Fully-funded PhD studentship - Applications open
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Start date: 1 Oct 2026
Deadline: 3 July 2026, 11.59
Summary:
This project investigates how DMU-derived catalysts can improve the disinfection of wastewater systems.
It focuses on developing and testing advanced treatment approaches that reduce microbial contamination, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.
This knowledge will support safer and more sustainable water management by improving understanding of antimicrobial resistance, microbial tolerance and treatment effectiveness.
The student will investigate wastewater disinfection strategies, assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, examine microbial tolerance to treatment chemicals and characterise free radical generation during treatment processes.
While wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health, microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance remain significant challenges in water environments.
About the project:
Wastewater systems can act as important reservoirs for microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance, creating potential risks for public health and the wider environment. This interdisciplinary PhD project will develop and apply DMU-derived catalyst systems to enhance wastewater disinfection through improved radical generation and targeted microbial control. The researcher will combine approaches from environmental engineering, microbiology and advanced oxidation processes to investigate how bacteria, viruses and fungi respond to treatment. They will assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, explore microbial tolerance to commonly used disinfectants and treatment chemicals, and examine potential links with cross-resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. The project will also test novel catalyst technologies under realistic wastewater conditions, helping to validate their effectiveness, scalability and potential contribution to safer, more sustainable water treatment.
The successful candidate will based within the Leicester Institute of Pharmaceutical and Health Innovation in the Leicester School of Pharmacy, with dedicated state-of-the-art facilities for undertaking the project.
The candidate will be supervised by Prof Katie Laird (klaird@dmu.ac.uk), Dr Maitreyi Shivkumar (maitreyi.shivkumar@dmu.ac.uk), and Prof Katherine Huddersman (huddzeo1@dmu.ac.uk), in collaboration with the environmental engineering firm Hazen and Sawyer, as part of an multidisciplinary research team.
The candidate will be provided excellent training and support in scientific, technical, and transferable skills required to develop as a research scientist. Potential applicants can contact the supervisory team for information enquiries.
Funding information:
Hazen and Sawyer is an internationally recognised environmental engineering and consulting firm headquartered at 498 Seventh Avenue, New York, USA. Founded in 1951, the employee‑owned company specialises exclusively in water-related challenges, including drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, water reuse, and water resource management. With over 1,000 employees worldwide, Hazen is considered one of the largest firms dedicated solely to “all things water,” delivering innovative, research-driven solutions that address public health, environmental protection, and climate resilience. Hazen has expanded internationally, including a UK subsidiary (Hazen and Sawyer UK Ltd), established in 2023 and based in London, delivering engineering and scientific consulting services aligned with its global water and environmental expertise. In addition, Hazen maintains UK project and operational activity (e.g., East Sussex), supporting European clients in water and environmental infrastructure projects.
Funding includes:
Stipend at the UKRI rate (£21,805 per annum) for three years
Full UK Home Tuition fees
£6000 bench fees for consumables, conferences, site visits
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
Possess a UK Honours degree in a relevant fields with at least an upper second class (or overseas equivalent), a Masters Degree in similar fields, or an academic or professional qualification plus experience in their sector or industry.
This opportunity is only open to UK Home Students.
How to apply:
This is a two-stage application process.
Stage 1: Please send the following documents to PGRscholarships@dmu.ac.uk.
Deadline for Stage 1: Friday 3 Jul 2026
Stage 2: Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to undergo an interview. The successful candidate will be contacted with a request to submit a full application through the DMU PGR Application Portal.
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