PhD Studentship: Leverhulme Trust PhD project: Lawn grass microbial fuel cells for widespread energy

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Engineering
Location:  UK Other
Closing Date:  Monday 08 January 2024
Reference:  ENG1928

The University of Nottingham is delighted to invite applications for a 42-month, fully funded

(U.K.) PhD studentship as part of the Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant, “Lawn

grass microbial fuel cells for widespread energy harvesting”. The interdisciplinary project,

under the supervision of Dr. Michael P. Weir, Dr. Alison Tidy, and Dr. Helena I. Gomes, is

joint between the School of Physics and Astronomy, the School of Biosciences and the

Faculty of Engineering.

In an era where human-induced global warming is scientifically accepted as “unequivocal”,

the switch to clean sources of electrical energy to displace fossil fuel burning has never been

more urgent. Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (P-MFC) offer a promising route to generation of

clean energy that is carbon negative and occurs in union with a living plant. P-MFC are also

instrumental in the remediation of wastewater and in the removal of pollutants from soil.

Should you be successful, you will be involved in the growth and development of the P-MFC,

to establish a working prototype. You will investigate data collection and interfacing of the

working design. You will study the effects of changing variables and their effect on the plant-

MFC as a whole, understanding electrical output, as well as plant and microbial community

health. You will then make a demonstrator model with an energy harvesting circuit to show a

working prototype, for example, employing a light sensor and a low-powered LED light.

The studentship will teach a very wide range of interdisciplinary skills, including plant

science, care of the living plant, study of the microbial colony in the root system, electrode

function, data interfacing and analysis, electrochemistry, and simple electronics. The training

from three different departments will give you an essential skillset in being able to engage

with researchers from different disciplines, building team-working skills, and bringing

together knowledge and skills towards a shared goal. You will also access training specific

for biologists, physicists, and engineers (such as Python coding, Fiji and RStudio which all

play an important role in the collection and analysis of results from the different disciplines),

as well as speciality skills in bioelectrochemistry and statistics. The broad development

potential of this training package will allow you to leave your PhD with a unique skill set,

opening opportunities for your future career and giving you a strong advantage.

In addition to these specific scientific skills, the unique training environment at the University

of Nottingham will help you to develop stronger team working skills, critical thinking, time

management, and record keeping. You have the opportunity to participate in scholarly

exchange with a vibrant, interdisciplinary cohort of fellow PhD researchers.

For informal enquiries about the role please contact Dr. Michael P. Weir (Physics)

([email protected]), Dr. Alison Tidy (Biosciences/Plant Sciences)

([email protected]) or Dr. Helena I. Gomes (Engineering)

([email protected]).

To apply for this PhD opportunity, please submit the following documents to

[email protected] by Monday 8th January 2024:

• Cover letter outlining your research interests and motivation to pursue this project.

• Curriculum vitae (CV) detailing your academic background, research experience, and

relevant skills.

• Academic transcripts of your previous degrees.

• Contact information for two professional references.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview. Applications will be evaluated on a

rolling basis until a suitable candidate is appointed.

Due to funding constraints, this project is only open to applicants with home (U.K.) fees

status.