Doctoral College / Funded Opportunities / Disinfection of Wastewater using Novel Technologies

About the course

Summary

  • This project investigates how DMU-derived catalysts can improve the disinfection of wastewater systems.
  • It focuses on developing and testing advanced treatment approaches that reduce microbial contamination, including bacteria, viruses and fungi.
  • This knowledge will support safer and more sustainable water management by improving understanding of antimicrobial resistance, microbial tolerance and treatment effectiveness.
  • The student will investigate wastewater disinfection strategies, assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, examine microbial tolerance to treatment chemicals and characterise free radical generation during treatment processes.
  • While wastewater treatment is essential for protecting public health, microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance remain significant challenges in water environments.
  • Application Deadline: 11:59pm on 3/7/2026

Background

Wastewater systems can act as important reservoirs for microbial contamination and antimicrobial resistance, creating potential risks for public health and the wider environment. This interdisciplinary PhD project will develop and apply DMU-derived catalyst systems to enhance wastewater disinfection through improved radical generation and targeted microbial control. The researcher will combine approaches from environmental engineering, microbiology and advanced oxidation processes to investigate how bacteria, viruses and fungi respond to treatment. They will assess antimicrobial resistance patterns, explore microbial tolerance to commonly used disinfectants and treatment chemicals, and examine potential links with cross-resistance to clinically relevant antibiotics. The project will also test novel catalyst technologies under realistic wastewater conditions, helping to validate their effectiveness, scalability and potential contribution to safer, more sustainable water treatment.

 

THIS OPPORTUNITY IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL FOR FUNDING

Estimated thesis submission:

Funding information

Hazen and Sawyer is an internationally recognised environmental engineering and consulting firm headquartered at 498 Seventh Avenue, New York, USA. Founded in 1951, the employee‑owned company specialises exclusively in water-related challenges, including drinking water supply, wastewater treatment, water reuse, and water resource management. With over 1,000 employees worldwide, Hazen is considered one of the largest firms dedicated solely to “all things water,” delivering innovative, research-driven solutions that address public health, environmental protection, and climate resilience. Hazen has expanded internationally, including a UK subsidiary (Hazen and Sawyer UK Ltd), established in 2023 and based in London, delivering engineering and scientific consulting services aligned with its global water and environmental expertise. In addition, Hazen maintains UK project and operational activity (e.g., East Sussex), supporting European clients in water and environmental infrastructure projects

Funding duration: 3 Years

Fees and expenses: £6000 bench fees for consumables are covered by the funder.

Stipend

Funding includes:

  • Stipend at the UKRI rate (£21,805 per annum) for three years
  • Full UK Home Tuition fees
  • £6000 bench fees for consumables, conferences, site visits

 THIS OPPORTUNITY IS SUBJECT TO APPROVAL FOR FUNDING

Entry requirements

  • At least 2:1 honours degree in a relevant field
  • This opportunity is only open to UK Home Students. 

 

 

How to apply

We invite a first stage application by filling in the this online form  and returning to PGRscholarships@dmu.ac.uk

An interview and panel meeting will take place shortly after the deadline date.

At this stage you'll also need to submit your necessary documentation. Find out more about our necessary documentation.

For informal enquiries, contact the supervisory team: Prof Katie Laird (klaird@dmu.ac.uk), Dr Maitreyi Shivkumar (maitreyi.shivkumar@dmu.ac.uk), and Prof Katherine Huddersman (huddzeo1@dmu.ac.uk).

Contact details

Professor Katie Laird - Email: klaird@dmu.ac.uk

 

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