Postgraduate research opportunities Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the Environment
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Tuesday 30 May 2023
- Number of places: Unlimited
- Duration: 1 year for MRes (or 2 years part-time); 3 years for PhD (5 years part-time).
Overview
Investigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development and dissemination in the One Health context—the interaction between human, agricultural and environmental health.Eligibility
A UK equivalent of a First-degree classification (UG) or Distinction/Merit (MSc). We are an engineering department, but our research is very highly interdisciplinary. Therefore, I welcome applicants from various backgrounds.
Project Details
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing in nature and threatens the effectiveness of our drug therapies and infection control. However, it does not remain easy to distinguish what originates from human activities or what is natural. Therefore, we must extend the scale and depth of monitoring efforts to understand better what drives the increase in resistance traits.
These projects investigate the role of environmental stressors on the propagation and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance and relate specific environmental conditions and factors with observed AR gene levels to identify risk factors associated with resistance development and impacts on humans and agriculture
Current research endeavours include:
- mesocosms ( “pseudo-realistic” miniature ecosystems)
- whole-lake ecotoxicological experiment (2023-25, with possible further studies)
- investigation of AMR evolution via genetic analyses of archived soils
- geochemical stress and bacterial secondary metabolites
- ecotoxicological assessment of plant extracts (and decay products) on bacterial stress
- “green chemistry” and nanoparticles
- agriculture and aquaculture risks
I am open to ideas, and projects do not have to involve lab or field studies.
Funding details
No funding is attached to this project, and the successful applicant will be expected to provide the funding for tuition fees, project-specific bench fees and living expenses via external sponsorship or self-funding.
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Number of places: Unlimited
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Civil and Environmental Engineering
Programme: Civil and Environmental Engineering