PhD Studentship: Seaweed Nanomaterials for Runoff Remediation: Balancing the Soil-Water Nexus for Sustainable Food Systems (SEA-FOOD)

Seaweed Nanomaterials for Runoff Remediation: Balancing the Soil-Water Nexus for Sustainable Food Systems (SEA-FOOD)

DoS: Dr. Lee Durndell (lee.durndell@plymouth.ac.uk)

2^nd Supervisor: Prof. Mark Fitzsimons (m.fitzsimons@plymouth.ac.uk)

3^rd Supervisor: Dr. Leonardo Gomez (leonardo.gomez@york.ac.uk)

Applications are invited for a three-year PhD studentship. The studentship will start on 1^st October 2025.

This work is supported by the Research England E3 funded Centre of Research excellence in Intelligent and Sustainable Productive Systems (CRISPS) at the University of Plymouth.

Project Description

Agricultural runoff is a major contributor to water pollution, carrying excess nutrients, pesticides, and antibiotics into aquatic ecosystems. Conventional treatment methods struggle to remove contaminants such as organophosphates, tebuconazole, acetamiprid, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole, leading to soil degradation, eutrophication, and antimicrobial resistance. This PhD project develops a novel low-carbon solution using functionalised seaweed-derived nanomaterials to selectively capture and degrade these pollutants through photocatalytic oxidation, mitigating environmental harm while supporting sustainable agriculture.

The candidate will synthesise and characterise magnetically separable carbon nanofilms, optimising their pore structure, surface chemistry, and catalytic properties for targeted pollutant remediation. Advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and chromatographic analysis will be used to correlate structure-function relationships with depollution efficiency. A key innovation will be developing reusable, fouling-resistant materials that enable cost-effective pollutant removal under real-world conditions.

This interdisciplinary project integrates expertise in materials chemistry, environmental science, and agricultural sustainability. The successful candidate will work within a dynamic research team at the University of Plymouth and the University of York. Training in state-of-the-art characterisation and testing facilities, alongside research visits to UKRI-funded centres, will equip the student with highly transferable skills for careers in environmental remediation, advanced materials, and sustainable technologies.

This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to drive cutting-edge research at the soil-water interface, developing scalable, nature-inspired solutions for cleaner water and resilient food systems.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree in an appropriate subject (Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science or Marine Science) or a relevant master’s 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 4 years and includes Home or International tuition fees plus a stipend of £20,780 per annum 2025/26 rate (UKRI).

NB: The studentship is supported for four years including a 6 month ‘writing-up period. There is no further funding beyond the four-year period.

There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr. Lee Durndell, lee.durndell@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. Please do not send these documents to supervisory team members, as only documents submitted via the Doctoral college application portal will be considered.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our How to Apply for a Research Degree webpage or contact the Doctoral College. 

The closing date for applications on 26th March 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an informal interview on 7^th May 2025 followed by a formal interview on a date to be confirmed.

Advert information