Eating Gold: combining algae biochemistry and materials science for the environmental remediation and recovery of metals from wastes

The unicellular red alga Galdieria sulphuraria (Galdieria) exhibits enormous versatility with the ability to thrive at temperatures above 50˚C and under highly acidic conditions (pH below 1). It shows vigorous growth on virtually any sugar, sugar-alcohol or organic-acid source and tolerates a range of metals. The extremophile lifestyle of Galdieria makes it a fascinating organism to study from both a mechanistic viewpoint and to find novel species with properties that have industrial applications.

This project is a joint collaboration between the Chemistry and Biology Departments and will study the ability of Galdieria strains from several geographical locations to accumulate metals for remediation and biomining from highly acidic wastewaters. Thirty new genomes of diverse geographical isolates will be studied to assess the relationship of genomic profile to metal-choice. This will help reveal the intrinsic evolutionary differences present leading to differential mechanisms of metal resistance and metal uptake. The nanostructure of the metals formed within the alga will be examined, and in high metal-uptake strains, the potential for metal recovery and the production of catalytically valuable materials will be examined.

Skills in a wide-range of modern biological and chemical techniques will be developed including micro-algal production and biochemical analyses of cellular processes, and how this relates to microscopic and sub-cellular control of metal-complex formation within cells. Chemically, Inductively Couple Plasma Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (ICP-AAS), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) are expected instrumentation methods to be utilised.

Taken together this project is envisaged to provide a direct link between mechanistic biology of an interesting extremophile, with a biochemical coupling to genomic-based informatics, to define exciting translational potentials for remediation and bio-mining.

Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview to take place at the University of York on Friday 12 May. Candidates will be asked to give a short presentation prior to their interview by an academic panel. All research students follow our innovative Doctoral Training in Chemistry (iDTC): cohort-based training to support the development of scientific, transferable and employability skills.

The Department of Chemistry holds an Athena SWAN Gold Award and is committed to supporting equality and diversity for all staff and students.