PhD Studentship: Sustainable Nanotechnology for Environmental Remediation; Scale-up and Scalable Business Model

DoS: Professor Jamie Lead

Applications are invited for a 3.5 year PhD studentship.

The studentship will start on 1 October 2025.

Project Description

A novel nano-enabled, platform device has been developed for the remediation and recovery of pollutants, with demonstrable success for oil, metals and harmful algal blooms. This applied project will work at the science-business interface and focus on two specific tracks related to environmental entrepreneurialism and engineering. First, a Lean Start-up, customer discovery-based approach will be taken to identify and develop a scalable business model for the technology. The student will put together a team, perform interviews and identify and quantify appropriate markets, customers and other metrics using a hypothesis-driven approach. Secondly, the current laboratory-based method of remediation will be scaled-up to a mesocosm level. The current methods will be optimized in terms of defined sustainability criteria (i.e., optimizing the device for environmental, societal and economic benefits through the whole life cycle of technology roll-out). The project ideally requires someone with a quantitative engineering or science background, and experience or a strong interest in working in the business area, especially in the development and commercialization of new environmental technologies. Excellent technical skills and communication skills (or ability to develop these) is essential. The successful applicant will be given full training, with highly supportive supervision and mentoring. This successful applicant on this project will work closely with another project looking at less applied scientific developments which will underpin their application. 

Eligibility

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate, quantitative subject or a relevant, quantitative Masters qualification.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.

The studentship is supported for 3.5 years and includes full Home tuition fees plus a stipend of £18,655 per annum 2024/25 rate (2025/26 rates TBC). The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants are normally required to cover International fees, and in this case will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates (approximately £13,244 per annum 2024/25 rate).

NB: The studentship is supported for 3.5 years of the 4-year registration period. The last 6 months is a self-funded ‘writing-up’ year.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact:

Professor Jamie Lead, Professor of Environmental Nanoscience, Jamie.lead@plymouth.ac.uk.

To apply for this position please click on the Apply button above.

Please see here for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our How to Apply for a Research Degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College.  Applications will not be considered if information is missing.

The closing date for applications on 31^st March 2025.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in early April.

We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. 

Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

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