Qualification Type: | PhD |
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Location: | Newcastle upon Tyne |
Funding for: | UK Students, EU Students, International Students |
Funding amount: | £17,668 (2022-23 UKRI rate) |
Hours: | Full Time |
Placed On: | 19th January 2023 |
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Closes: | 6th March 2023 |
Reference: | renu2306 |
Award Summary
100% fees covered, and a minimum tax-free annual living allowance of £17,668 (2022-23 UKRI rate).
Overview
The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU) is a collaborative doctoral training programme run by the Universities of Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham. In addition to undertaking an individual scientific research project described below at one of the three partner Universities, doctoral candidates will engage with added value training opportunities for example in business, innovation and internationalisation through a 4-year training programme that has been designed to maximise the benefits of a cohort approach to doctoral training.
Biohydrogen is an important source of alternative clean and sustainable fuel. This project will identify how hydrogen is produced by novel bacteria from extremophile environments. We will dissect the metabolic pathways, including the enzymes and metabolites produced, involved in the conversion of cheap materials, such as food waste and lignocellulosic materials, to biohydrogen. In this sense, we will employ a multiOMICS approach (including transcriptomics, metabolomics, or proteomics) in hydrogen producing bacteria, from important species isolated from thermal spots and hot springs among other sources. We will use waste agricultural materials for these microbes exploiting them to produce hydrogen as end-product. When we identified the proteins and metabolic pathways involved in the process, we will employ protein engineering/ structure-based mutagenesis, as well as metabolic engineering and direct evolution to improve those pathways. At the end of the PhD, you will gain the ability to recognize the enzymology behind the hydrogen production, genetically manipulate these extremophiles and test the hydrogen produced in fuel testing if the quantity obtained is satisfactory.
Number Of Awards
1
Start Date
18 Sept 2023
Award Duration
4 years
Application Closing Date
6 Mar 2023
Sponsor
Supervisors
Leonardo Rios Solis (Newcastle University), Jose Muñoz (Northumbria University)
Eligibility Criteria
You must have, or expect to gain, a minimum 2:1 Honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject or subject relevant to the proposed PhD project. Enthusiasm for research, the ability to think and work independently, excellent analytical skills and strong verbal and written communication skills are also essential requirements.
Home and international applicants (inc. EU) are welcome to apply and if successful will receive a full studentship. Applicants whose first language is not English require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in all sub-skills.
International applicants may require ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) clearance.
How To Apply
You must apply through the University’s Apply to Newcastle Portal
Once registered select ‘Create a Postgraduate Application’.
Use ‘Course Search’ to identify your programme of study:
You will then need to provide the following information in the ‘Further Questions’ section:
when prompted for how you are providing your research proposal - select ‘Write Proposal’. You should then type in the title of the research project from this advert. You do not need to upload a research proposal.
Contact Details
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