Fixed-term

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. At a glance Application deadline – 05 Aug 2026 Award type(s) – PhD Start date – 28 Sep 2026 Duration of award – 4 year (full-time) Eligibility – UK Reference number – CRAN-0096 Supervisor 1st Supervisor: Dr Tao Lyu 2nd Supervisor: Prof Frederic Coulon 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. Funding 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. Eligibility for Home fee status is determined with reference to UK Department for Education rules. As a guiding principle UK or Irish nationals who are ordinarily resident in either the UK or Republic of Ireland pay Home tuition fees. All other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees. Further advice can be found on the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website. Sharing data UKRI would like to have a better understanding of the students its training provision attracts and supports. Diversity information on all applicants/recruits applying for UKRI funded studentships will be shared with UKRI. The data will be aggregated and will not be shared as individual data or used to report on individuals or specific universities. The data will be used to analyse general trends in student populations across UKRI’s portfolio. Diversity and Inclusion at Cranfield We are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in our CDT program, and warmly encourage applications from students of all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented groups. We particularly welcome students with disabilities, neurodiverse individuals, and those who identify with diverse ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, and socioeconomic statuses. Cranfield strives to provide an accessible and inclusive environment to enable all doctoral candidates to thrive and achieve their full potential. At Cranfield, we value our diverse staff and student community and maintain a culture where everyone can work and study together harmoniously with dignity and respect. This is reflected in our University values of ambition, impact, respect and community. We welcome students and staff from all backgrounds from over 100 countries and support our staff and students to realise their full potential, from academic achievement to mental and physical wellbeing. We are committed to progressing the diversity and inclusion agenda, for example; gender diversity in

This project sits at the intersection of Engineering Biology, Environmental Monitoring, Biosensing, and Water Science. It combines advances in CRISPR/Cas biotechnology, synthetic biology, paper-based microfluidics, and digital sensing to address pressing challenges in environmental water quality monitoring. The research contributes to the growing field of AI-enabled environmental sensing and engineering biology.  The project is highly relevant today because rivers and freshwater systems are increasingly threatened by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), heavy metals, pesticides, and other emerging contaminants. Current monitoring approaches rely heavily on laboratory-based analysis, which is expensive, labour-intensive, and often unable to provide timely information for pollution prevention and management. Regulatory pressures under the Environment Act 2021, Water Framework Directive, and water industry environmental programmes are driving demand for rapid, cost-effective, and field-deployable monitoring technologies.  By developing CRISPR/Cas-enabled smart sensors capable of real-time, on-site detection of multiple contaminants, this project addresses a critical national and global need for improved environmental intelligence. The technology has the potential to transform how water companies, regulators, and communities monitor river health, enabling earlier detection of pollution events, more effective environmental management, and better protection of public health and ecosystems. The project also supports the UK’s strategic investment in Engineering Biology as a key technology for delivering environmental sustainability, resilience, and economic growth.  This project focuses on the development of next-generation CRISPR/Cas-enabled smart biosensors for real-time environmental monitoring of river water quality. By integrating engineering biology, paper-based microfluidics, and digital sensing technologies, the research aims to create a low-cost, portable, and multiplexed sensing platform capable of detecting a range of priority contaminants, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, PFAS compounds, heavy metals, and pesticide residues directly at the point of need. The project addresses the growing demand for rapid, field-deployable monitoring technologies that can provide actionable environmental intelligence and support evidence-based water management.  The overall aim of this project is to develop and validate a field-deployable CRISPR/Cas-based sensor platform for rapid, sensitive, and simultaneous detection of multiple environmental contaminants in river water. Specifically, the project seeks to:   Engineer and optimise CRISPR/Cas-based biosensing assays for priority chemical and biological contaminants;   Develop robust, low-cost microfluidics devices suitable for deployment without specialist laboratory infrastructure or cold-chain storage.   Validate sensor performance against gold-standard analytical methods through laboratory and field testing in collaboration with Anglian Water.  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 Anglian Water Services Ltd. EngBio4Env provides an exciting interdisciplinary training environment across engineering biology, environmental science, and innovation.   Anglian Water is the largest water and water recycling company in England and Wales by geographic area, supplying approximately 1.3 billion litres of water per day to around 6.7 million customers across the East of England and Hartlepool. The quality of the water environment (rivers, groundwater, and estuaries) is central to our operating licence and to our commitments under the Water Framework Directive, the Environment Act 2021, and our long-term Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP).   The project will generate new knowledge in the design and optimisation of biological sensing systems integrated with digital and AI-enabled data processing pipelines. This includes improved understanding of biosensor performance in complex environmental matrices, advances in signal transduction mechanisms, and new approaches for enhancing sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness under field conditions. The system will combine engineered biological recognition elements with optical/electrochemical readouts and machine-learning-based signal interpretation, enabling autonomous and continuous monitoring. The project will provide improved capability for early warning and continuous surveillance of water and environmental quality, supporting regulators and utilities in evidence-based decision-making. This will contribute to better protection of public health, improved ecosystem management, and reduced monitoring costs compared to conventional laboratory-based approaches. It will also strengthen industry and water-sector engagement, particularly through collaboration with utility partners, enabling pathways toward real-world deployment and adoption.   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.  At a glance Application deadline – 05 Aug 2026 Award type(s) – PhD Start date – 28 Sep 2026 Duration of award – 4 year (full-time) Eligibility – UK Reference number – CRAN-0094 Supervisor 1st Supervisor: Prof Zhugen Yang 2nd Supervisor: Prof Frederic Coulon 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.  Funding To be eligible for this funding, applicants must be classified as a Home fee status student. Eligibility for Home fee status is determined with reference to UK Department for Education rules. As a guiding principle UK or Irish nationals who are ordinarily resident in either the UK or Republic of Ireland pay Home tuition fees. All other students (including those from the Channel Islands and Isle of Man) pay Overseas fees. Further advice can