About the Project
Biofilms engineered through synthetic biology, offer a scalable, resilient, and multifunctional platform for advanced water treatment, addressing gaps in current technologies. Here we will harness engineered biofilms to capture two highly prevalent and problematic pollutants, heavy metals and microplastics, from contaminated water.
Microplastic pollution and heavy metal contamination represent two of the most urgent and persistent threats to global water quality, posing significant risks to environmental ecosystems and human health. Conventional treatment systems are not designed to efficiently capture microplastics or selectively remove toxic heavy metals at environmentally relevant concentrations, allowing these contaminants to accumulate in aquatic environments and drinking water supplies. Biofilm engineering which harnesses the catalytic power of bacterial communities is a potential solution.
This project will develop an innovative biofilm-based solution that will be capable of simultaneously targeting microplastics and heavy metals, removing these contaminants from wastewater and drinking water systems. The aim of this project is not just to efficiently remove these contaminants but also provide a platform where these contaminants can be salvaged after capture and potentially be revalorised. We will optimise existing biofilm platforms we have developed that can capture microplastics by evaluating their capacity to capture different plastic types and sizes through an iterative Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle. We will also integrate plastic degrading enzymes and evaluate their capacity to function within these biofilms under different real-world conditions. We will then combine engineered metal binding proteins/peptides within the biofilm interface to capture heavy metal contamination in a solution that will be evaluated in model drinking water systems and in wastewater systems in collaboration with CarbonCell (https://www.carboncell.co/). We will also explore subsequent release and valorisation of captured metals.
Objective 1: Biofilm Engineering to Enhance Microplastic Capture and Degradation:
1.1: Evaluate efficacy of a tuneable biofilm chassis to trap different microplastics types under static, shaking and flow conditions.
1.2: Incorporate different plastic degrading enzymes in enhanced biofilm chassis and evaluate efficacy with support from AI company Kuano (https://www.kuano.ai/).
1.3: Collate data to facilitate additional DBTL cycles.
Objective 2: Biofilm Engineering for Heavy Metal Removal:
2.1: Engineering chassis to produce non-native metal binding proteins/peptides.
2.2: Evaluate impact on heavy metal levels under static, shaking and flow conditions.
2.3: Recover biofilms and determine resource recovery rates.
Objective 3: Evaluation of Drinking and Wastewater Processing systems:
Objective 3.1: Test bi-functional biofilms in benchtop annular drinking water reactors. Resilience overtime will be evaluated.
Objective 3.2: Biofilms efficacy will be evaluated in bench-scale wastewater reactor.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Ronan McCarthy, Professor of Microbial Biofilms, University of Southampton.
This project is offered by University of Southampton. Due to funding restrictions, this project is only open to students eligible for Home rate fees.
For further information about this project, please contact Prof Ronan McCarthy at: [Email Address Removed]
This project offers a highly interdisciplinary training environment spanning AI, protein modelling,
biofilm engineering, synthetic biology, environmental biotechnology, and industrial translation.
Through collaboration with partners such as Kuano and Carbon Cell, researchers will gain both
academic and industry-relevant skills. This will include a 12-week research placement with Carbon
Cell where the student will work on this specific project but also contribute to the wider research
programme of Carbon Cell gaining vital first hand experience in key commercial considerations when
developing disruptive solutions.
Student will undertake a 12 week placement with Carbon Cell and will work with AI company Kuano.
Entry Requirements
You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree or higher in a relevant subject.
See international equivalent qualifications on our website. English language: IELTS 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in all components. We accept other English language tests.
How to apply
Please apply via the online portal and select:
• Programme type: Research
• Academic year: 2026/27
• If you will be full time or part time
• Faculty: Environmental and Life Sciences
Search for programme PhD Biological Sciences (9744)
Please add the name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application.
Applications should include:
• your CV (resumé)
• 2 academic references
• degree transcripts/ certificates to date
• English language qualification (if applicable)
Funding Notes
The project carries a UKRI TechExpert enhanced annual stipend of £31,805 (UKRI minimum (2026/27 £21, 805) plus TechExpert uplift of £10k) available to students with Home fee status.
