Industrial biotechnology is increasingly being seen as a way in which we can sustainably produce the products we need. These include plastics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food ingredients and many others. A key challenge in this area is developing modelling tools which can be used to describe the complex processes occurring inside large-scale industrial bioreactors.
The aim of this project would be to build on previous work to develop the next generation of bioreactor models. Existing models have generally been developed for well characterised microorganisms (e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Escherichia coli) producing simple products. There is a need to extend these models to both the production of different microorganisms, as well as the production of a broader range of products.
This project will be primarily computational, but may involve some lab-based work. Students working on this project will:
- Develop models that relate the design and operating parameters of a bioreactor to the process performance.
- Validate these models against either industrial datasets or experimental data.
Applicants should have a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree, or an MSc in chemical engineering, biotechnology or a related discipline. Applicants would ideally have some experience with mathematical modelling and computer programming. Applicants should be able to work independently, have good written and oral communication skills and be self-motivated.
Research journey
Doctoral research programmes (PhDs) take a proud place in the world-class research environment and community at Brunel. PhD students are recognised and valued by their supervisors as an essential part of their departments and a key component of the university's overall strategy to develop and deliver world-class research.
A PhD programme is expected to take 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time, with intakes starting in January, April or October.
The general University entrance requirement for registration for a research degree is normally a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (1st or 2:1) or an international equivalent. A Masters degree is a welcome, but not required, qualification for entry.
Find out how to apply for a PhD at Brunel
Research support
Excellent research support and training
The Graduate School provides a range of personal, professional and career development opportunities. This includes workshops, online training, coaching and events, to enable you to enhance your professional profile, refine your skills, and plan your next career steps as part of the Researcher Development Programme. The researcher development programme (RDP) offers workshops and seminars in a range of areas including progression, research management, research dissemination, and careers and personal development. You will also be offered a number of online, self-study courses on BBL, including Research Integrity, Research Skills Toolkit, Research Methods in Literature Review and Principles of Research Methods.
Library services
Brunel's Library is open 24 hours a day, has 400,000 books and 250,000 ebooks, and an annual budget of almost £2m. Subject information Specialists train students in the latest technology, digital literacy, and digital dissemination of scholarly outputs. As well as the physical resources available in the Library, we also provide access to a wealth of electronic resources. These include databases, journals and e-books. Access to these resources has been bought by the Library through subscription and is limited to current staff and students.
Dedicated research support staff provide guidance and training on open access, research data management, copyright and other research integrity issues.
Find out more: Brunel Library
Careers support
You will receive tailored careers support during your PhD and for up to three years after you complete your research at Brunel. We encourage you to actively engage in career planning and managing your personal development right from the start of your research, even (or perhaps especially) if you don't yet have a career path in mind. Our careers provision includes online information and advice, one-to-one consultations and a range of events and workshops. The Professional Development Centre runs a varied programme of careers events throughout the academic year. These include industry insight sessions, recruitment fairs, employer pop-ups and skills workshops.
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