BioDesign for the Bioeconomy (Advert Reference: RDF21/MDRT/BDB)

As part of our continued commitment to research excellence, Northumbria University is offering studentships aligned to each of our Multidisciplinary Research Themes (MDRTs).

The BioDesign for the Bioeconomy MDRT explores and exploits biosystems to develop transformative solutions for a more sustainable and healthy society. We provide an interdisciplinary platform where biotechnologists, microbiologists, chemists, bioinformaticians, engineers, designers and social scientists work together to create and engineer valuable biology-based processes and systems which contribute to an economically and environmentally sustainable society. These processes and systems will tackle global challenges and create opportunities in chemicals, energy and fuel production, materials, health and the environment.

The core aspects of the BDB MDRT are (i) Living Materials Fabrication, (iii) Biocatalysis and Bioprocesses and (ii) Health Technology Innovation.

In the Living Materials Fabrication we are developing advanced biomaterials and digital fabrication processes that utilise self-assembly, self-healing and the dynamic responsive properties of biological cells. Current projects include (i) engineered bacteria as computation agents in the design and manufacture of new structures, (ii) bacterial spore-based active hygromorph materials, (iii) robotic moulding - a material making process through guiding the growth of the fungi, (iv) development of functionally graded bacterial cellulose by co-culturing bioprocess (v) living manufacture - principles for a microbial 3D printer and in-situ growth of biocomposites for off-world building materials.

In the Biocatalysis and Bioprocessing we currently run projects around (i) enzyme discovery and engineering, using in silico modelling and machine learning, for the more efficient breaking-down of household waste and production of value-added chemicals, (ii) synthetic biology to adapt existing model-organisms and increase the use of non-model organisms as robust microbial cell factories for efficient waste conversion to energy and high-value chemicals and (iii) the development of efficient sugar and gas fermentations systems for energy and high-value chemical production from solid waste and microbial fuels cell for energy production from liquid waste.

In the Health Technology Innovation we currently run projects around (i) integration of technologies to detect microbial changes in both indoor and outdoor built-environments using targeted and untargeted nucleic acid sequencing, (ii) using panels of biological surrogates to model the movement of microbiota around and between built environment spaces and (iii) using data from microbial surveillance to allow real time augmentation and remediation of simple and complex bacterial communities using bacteriophages. All approaches aim to survey, capture, remediate or enrich microbial diversity that offer links to human health.

Please also indicate in your application which of the three core aspects you are most interested in.

Eligibility and How to Apply:

The studentship is available to Home students and includes a full stipend, paid for three years at RCUK rates (for 2020/21, this is £15,285 pa) and full tuition fees.

Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

Please note eligibility requirement:

• Academic excellence of the proposed student i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities [preference for 1st class honours]); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply for this funding if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please contact Prof Gary Black (gary.black@northumbria.ac.uk) and Dr Meng Zhang (meng.zhang@northumbria.ac.uk).

For further details of how to apply, entry requirements and the application form, see:

Please note: Applications should include a short summary (500 words max) of a relevant piece of research that you have previously completed, rather than a research proposal, in the research proposal section of the application. Applications that do not include the advert reference RDF21/MDRT/BDB will not be considered.

Deadline for applications: Friday 29^th January 2021

Start Date: 1^st October 2021

Northumbria University takes pride in, and values, the quality and diversity of our students. We welcome applications from all members of the community.