Application Deadline: 5^th August 2013

Start date: 7^th October 2013

Supervisor: Ewan McAdam and Bruce Jefferson

Duration of award: 3 years

Industrially sponsored by Severn Trent Water, Anglian Water and Thames Water, and in collaboration with Cranfield University’s internationally recognised Water Science Institute, a studentship of up to £17,000* is available.

Cranfield University has an exciting research opportunity for a motivated graduate to aid in the development of an innovative anaerobic wastewater treatment process to achieve energy neutral wastewater treatment.

The PhD project aims to develop an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR) design for wastewater treatment which combines biological and physical separation process to achieve strict water quality standards whilst also enabling energy production through methane generation.

The successful candidate will investigate novel methods to overcome technical limitations of MBRs related to membrane fouling to permit an energy free process. The candidate will also investigate the bioreactor design and determine process stability under steady-state and unsteady-state conditions. The work will involve operating reactors at pilot scale while also undertaking supporting laboratory scale analyses.

The student will be primarily based at the Cranfield Water Science Institute where they will have access to Cranfield’s unique pilot hall testing facility and state of the art laboratories. The project will involve significant laboratory work activities as well as process engineering calculations and data analysis.

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have a First or Second Class UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Environmental Chemistry, or Chemical Engineering discipline. The ideal candidate should have a strong background in chemistry and/or biological sciences, some knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, and experience of laboratory analysis and/or wastewater pilot-plant operation. They should also be self-starting, a good communicator, and possess problem solving skills and be organised and enthusiastic.

Contact:

Please contact the following for further discussion:

• Dr Ewan McAdam: e.mcadam@cranfield.ac.uk
• Prof Bruce Jefferson: b.jefferson@cranfield.ac.uk

Funding:

*Applicants are eligible for a bursary of up to £17,000 for the duration of the award dependent upon qualifications and experience. Due to funding restrictions this studentship will cover the tuition fees for qualified UK/EU students only, non UK/EU students are required to pay Cranfield University Tuition Fees.

We require that applicants are under no restrictions regarding how long they can stay in the UK. i.e. have no visa restrictions or applicant has “settled status” and has been “ordinarily resident” in the UK for 3 years prior to start of studies and has not been residing in the UK wholly or mainly for the purpose of full-time education. All EU nationals are eligible to receive a fees-only award if they do not have “settled status” in the UK.