PhD Studentship: Engineering Bacteria for Improved Bioremediation and Hydrogen Production

Primary supervisor - Dr David Lea-Smith

Engineering biology has enormous potential to address global environmental challenges like bioremediation, biosequestration, pollutant monitoring, and resource recovery. In this project, the student will apply the cutting-edge synthetic biology tools developed by the Lea-Smith laboratory to engineer the purple bacterium, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, a species already well adapted for bioremediation of many wastestreams and which synthesises hydrogen as a by-product. Specifically, the student will identify which compounds are being degraded and for those compounds that are poorly metabolised the student will engineer in metabolic pathways and transporters to enable degradation. The student will also engineer the electron transport pathways to improve hydrogen production. These modifications will result in strains more commercially applicable for bioremediation of wastewater and other waste products such as crude glycerol. These strains will be tested for commercial applicability in larger bioreactors with Professor Robbie Pott, a process engineer based at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. The student will gain expertise in a wide range of skills including microbiology, synthetic biology, enzyme characterisation, structural biology and process engineering, which will provide excellent training for a future career in academia or industry. They will also join the £11.6 million Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre where they will receive further training and interact with a broad range of academics and industrial partners commercialising engineering biology applications.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2026 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 3,4 or 5 February 2026.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/.

Entry requirements

At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). 

Mode of study: Full time

Start date: 1 October 2026

Additional Funding Information

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with Inspiralis Limited. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2025/6 stipend rate: £20,780), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

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