PhD in Development of an Optical Sensor for Ultra-Sensitive PFAS Detection and Mechanistic Studies of Interactions with Biological Systems

About the Partnership

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP).  The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners:  British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology,  the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.  The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/

For eligible successful applicants, the studentships comprises:

• An stipend for 3.5 years (currently £20,780 p.a. for 2026/27) in line with UK Research and Innovation rates
• Payment of university tuition fees
• The budget for project costs is £9,000 which can be used for computer, lab, and fieldwork costs necessary for you to conduct your research.
• There is also a conference budget of £2,000 and individual Training Budget of £1,000 for specialist training

Project Aims and Methods

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 14,000 synthetic “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment and the human body, where they are linked to cancers, immune suppression, and endocrine disruption. Their detection is particularly challenging because adverse effects occur at ultra-low concentrations, often in the nanomolar to attomolar range. New, ultrasensitive tools are urgently needed to monitor PFAS in water and probe their interactions with biological systems. 

This PhD project will develop a cutting-edge single-molecule optical sensor for real-time, ultra-sensitive PFAS detection. The successful candidate will engineer selective surface chemistries, advance flow-through detection methods, and apply the sensor to mechanistic studies of PFAS interactions with proteins and membranes. These insights will inform both environmental monitoring and our understanding of PFAS toxicity at the molecular level. 

You will work within a multidisciplinary team led by Professor Vollmer (pioneers in single-molecule optical sensing) and Dr Garry Codling (CREWW, University of Exeter; expert in PFAS and water industry partnerships). The project offers training in nanophotonics, surface chemistry, and bioanalytical methods, alongside opportunities to collaborate with industrial partners such as Southwest Water. 

We welcome applicants with strong backgrounds in optics, photonics, or related physical sciences, and interest in environmental applications. 

Useful recruitment links:  

For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via: f.vollmer@exeter.ac.uk  

Funding Comment 

For eligible students the studentship will cover home tuition fees plus an annual tax-free stipend.

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