Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME) has been awarded £6.1m in funding from the UK Government Department of Science, Industry and Technology (DSIT), with a further £7.1m in potential co-funding from partners including Science Card and Bruntwood SciTech. The funding has been made through the Research Ventures Catalyst (RVC) programme, which was set up to provide funding to take truly novel ideas from concept to transformative technology. The award will fund the MEMetic project, which will develop nature-inspired (biomimetic) polymer membranes for water filtration. MEMetic involves Professor Alan Goddard, Professor Roslyn Bill and Dr Alice Rothnie, from the School of Biosciences and Dr Matthew Derry and Prof. Paul Topham, from the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies.

About

MEMetic is pioneering a revolutionary approach to water management, combining nature’s biological innovations with cutting-edge polymer chemistry. Led by Professor Alan Goddard, School of Biosciences, and Dr Matthew Derry, Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, at Aston University’s Aston Institute for Membrane Excellence (AIME), our mission is to develop innovative biomimetic membranes that address today’s most pressing water challenges.

Inspired by nature, our technology uses selective protein transporters embedded in advanced, eco-friendly materials to create highly efficient biomimetic membranes. These membranes offer a sustainable solution for:

• Low-energy desalination – providing clean drinking water from seawater.
• Resource recovery – reclaiming valuable commodities such as phosphorus for agriculture, contributing to the circular economy.
• Toxic contaminant removal – filtering out harmful pollutants like arsenic to protect communities.

By combining science, sustainability, and social impact, MEMetic is committed to delivering clean, safe, and affordable water for all.

Impact

Globally, 2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 3.5 billion do not have safely managed sanitation services. MEMetic is tackling this crisis by developing next-generation membranes that:

• Reduce energy consumption for water purification
• Recover vital nutrients resources to establish and support the circular economies
• Remove harmful toxins from water sources

Through partnerships with businesses, policymakers, and researchers, MEMetic is driving real-world impact - ensuring that scientific advancements turn into tangible benefits for communities worldwide.

This will also:

• Support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - SDG6 Clean Water and Sanitation.
• Contribute to local economic growth by fostering high-quality jobs and industrial innovation

The roles

We are now seeking 5 talented postdoctoral researchers who are committed to translating fundamental science into real-world impact. We are an interdisciplinary team and the ability to work across traditional boundaries, coupled to significant disciplinary expertise, is essential. We are seeking to appoint 2 researchers who will primarily focus on the production, purification and characterisation of membrane proteins. Additionally, 2 researchers will focus on the production and characterisation of sustainable polymers with tuneable physicochemical properties. The final researcher will produce and characterise materials from isolated proteins and sustainable polymers to create functional purification membranes. You will join a dynamic team of researchers across the biology/chemistry/materials interface and have opportunities to develop your skills in directions that are beneficial to you and the project.

All appointments will be for 3 years in the first instance with possible extension depending on the state of the project and funding availability.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a groundbreaking new project and build your research profile and establish your independence. Be part of our world-class research and apply below:

You will find more information regarding the MeMetic project on our new research page. Below is an introduction to the MEMetic project from Professor Alan Goddard. For further information please contact Professor Alan Goddard a.goddard@aston.ac.uk, or Dr Matthew Derry m.derry@aston.ac.uk