Harnessing adaptive microbial mutagenesis in nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment
About the Project
This exciting fully funded PhD, with an enhanced stipend of £31,805 per annum (with fees covered) through the EPSRC TechExpert Pilot scheme, is sponsored by the NERC Doctoral Focal Award in Engineering Biology for Environmental Applications (EngBio4Env) and Sanofi through the Planet Care Challenge programme. The research will focus on how microbial communities in nature-based solutions (i.e. constructed wetlands) respond to emerging wastewater pollutants and develop engineering biology interventions to enhance micropollutant removal safely. The project will generate new knowledge to support the future design of adaptive, high-performance, and environmentally safe nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment.
Emerging micropollutants, including pharmaceuticals, PFAS, pesticides, and personal care products, are increasingly detected in wastewater and receiving environments, creating major challenges for water quality protection and environmental safety. Nature-based solutions (NbS), particularly constructed wetlands, are widely used for sustainable wastewater treatment because they can remove pollutants while also delivering wider ecosystem benefits. However, wastewater continuously exposes microbial communities in these systems to chemical stressors, and the long-term effects of this exposure on microbial adaptation, treatment performance, and ecological safety remain poorly understood. Moreover, there is growing interest in whether these microbial community changes and mutations can be understood and harnessed to improve treatment performance.
The research will focus on microbial mutation, selection, and functional trait development under long-term exposure to pharmaceuticals, PFAS, pesticides, and other emerging contaminants. It will also examine targeted biotechnology approaches, including controlled photonic stimulation, to determine whether beneficial microbial functions can be enhanced without compromising environmental safety. The project will combine field investigations, laboratory experiments, molecular microbiology, and quantitative modelling to generate new knowledge for future adaptive, high-performance nature-based wastewater treatment systems.
This project will be based at Cranfield University, a leading postgraduate-only university with strong expertise in water and wastewater engineering, nature-based solutions, environmental biotechnology, and micropollutant remediation. The studentship is sponsored by the NERC Doctoral Focal Award in Engineering Biology for Environmental Applications (EngBio4Env) and Sanofi through the Planet Care Challenge programme. EngBio4Env provides an exciting interdisciplinary training environment across engineering biology, environmental science, and innovation. Sanofi is a global healthcare company with strong interest in sustainable solutions for managing pharmaceutical pollutants and reducing environmental impacts across the treatment and disposal pathway.
The project will generate new understanding of how microbial communities in constructed wetlands adapt to chemical stress and how these changes influence pollutant degradation and treatment performance. It will provide evidence on whether targeted engineering biology interventions can improve micropollutant removal while maintaining environmental safety. The outcomes will support the future design of adaptive, high-performance, and environmentally safe nature-based solutions for wastewater treatment, with relevance to pharmaceutical residues and other contaminants of emerging concern. The work will also contribute to the wider development of engineering biology approaches for environmental remediation.
This is a fully funded PhD with an enhanced tax-free stipend of £31,805 per annum, full fees covered for four years, and additional support for training. The successful candidate will benefit from interdisciplinary training through EngBio4Env and access to Cranfield’s expertise and facilities in wastewater treatment, micropollutant analysis, molecular microbiology, and environmental modelling. The project will offer opportunities for collaboration with industrial and external partners, conference participation, advanced technical training, and wider engagement with the engineering biology research community.
At the end of the project, the candidate will be very well positioned to have a highly successful career in the water sector or in an academic role. We will help you develop into a dynamic, confident and highly competent researcher with wider transferable skills (communication, project management and leadership) with an international network of colleagues.
Entry requirements
Applicants should have a first or upper second-class UK honours degree, or an equivalent qualification, in a relevant discipline. This project would suit candidates from subjects including Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Water Engineering, or other related science or engineering degrees. Experience of, or a good understanding of, wastewater treatment, environmental microbiology, molecular biology, or biotechnology would be advantageous. Candidates should be self-motivated, have strong communication skills for regular interaction with academic and industrial partners, and demonstrate a keen interest in interdisciplinary and applied environmental research.
How to apply
For further information please contact:
Name: Dr Tao Lyu
Email: t.lyu@cranfield.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0)1234 758302
If you are eligible to apply for this studentship, please complete the online application form.
This vacancy may be filled before the closing date so early application is strongly encouraged.
Funding Notes
Sponsored by the NERC Doctoral Focal Award in Engineering Biology for Environmental Applications (EngBio4Env) and Sanofi (through the Planet Care Challenge programme), this PhD studentship will provide a bursary of £31,805 (tax free) and cover registration fees for four years. Extra training and placement (overseas/industry) costs will be covered, subject to supervisor approval.
To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be classified as a Home fee status student.
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