Water, and ATi/Badger Meter, and has previously worked with Severn Trent Water, Essex and Suffolk Water, Thames Water, NEC, Intel Research, SAP, and ABB. Professor Stoianov founded and leads InfraSense Labs, a cross-disciplinary research group, and served as the Principal Investigator for the NEC–Imperial Smart Water Systems Project from 2012 to 2016. His prior experience includes developing novel wireless sensor network technologies for real-time monitoring of water distribution and sewer systems during his tenure as a Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). His research has also led to the co-founding of Inflowmatix Ltd, a spin-out company focused on monitoring and analysing dynamic hydraulic conditions in water networks, which has raised over £9 million in venture capital. Professor Stoianov has supervised and completed numerous PhD students and MSc dissertations on topics related to hydraulic conditions, dynamic hydraulics in distribution systems, pressure reducing valve performance, optimal pump scheduling, flow measurement accuracy, and spatial decision support for pipe break vulnerability assessment.
Water Systems Engineering
Dynamically Adaptive Water Supply Networks
Cyber-Physical Systems
Resilience
Efficiency
Sustainability
Hydraulic Conditions
Operational Objectives
Wireless Sensor Networks
Real-Time Monitoring
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Applied Economics
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Geoscience
Applied Mathematics
Technology Transfer
Fluid Dynamics
Monitoring
Dynamic Hydraulics
Pressure Reducing Valves
Pump Scheduling
Spatial Decision Support
Pipe Break Vulnerability Assessment.
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