Postgraduate research & PhD opportunities

This PhD will explore how bacterially generated materials can be modified by incorporation of polymers and nanoparticles to enhance their mechanical properties. In this way, bacterially generated materials could be modified for specific tasks, such as earthquake and weather resistance.

Bio-deterioration of concrete strongly affects much of our built heritage and is particularly notable in wet territories like the UK or South East Asia. How to effectively solve bio-deterioration of concrete sculptures and buildings is an environmental, societal and scientific challenge.

The project focuses on laboratory and field investigation of the effects of root architecture on evapotranspiration processes and hydraulic conductivity of the rhizosphere. This is aimed at designing remedial measures to prevent diffuse shallow landsliding.

This PhD will practically explore how robotically applied sensors, repairs and smart materials can be used to enhance the integrity and safety of civil infrastructure.

This PhD project will assess the effects of air pollutant exposure on the efficacy of medical treatments for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, in collaboration with and the NHS in Scotland and Ricardo Energy & Environment.

There is growing research interest in exploiting biologically-mediated mineral precipitation to develop new methods for nuclear waste treatment. This PhD project will investigate using bacterial apatites to remove radionuclides, such as 3H and 36Cl from gaseous and aqueous waste streams.

The aim of this project is to develop a practical approach to estimate the economic value of data used within engineering seismology, i.e. the assessment of the earthquake loading that a structure or infrastructure may be subjected to during its lifetime.

This fully-funded PhD offers an exciting opportunity to undertake research on the development of a low cost, modular sensor platform for intelligent offshore wind foundation monitoring.

This project focuses on understanding the long term chemical alteration and stability of a cement (NRVB) backfill material used in GDF, at the temperatures reached in the facility. This is important to improving and developing the safety case for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste.

This project will use a combination of 2D X-ray diffraction and scattering, 3D/2D imaging and supporting analytical measurements to determine how the cements microstructure and porosity/permeability have developed over 10 years of hydrothermal ageing.