PhD in Engineering - AI-Aided Engineering of Biofilters for Sustainable Drinking Water
About the Project
Access to safe drinking water remains a major global challenge. Water pollution, combined with increasing water scarcity, leaves millions without reliable access to clean water. Biofilters offer a promising solution by harnessing naturally occurring microbial communities to remove contaminants from polluted surface water, providing an environmentally friendly approach to producing safe drinking water. However, naturally formed biofilter communities are poorly controlled, often leading to instability and treatment failure.
Assuming if we can engineer bespoke biofiltration communities composed of the most effective microbes for removing different contaminants, this could transform our ability to treat a wide range of water sources for clean, safe water.
To achieve this goal, this project will leverage recent advances in artificial intelligence, Raman spectroscopy, and microfluidic platforms to identify and isolate microbial cells based on desirable activities directly from nature. By integrating microfluidic automation with AI-enabled real-time classification, the platform enables high-throughput screening at single-cell resolution.
The collected cells will serve as “seeds” to establish rationally designed microbial communities for constructing biofilters. Based on their genetic information, we will apply state-of-the-art bioinformatic tools to design optimal consortia capable of degrading specific contaminants across diverse water sources.
Performance and scale-up potential of these engineered biofilters will be evaluated using both artificial water spiked with contaminants and real water samples.
The project is highly interdisciplinary, providing training across 3D printing, microfluidics, advanced imaging, Raman spectroscopy, AI/machine learning, and microbiology. The researcher will join a vibrant interdisciplinary team and work closely with industrial partners (via industrial placement), including Scottish Water and Horiba Ltd, to address real-world water treatment challenges.
You'll be based at the University of Glasgow's Advanced Research Centre, with direct access to the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. These include 3D printers, integrated microfluidic systems, a suite of Raman microspectroscopy and fluorescence confocal microscopy, and access to James Watt nanofabrication center. Training will be provided as required. You'll also join a wider NERC-funded doctoral cohort across the EngBio4Env network of universities and industry partners.
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 engineering, microbiology, chemistry, physics, or a related discipline. 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, to include a: CV, one page letter of motivation and names and contact details of two references to be sent to Prof Huabing Yin (Huabing.yin@glasgow.ac.uk).
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