Funded PhDs and Research Degrees.

FindaPhD: University of South Wales Fully Funded PhD Studentship: Project Bio-electrochemical Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery 

Brief proposal and project aim: 

The protection of water resources by the development of effective and energy efficient wastewater treatment is essential to meet global development challenges. We have developed a novel microbial fuel cell-based wastewater treatment reactor which treats wastewater while generating electricity. You will work as part of a team funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering to research the performance of this reactor in treating wastewater by determining its efficiency in removing organic pollution, nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) pharmaceuticals and personal care products. You will be trained in the use of advanced analytical techniques for electrochemical and wastewater analysis.

Applications are invited from graduates with backgrounds in Bioscience, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or Chemical/Biochemical/Process Engineering, Environmental Science and related
disciplines who have/expect to graduate with a MSc or first/upper-second UK honours degree, or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK. Knowledge of chemical techniques related to water analysis such as chemical oxygen demand measurement, UV spectrometry and/or HPLC is desirable. 

Supervisory Team: 
(Director of Studies), Professor Richard Dinsdale 
(Supervisors/Advisors) Dr Rodrigo Fernandez Feito and Dr Amandeep Kaur 

Scholarship details

The studentship includes tuition fees at the UK home student rate (£5238 per year, full-time) and a stipend of £21,805 per annum for three years (or part-time equivalent).

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Hold a relevant undergraduate degree (2:1 or higher) in Bioscience, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biotechnology, Chemistry, or Chemical/Biochemical/Process Engineering, Environmental Science and related disciplines.
• Knowledge of chemical techniques related to water analysis such as chemical oxygen demand measurement, UV spectrometry and/or HPLC is desirable.
• Be highly self-motivated, with a capacity to learn and develop new research skills
• Have well-developed interpersonal skills for collaborative work  
• Have an ability to produce technical reports and communicate findings
• Be UK-resident.  

How to Apply

For guidance on your application and supporting documents please visit the Graduate School webpages.
 
Please indicate in your personal statement that you are applying for this studentship. Please note: A research proposal is not required. 

You can apply here.
 
You may contact Llinos Spargo in the Graduate School for advice on the application process
Email: [email protected]  

For informal discussions about the research, please contact:

Professor Richard Dinsdale 
Email: [email protected]   
Tel:  +44 (0) 7780 074870  

Closing date: 19th July 2026
Start date: October 2026

About the Project

Low-temperature biorefining has the potential to transform waste carbon streams into carboxylates, a versatile and high-value class of platform chemicals. Operation at reduced temperatures offers opportunities to develop more energy-efficient and flexible bioprocesses incorporating novel membrane-based separation systems. Optimisation of low-temperature biorefining and its transition to full-scale use will require improvements to process stability, productivity, and product recovery. Improved understanding and optimisation of these factors will, in turn, require cutting-edge tools capable of resolving dynamic metabolic behaviour under varying environmental and substrate conditions.

This PhD project will investigate the optimisation of low-temperature biorefining processes through the integration of advanced process monitoring and separation technologies. A key component will be the application of VFASense a novel online VFA sensing platform developed at the University of South Wales, based on automated sampling and capillary electrophoresis, enabling real-time quantification and speciation of VFAs. This will be combined with the development and evaluation of novel in situ separation approaches, including membrane-based extraction systems, to enhance product recovery and mitigate process limitations associated with low-temperature operation. The project will generate new insight into the interplay between microbial community function, process conditions, and product formation, with the aim of improving system performance and supporting the development of scalable, energy-efficient biorefining technologies.

The PhD student will integrate with an established research team, developing physical integration strategies, as well as control and optimisation paradigms for both fermentative carboxylate production and its in situ recovery. They will work across a range of fermentation scales, from small-scale fermentation arrays through to pilot-scale, site-deployable systems. The PhD project will complement ‘BIO-VISTA’, the Royal Academy of Engineering Green Future Fellowship project in low-temperature biorefining, led by Dr Jaime Massanet-Nicolau, and will also align with a number of biorefining research projects funded by UKRI and Horizon Europe and led by members of the Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC) at the University of South Wales. The project will encompass a wide range of disciplines including microbiology, chemistry, data acquisition and analysis, and engineering; a flexible approach and willingness to expand existing skills and theoretical knowledge will be essential for success.

Supervisory Team:

• (Director of Studies) Dr. Jaime Massanet-Nicolau
• (Supervisors/Advisors) Dr. Rhys Jones, Dr. Rodrigo Fernandez-Feito
•  

Scholarship details

The studentship includes tuition fees at the UK home student rate (£5238 per year, full-time) and a stipend of £21,805 per annum for four years (or part-time equivalent).

Eligibility

Essential Criteria

• Be UK-resident.
• A minimum of a 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Microbiology, or a closely related discipline
• Practical experience of fermentation systems, particularly relating to volatile fatty acid (VFA) production.
• Experience in biomass and bioreactor characterisation, including techniques such as Total Solids (TS), Volatile Solids (VS), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)
• Experience of undertaking a research project in biorefining, anaerobic processes, or a closely related field, ideally involving VFA production
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a team in a laboratory environment
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to collect, manage, and interpret experimental data
• A full UK driving licence as work will involve travel to industrial site for sample collection.
• Ability to take an independent approach to problem-solving
• Willingness to expand across disciplines, including areas such as electrical engineering and information technology
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise workloads
• Experience in dissemination and presentation of research outputs

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of undertaking a research project in biorefining, anaerobic processes, or a closely related field, ideally involving VFA production
• Experience in design, construction, and instrumentation of bench-scale fermentation systems for VFA production.
• Familiarity with automated VFA analytical techniques, such as Gas Chromatography (GC) or Capillary Electrophoresis (CE).
• Experience with data acquisition systems, particularly National Instruments (NI) hardware
• Working knowledge of LabVIEW, including development and use of Virtual Instruments (VIs)
• Experience using array-based or parallel batch fermentation platforms (e.g. AnaeroTech, Bioprocess Control systems)
• Familiarity with core laboratory techniques, including serial dilution, accurate use of pipettes, and adherence to health and safety practices and waste disposal protocols
• Experience in preparing inocula and normalising biomass substrates based on volatile solids (VS)
• Proficient in using Excel to analyse and process large datasets

How to Apply

For guidance on your application and supporting documents please visit the Graduate School webpages

Please indicate in your personal statement that you are applying for this studentship. Please note: A research proposal is not required.

You can apply here

You may contact Llinos Spargo in the Graduate School for advice on the application process

Email: [email protected]

For informal discussions about the research, please contact:

Dr. Jaime Massanet-Nicolau [email protected]

• Closing date: July 17^th 2026
• Interview date: August 2026
• Start date: September 2026 or as soon as possible after appointment.