Next generation sustainable biological membrane technology

Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence

This studentship is supported by the Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence. AIME is a unique, interdisciplinary, intersectoral research and training hub for translational membrane science. AIME is a globally unique, cross-disciplinary institute to develop novel membranes for use in applications as varied as drug discovery and water purification. The team behind AIME believes that the full potential of membranes will only be realised by a research team spanning biology, physics and chemistry that can investigate membranes holistically. No other institute has the platform, potential or promise for major breakthroughs in this area. The vision is for AIME to become a ‘one-stop shop’ for interdisciplinary, translational membrane research through access to its facilities and expertise, ideally located in the heart of the UK.

Details of the Project

Water purification through selective molecule removal is a pressing global challenge. Polluted water poses severe socioeconomic and health risks, affecting agriculture, fishing, recreation, and transportation. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 500,000 people die each year due to contaminated water. Addressing water pollution is crucial to the European Union’s “Restore our Oceans and Waters” mission. The economic impact of water pollution in Europe alone reaches billions of Euros annually. An ideal water separation membrane would enable selective molecular movement, regardless of contaminants, with minimal energy requirements, scalability, and low cost.

Nature provides inspiration for such a solution, as it has evolved membrane proteins capable of highly selective molecular transport. These natural transporters move molecules efficiently across concentration gradients, yet current filtration technologies using these proteins are limited by the use of SMA (styrene-maleic anhydride) polymers. SMAs help stabilize lipid nanoparticles essential for protein function, but they are derived from non-renewable petroleum sources and are not biodegradable.

The proposed project aims to advance this field by developing new, biodegradable polymeric surfactants from renewable resources that outperform traditional SMAs. Emphasis will be on minimizing environmental impact by using greener reagents and achieving the best control over polymerization to produce amphiphilic, bio-based SMA alternatives. The research aligns with EU and UK goals for Net Zero emissions by 2050 and contributes to sustainable technological advancements. This project offers an opportunity to expand expertise in sustainable polymer design and protein filtration, supporting AIME’s mission in nanoparticle synthesis and sustainable polymer development.

Person Specification

The successful applicant should have been awarded, or expect to achieve, a Masters degree in a relevant subject with a 60% or higher weighted average, and/or a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree (or an equivalent qualification from an overseas institution) in a relevant subject. In would be beneficial to have experience in:

·      Synthetic chemistry

·      Polymer science

·      Polymer self-assembly

·      Sustainable chemistry

Contact information

For formal enquiries about this project contact Paul Topham at P.D.TOPHAM@aston.ac.uk

Submitting an application

 We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected. Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. Two academic referees who can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
5. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
6. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Apply for this position here

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Please select “Research – Engineering Systems” from the application form options.

If you require further information about the application process, please contact the Postgraduate Admissions team at pgr_admissions@aston.ac.uk