Application Deadline: 31 January 2026
Details
Context: The emerging challenge of waterborne antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the natural environment threatens water, food and health security, potentially hindering efforts to address the slow-moving AMR pandemic which is predicted to account for 1.91 M attributable human deaths annually by 2050 [1].
Environmental reservoirs, including groundwater and surface water systems, play an important role in the persistence and spread of AMR. However, many evidence gaps remain in understanding the distribution, controls, and the relative importance of sources of waterborne AMR, particularly in groundwaters, including those widely used for drinking. This is especially important in the context of rapidly developing cities facing compounding stressors of rapid urbanisation, often inadequate infrastructure, less managed antibiotic prescription/usage and climate change. Groundwater systems under rapidly developing cities are thus increasingly vulnerable to surface derived inputs from wastewater (including domestic and hospital), industrial discharge (including from pharmaceutical industry) and agricultural input, all potentially contributing to AMR.
Aim and objectives: The aim is to improve the understanding of the environmental controls that impact the distribution and development of environmental AMR in groundwater systems in the context of a rapidly developing city (provisionally Patna, India due to extensive characterization [2, 3] and strong local partnerships).
Specific objectives are to:
[i] Quantify the spatial and temporal distribution of AMR genes in groundwater beneath Patna, India, building on our pilot work first evidencing sulfonamide resistance genes in deep groundwater in India [2];
[ii] Investigate geochemical relationships (e.g. association with wastewater indicators) and hydrogeological controls (e.g. depth, lithology);
[iii] Determine the relative importance of contaminant sources on influencing the overall AMR profile in Patna;
[iv] Develop a groundwater flow and reactive contaminant transport model to simulate AMR dynamics, focusing on scenarios of groundwater pumping and urban growth pressures, building on an existing model framework [3].
Methodology: The project will combine field, lab and modelling approaches. Systematic sampling of groundwater from public and private sources will be undertaken [4]. Water samples will be analyzed for in-situ parameters, major and trace elements and AMR genes. MODFLOW reactive transport modeling will be used to simulate groundwater flow and reactive transport in porous media, quantifying groundwater-surface water interactions [6], and exploring mechanisms of persistence and distribution [8]. Scenario analysis will test the impact of groundwater pumping, wastewater inputs, urban growth and potential intervention/mitigation measures.
Flexible approaches in both methodology and project direction will be encouraged.
Outcomes: Potential outcomes are (i) improved understanding of how urban pressures influence AMR dynamics in groundwater in the context of a rapidly developing city; (ii) a modelling framework to forecast AMR risks under urbanization and intervention/management scenarios; (iii) insights into urban water management strategies to reduce future AMR burden for environmental and public health protection.
PGR Support & Training: The PGR will join a vibrant team and will benefit from alignment with co-funded projects including AQUAROAD (MR/Y016327/1; http://www.aquaroad.org), IMPACT-AMR (BB/Z515644/1; www.impactamr.org), and multiple PhDs. The PGR will have access to research skills training and development and career support.
Before you apply: We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor(s) for this project before you apply.
How to apply: To be considered for this project you’ll need complete a formal application through our online application portal. If you already have an applicant account this link will directly open an application for FSE Bicentenary PhD. If you don’t already have an applicant account, please follow the instructions here.
When applying, you’ll need to specify the full name of this project, the name of your proposed supervisor/s, details of your previous study, and names and contact details of two referees. You also need to provide a Personal Statement describing the motivation to apply to the project and your CV. Your application cannot be processed without all of the required documents, and we cannot accept responsibility for late or missed deadlines where applications are incomplete.
Equality, diversity and inclusion: Equality, diversity and inclusion are fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and are at the heart of all of our activities. We know that diversity strengthens our research community, leading to enhanced research creativity, productivity and quality, and societal and economic impact. We actively encourage applicants from diverse career paths and backgrounds and from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status.
We also support applications from those returning from a career break or other roles. We consider offering flexible study arrangements (including part-time: 50%, 60% or 80%, depending on the project/funder).
Eligibility: Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or equivalent) in environmental (bio)geochemistry, environmental sciences, chemical engineering, environmental engineering or similar. Research experience in environmental (bio)geochemistry, antimicrobial resistance, chemical engineering, reactive transport modelling, groundwater science, hydrogeology and/or similar topics is desirable
FSE_Bicentenary
Funding Notes
Funding for this project covers tuition fees, UKRI minimum annual stipend (currently ÂŁ20,780/annum) and up to a ÂŁ5k/annum research training support grant for the full duration of the 4-year programme.
References
References: [1] https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01867-1; [2]
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124205; [3] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2022.101133; [4]
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072500
