The University of Sheffield, Sheffield Water Centre in collaboration with The Environmental Protection Group Ltd and the Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience.
EPSRC PhD Studentship in: Microbiological Research for Diffuse Pollution Management and its Integration within Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDs).
Stipend: This post will fully cover university tuition and provide a tax-free stipend for UK students of £21,000 per year.
Closing Date for Applications: 30 June 2023
Start Date: 25th September 2023 (contract duration 4 years)
Project Description
Environmental microorganisms can tolerate and metabolise different compounds when exposed to polluted water and soil. Biofilms are a consortium of microorganisms attached to a surface and enclosed by a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Both the EPS and the microbial cells can immobilise pollutants and enhance the adsorption capacity of the surface on which they develop and thus may contribute to pollutants immobilisation and transformation within sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), that are put in to capture and manage surface runoff. There is a growing trend to replace or enhance piped drainage with engineered and modular SuDS solutions to manage runoff volumes whilst also improving water quality. SuDS can be engineered wetlands, ponds, bioretention systems, tree pits as well pervious surfaces that drain into underground storage. Most SuDS require media (e.g., engineered soil, growing media) and geotextiles (for filtration and to manage sedimentation and clogging) as a standard component. The SuDS media and geotextile provides a unique opportunity to engineer into it the right type of microbes to maximise water treatment potential and remove diffuse pollutants that are captured by the SuDS. The proposed research will focus on diffuse pollution of nutrients and the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), two main ecological and public health concerns, and will investigate the use of biofilms in SuDS for bioremediation purposes.
This PhD will be undertaken within the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure and Resilience (CDT WIRe). CDT WIRe is a collaboration between the three leading UK Universities in water resilient infrastructure. Students will benefit from a bespoke training scheme delivered by world leading experts from academia and industry, access to world leading experimental and computational facilities as well as close and regular contact with industry and end user partners. CDT WIRe is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community, and offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies. For further information on the CDT WIRe scheme visit the web site: https://cdtwire.com/.
The project will be supervised at the University of Sheffield by Dr Isabel Douterelo Soler and Prof Steven Thornton, in collaboration with Dr Jaqueline Diaz-Nieto (The Environmental Protection Group Ltd).
Eligibility Criteria
Normal EPSRC funding eligibility applies to this award, so students must have a relevant connection with the UK (usually established by residence).
Selection criteria
At least a 2:1 honours degree in Microbiology, Environmental Science, and scientific disciplines where the candidate has specialised in environmental sciences (including Engineering, Chemistry, Biosciences). Experience in microbiological and environmental analysis, and experimental work would be helpful.
How to apply
Interested candidates should email a covering letter and CV to Lindsay Hopcroft ([Email Address Removed]).
For information and informal enquiries contact: Dr Isabel Douterelo Soler ([Email Address Removed])