PhD Engineering: Calibrated computational modelling for rapid prototyping and optimisation of low-cost water biofilters

The global water crisis is among the most pressing challenges facing engineers today. Over 2.3 billion people do not have basic sanitation facilities such as toilets or latrines and 780 million people live without access to clean drinking water. Over 600 million people also face risk of infection from physical contact with unsafe water sources through washing clothes, bathing etc. These infectious water bodies can harbour parasites and viral and bacterial pathogens. Biofiltration is a low-cost water treatment technology with the potential to deliver safe wash- and drinking-waters. Yet engineers lack methodology to reliably control the biology that underlies treatment in biofiltration. Therefore, unpredictable performance and failures from biofouling often prevent widespread implementation.

This PhD will address these issues by developing a computational design approach for optimising biofilters that will provide a robust and predictable workflow for biofilter design. Initial research will focus on development of mathematical models that govern biofilter operation. Subsequent work will combine these models with advanced computational algorithms to generate optimised biofilters geometries suitable for 3D printed prototyping. Prototypes will be used for calibration and validation of the computational workflow via laboratory experimentation assessing both water quality and parasite removal with a focus on cercariae of the schistosomiasis parasite (https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/schistosomiasis/biology.html). The project will conclude by conducting field trials in rural Ugandan communities to assess final prototypes and generate data to provide a proof-of-concept study. Thus, the project offers a unique opportunity to develop and implement a highly novel computational modelling approach and to translate optimised designs into real world applications.

Project Team and Location

The project supervision team consists of Dr Robert Simpson (lead supervisor, School of Engineering), Dr Stephanie Connelly (School of Engineering) and Dr Poppy Lamberton (Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine and Wellcome Centre for Molecular Parasitology). The student will be primarily based in the School of Engineering within the Glasgow Computational Engineering Centre working alongside academics and researchers with expertise in modelling, numerical methods, computational engineering design and high performance computing. The student will perform validation of 3D printed prototypes within the Water and Environment Research Laboratory (Stephanie Connelly) and conduct field trials in rural communities in developing countries (Poppy Lamberton).
Person Specification

This studentship is open to candidates of any nationality – UK, EU or International, with a degree score of 2:1 or above (or international equivalent: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-degree-equivalency-table-and-methodology).