About the Project
We are seeking a highly motivated student with a background in engineering, environmental science, biotechnology, microbiology, or related disciplines to join an exciting interdisciplinary PhD project at the interface of environmental engineering, engineering biology and sustainable energy systems.
Biological treatment processes underpin many environmental technologies, from wastewater treatment to resource recovery systems. However, microbial metabolism not only drives pollutant removal, but also produces and dissipates significant amounts of energy, much of which remains poorly understood and largely unexploited. Harnessing this biological energy could create new opportunities to improve process efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and recover renewable energy.
This PhD project will investigate how microbial community metabolism influences thermal dynamics in environmental biotechnologies, with a particular focus on understanding mechanisms of microbial heat generation and dissipation. The research will explore how these processes can be manipulated to improve treatment performance, enhance system resilience under cold-climate conditions, and maximise energy recovery. The project will build upon pioneering work undertaken at the University of Glasgow, where we have developed novel decentralised wastewater technologies capable of simultaneously improving treatment performance, mitigating methane emissions and recovering renewable heat. Previous studies have demonstrated that integrating biological heat generation with heat recovery technologies could reduce household heating-related electricity consumption by up to 20%. However, the fundamental mechanisms controlling microbial heat production remain largely unknown.
The student will use a combination of engineering biology, environmental microbiology and systems engineering approaches to characterise microbial energy flows and identify microbial traits associated with enhanced heat release. Opportunities will exist to investigate microbial community engineering strategies, including bioaugmentation, selective enrichment and synthetic biology approaches, to optimise biological heat generation across a range of environmental applications.
In collaboration with Scottish Water and industrial partners, the project will also assess the potential for deploying heat recovery technologies within decentralised and off-grid infrastructure, contributing to Net Zero ambitions and circular resource recovery strategies.
This interdisciplinary PhD will provide training in environmental engineering, engineering biology, microbial ecology, molecular biology, calorimetry, data analysis and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will join a vibrant and collaborative research environment and will be well positioned for future leadership roles in sustainable biotechnology, climate innovation and environmental engineering.
The successful candidate will be based at the University of Glasgow's Advanced Research Centre (ARC) within the Water and Environment Research Group, with direct access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, including the new pilot-scale WARM (Waste to Advanced Renewable-energy Microgrid) system, and a world-leading research environment addressing some of the most pressing challenges in sustainable, biology-driven water treatment. The student will also join the wider NERC-funded EngBio4Env doctoral cohort, providing access to an extensive network of universities, industrial partners and interdisciplinary training opportunities.
This studentship is open to applicants who qualify for UK Home tuition fee status, including students from the Republic of Ireland, who are eligible for UK Home fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Due to funding restrictions, applicants who do not meet Home fee criteria are not eligible to apply for this project.
Applicants should hold, or expect to achieve, a minimum of a 2:1 Honours degree, in a relevant subject area. Suitable backgrounds include Environmental Microbiology, Water Science, Water/Environmental/Civil Engineering, as well as Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Ecology, or Environmental Science more broadly. A Master’s degree while not essential, is desirable, and applicants must have the ability to work across disciplines and in collaboration with industry and academic partners.
How to Apply:
Applications should include:
- A CV;
- A one-page letter outlining your motivation for undertaking the PhD; and
- The names and contact details of two academic or professional referees.
Applications should be sent to Dr Tania Gomez at Tania.GomezBorraz@glasgow.ac.uk