PhD Studentship: Advancing Circular Economy Practices in the UK Water Sector Using the CVORR Framework

Studentship Start Date: 01/10/2025

Principal Supervisor Name: Eleni Iacovidou

Other Contacts: Theodoros Giakoumis (BUL) and David Inman (AW), William Davies (AW) and Mar Batista Segui

Project Description:

This PhD project offers an exciting opportunity to co-develop and pilot a systems-based, interdisciplinary framework for circularity assessment in the water sector.

Working closely with Anglian Water, the student will use the Complex Value Optimisation for Resource Recovery (CVORR) methodology to design a practical decision-support tool for identifying, quantifying, and advancing circular interventions across wastewater treatment operations. CVORR incorporates environmental, economic, technical, infrastructural, policy, and social dimensions to enable systemic and context-sensitive decision-making, offering a consistent, objective, and transparent framework for evaluating circularity performance. Most crucially, it facilitates the identification and evaluation of resource recovery opportunities throughout the water/wastewater value chain, allowing for more informed and robust strategies toward sustainability and circularity.

Skills/Experience Required:

Process systems engineering, wastewater treatment, material and energy flow analysis, integrated data modelling, systems dynamics modelling, circular economy, sustainability assessment performance, decision-support tool design

Month when Interviews will take place: August & September

Name of Funder:

Brunel University London (BUL) 

Research Council: EPSRC

Structure: Stipend plus Tuition Fees

Duration: 42 Months (3.5 Years)

Stipend Amount: Stipend and Fees for 42 months @ UKRI national minimum rates plus £2K LW

• Applicants are expected to hold first or upper-second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline. A Postgraduate Masters degree is not required but may be an advantage;
• If appropriate, applicants must demonstrate English language skills to an overall score of IELTS 6.5 (minimum score of 6.0 in all sections) or equivalent;
• All applicants are asked to submit their up-to-date CV, personal statement (300 to 500 words), degree certificates and transcripts, evidence of English language skills (if appropriate) and contact details for two referees, one of which must be academic but not from the Principal Supervisor.

All applications must be sent to studentships@brunel.ac.uk via the above 'Apply' button in a single merged PDF format.

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