Overview
Using plant derived proteins to substitute meat is among the most promising and popular solutions to reduce environmental footprint of food industry and contribute to healthier diets. Even better if plant proteins are obtained from the green waste within a circular economy. Carbon fixing plant enzyme, Rubisco, is the most abundant protein on the planet. As a key rate-limiting step in photosynthesis it has been extensively studied and characterized in different crops. Rubisco from green leaves has been shown to be a functionally better binding agent for vegan burgers than any other plant proteins (patent by Impossible Foods US 10,172,380). Surprisingly there is no big scale Rubisco production yet though there are several start-ups in the USA and Europe entering the market.
The objectives of this project are (i) perform a feasibility study for Rubisco production from a range of green waste sources available in the UK (grass clippings, sugar beet leaves etc); (ii) test a range of extraction and purification methods that could be applied on an industrial scale; and (iii) evaluate safety, nutritional and functional properties of Rubiscos from different sources.
The project is ideally suited to students with an interest in food biotechnology wishing to work with industry partners, stakeholders and academics.
Number Of Awards
1
Start Date
18th September 2023
Award Duration
3 Years
Sponsor
Institute for Agri-Food Research Innovations (IAFRI) & Newcastle University (NU)
Supervisors
Maxim Kapralov (NU), Rosario Romero and Maureen Wakefield (Fera)
Eligibility Criteria
You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in Biology, Nutrition, Biochemistry or Chemistry or similar.
Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.
The studentship covers fees at the Home rate (UK and EU applicants with pre-settled/settled status and meet the residency criteria). International applicants are welcome to apply but will be required to cover the difference between Home and International fees.
International applicants may require an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance certificate prior to obtaining their visa and to study on this programme.
How To Apply
You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal
Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.
Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:
- Search for the ‘Course Title’ using the programme code: 8020F
- Research area Environmental Science
- Select ‘PhD Biology (FullTime) – Environmental Science as the programme of study
You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section:
- A ‘Personal Statement’ (this is a mandatory field) - upload a document or write a statement directly in to the application form
- The studentship code SNES236 in the ‘Studentship/Partnership Reference’ field
- When prompted regarding your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.
Contact Details
For further information please contact: [Email Address Removed] and include ‘IAFRI PhD’ in the email subject line.
Continue with Facebook
