[FSE Bicentenary PhD] Engineering biotechnological metal recovery for the energy transition

The clean energy transition is underpinned by technologies e.g. catalysts, turbines, batteries, motors and electrical components, that rely on critical metals. The need for these materials will increase dramatically over the next decade, raising concerns regarding availability and security of supplies. It is clear that environmental processing and recovery of critical metals must, therefore, play a strategic role in their management and also in waste reduction, pollution prevention, and the move towards a more circular and environmentally conscious clean energy economy. Biotechnology may hold the key to tackling these challenges, offering sustainable, scalable processes that can selectively capture a broad-range of technology relevant metals from industrial waste streams.

Building on research in the Geomicrobiology group of the Dept of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DEES), which is supported by the recently funded ELEMENTAL Engineering Biology Mission hub, this project will used advanced synthetic biology approaches to target metals that are presently challenging to recycle. Geomicrobiological “chassis” organisms will be optimised for the recovery of valuable metals from industrially-relevant leachates, using a range of advanced molecular biology and protein engineering approaches. Where possible these novel microbial processes will be tailored towards the formation of high value nano-scale materials, templated on the microbial cell, and characterised using state of the art microscopy and imaging techniques. This unique project will make maximal use of state of the art infrastructure in the Williamson Research Facility in DEES, the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health and the Dept or Materials. The skills developed within this PhD will be directly applicable to a range of careers within the environmental, advanced materials, sustainability and biotechnological sectors.

Before you apply: We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this project before you apply.

How to apply: To be considered for this project you’ll need complete a formal application through our online application portal. This link should directly open an application for FSE Bicentenary PhD.

When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your proposed supervisor/s, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. You also need to provide a Personal Statement describing the motivation to apply to the project and your CV. Your application cannot be processed without all of the required documents, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines where applications are incomplete.

Equality, diversity and inclusion: Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and are at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.

We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).

Eligibility: Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

 ^{FSE_Bicentenary}