Senior Research Associate in unlocking the potential of iron biogeobatteries

The role

The project forms an integral part of a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship (FLF) unlocking the potential of iron biogeobatteries. Biogeobatteries are mixed valence iron minerals containing both reduced and oxidized forms of iron (e.g. magnetite, greigite, green rust, clays etc.) that can sustainably act as electron sources or sinks without undergoing physical transformation. This project will focus on synthesizing stable, functionalized biogeobatteries using biological and chemical approaches, and using these biogeobatteries to recover valuable metals from contaminated water and waste sources. Potential applications include environmental remediation, where biogeobatteries can remove metals from drinking water and waste streams, and metal recycling, which reduces the need for primary ore mining and supports sustainable resource management. The proposed work is exceptionally innovative and spans multiple disciplines, integrating environmental mineralogy, geochemistry, and geomicrobiology. Successfully completing this project will have extensive implications, ranging from the role of bacteria in greenhouse gas production or sequestration to improvements in water quality and the mitigation of toxic metal and metalloid release into aquifers, soils, and sediments. The project will also explore the scalability and regulatory compliance of biogeobatteries.

What will you be doing?

• Synthesizing mixed-valent iron minerals (biogeobatteries) using (a)biogenic methods
• Stabilisation, functionalisation, and scale up of biogeobatteries
• Testing reactivity towards pollutants relevant for water treatment.
• Using Moessbauer spectroscopy, FTIR, electron microscopy and XRD to study mineralogy.
• Analysing, interpreting, and writing up results in manuscripts and presenting at conferences
• Contribute to group discussions
• Help maintain a smooth running laboratory
• Help with student supervision (PhD, MSc, BSc)

You should apply if

Demonstrated experience in microbial cultivation and mineral synthesis. Familiar and comfortable working with quantitative techniques (e.g., UV/Vis spectrophotometry, ICP-OES or equivalent) as well as firm understanding of analytical techniques (e.g. XRD, Moessbauer spectroscopy, Raman, FTIR or similar). You will be working in a shared biogeochemistry laboratories and will need excellent organisational skills, with the ability to deal with and prioritise a range of ongoing tasks. You will need to be able to review as well as advise on complex procedures and consistently maintain a high level of accuracy and precision in all areas of work. You should have a PhD in geomicrobiology/geochemistry or related subject or working towards one or equivalent professional experience in the research area required.

Additional information

Contract type: Open-ended with fixed funding for 2 years

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 09/12/2025

Interviews are expected to take place in December 2025 shortly after the closing date. 

For informal queries, please contact: James Byrne, Associate Professor (james.byrne@bristol.ac.uk)

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