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OVERVIEW
As SARS-CoV-2 is shed in high levels in faeces, wastewater testing has become a complementary, early-warning strategy for outbreaks of Covid-19, aiding governmental decision-making around future infection prevention/control policies. Wastewater monitoring provides a cheap, non-invasive method to determine the level of infection in a large community within a single sample (composite 24-hour sewage samples represent an aggregate of an entire population within the sewerage network). Importantly, as faecal shedding occurs in the pre-symptomatic phase, evidence also suggests that it can be used as an early warning system to indicate when levels of SARS-CoV-2 are rising (or falling) in the community and before individuals require hospitalisation. Moreover, wastewater surveillance also allows for the tracking of other pathogens (e.g. Influenza, Norovirus, Hepatitis A and E, Enterovirus, Adenovirus, Rotavirus) as well as providing information on antimicrobial resistance genes.
A number of projects are available within the Queen’s University Wastewater Epidemiology Group covering:
1) Development of methods for SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater.
2) Assessment of viral infectivity and stability in wastewater samples.
3) Use of next generation sequencing to study SARS-CoV-2 variants and other pathogens within the wastewater system.
4) Development of strategies for the detection of other microbial pathogens within wastewater, and the evaluation of their viability.
5) Investigation of clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes within wastewater microbiomes.
Supervisors: Professor John McGrath (School of Biological Sciences), Dr Derek Fairley (Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences), Dr Connor Bamford (School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences), and Dr Deirdre Gilpin (School of Pharmacy).
Contact: Professor John McGrath (j.mcgrath@qub.ac.uk)
Research Information
PhD Supervisors
Information on the research interests and activities of academics in Biological Sciences can be accessed via the School website and the Find a Supervisor facility.
Career Prospects
Introduction
Queen’s postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as the DegreePlus/Future Ready Award, bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts helps our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Career prospects in the biological sciences are exceptionally good. To some extent it depends on the specific topic, of course, but laboratory-based and especially quantitative skills and the proven innovation of a PhD or MPhil are highly sought after. Degrees are very much in demand, both in commercial science and public sector research and development (e.g. drug discovery and development, crop and animal improvements and welfare, sustainable agriculture and resource use, human nutrition and health, animal health, ecological management, food safety and technology, scientific communications, regulation, and many more fields).
Employment after the Course
Graduates have gone on to be professional research scientists, consultants, or hold technical and junior executive positions in commerce and government.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree in a relevant subject from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.
International Students
For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.
English Language Requirements
Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with not less than 5.5 in any component, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).
International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.
For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this degree programme, INTO Queen’s University Belfast offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for admission to this degree.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.
Find a supervisor
If you’re interested in a particular project, we suggest you contact the relevant academic before you apply, to introduce yourself and ask questions.
To find a potential supervisor aligned with your area of interest, or if you are unsure of who to contact, look through the staff profiles linked here.
You might be asked to provide a short outline of your proposal to help us identify potential supervisors.
Want fewer missed deadlines?
Follow a channel you care about (Graduate → Post-PhD).