📖Program Curriculum
Project details
This PhD project is a part of the Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship looking to support the climate change and net zero agenda. This opportunity forms a suite of five projects focusing on ecosystem health in a changing climate - the application of advanced multi-sensing systems.
The impact that climate change is having on the world’s ecosystems affects every one of us. Our capacity to grow food, to maintain clean and safe water supplies, and our ability to do this in a way that is sustainable, is dependent upon us understanding how soil and water are affected by our changing weather. The EcoSENSE research cluster (involving 5 PhD studentships) will develop new sensors for the accurate, sensitive and real-time monitoring of the health of water and soil systems. We will achieve this through an ambitious and exciting series of interconnected projects combining expertise in Materials Science, Chemistry, Geography and Computer Science, guided by input from key Industrial partners including MAST group Ltd and Severn Trent.
High levels of inorganic phosphate released into waterways through sewage, fertiliser and pesticides and is a primary cause of the spread of environmentally detrimental algae. A major unsolved challenge for environmental agencies is to monitor excess phosphate in water to predict the breakout of these harmful algae blooms, which lead to aquatic ‘dead zones’ and danger to human health. The cost of responding to water-based phosphate pollution in the UK alone is estimated at £170 million per year. Crucially, there are no existing sensors or devices capable of detecting phosphate which have been miniaturized for point-of-need testing and mapping of large waterways (e.g. rivers and lakes).
To address this challenge, in this PhD project we will design and synthesise molecular probes that bind selectively to phosphate anions and generate a sensitive luminescent signal, enabling precise measurement of phosphate in water. We have established the design principles to create luminescent probes that exhibit high binding selectivity towards specific phosphoanions (Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 3386; Chem. Sci., 2020, 11, 3619). We will build on this knowledge to develop molecular probes that display high sensitivity for inorganic phosphate and minimal interference from other components found in environmental samples. In collaboration with the EcoSENSE cluster, we will encapsulate our luminescent probes into hydrogels using our patented technology, thereby delivering new tools with real environmental and industrial applications. This project will provide a vital step towards the accurate mapping and prediction of harmful algae blooms, enabling environmental and health agencies to be alerted to take appropriate action to maintain and improve water quality.
The student will gain excellent training in a range of techniques including organic synthesis, study of supramolecular host-guest interactions, and luminescence assays. They will be supported by other researchers within the Butler Group and the EcoSENSE cluster, and will be very well trained for roles in industry through close collaboration with key Industrial partners. Environmental and biotechnology companies increasingly require scientists with combined synthetic and bioanalytical skills. Therefore, there are many potential employability options for the student, in addition to postdoctoral opportunities in this highly active research field.
The EcoSENSE research cluster will develop a new class of advanced sensing materials for the continuous analysis of the health of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. This is key for understanding how these critical ecosystem’s function and will allowing us to respond to the current drivers of environmental change.
