About the project

The quality and quantity of freshwater has dramatically declined during the 21st century due to significant increase in agriculture, industry and other human activities. Current water treatment technologies are only able to filter a limited range of chemicals and microplastics, require high operational energy and large and expensive infrastructure. Unsurprisingly, the development of affordable and sustainable filter technologies that effectively clean wastewater to the standards required is a global priority for industry and government agencies.

The Orsini group in the School of Biosciences are developing an exciting biofiltration technology that uses tiny waterfleas called Daphnia to filter water and consume waste products, thus eliminating the need for costly and complex filters. However, the performance of biofilters like this one can be variable, dependent on fluctuations in environmental conditions such as temperature and rainfall and variations in seasonal medicine use. These changes can greatly affect the density of Daphnia populations and thus, the quality of treated water. Therefore, for the successful implementation of a biofilter technology, it is crucial to be able to ensure that the density of Daphnia populations remains at, or at least near, optimal levels.

The aim of this project is to develop and validate a quantitatively reliable model of the population dynamics in the biofilter. The project will use the mathematical framework of delay differential equations to model the time it takes for Daphnia to mature, in combination with identifiability analysis and Bayesian statistics to design laboratory experiments from which model parameters will be uniquely inferred. The outcomes of the project will be a general toolkit that will allow us to predict when and how to interfere with the technology in order to ensure near optimal performance at all times.

The student on this project will benefit from a broad training in mathematical modelling and applied statistics and their application in a cutting-edge technology. They will enjoy close interactions with members of the group of mathematical biology and healthcare and gain extensive experience of interdisciplinary collaboration with the Orsini group, which will maximise the impact of the student’s work. The skills that they will develop are highly valuable in academia, government and industry, particularly the environmental sector.

References

• M. Abdullahi, I. Stead, S. Bennett, R. Orozco, M. Abou-Elwafa Abdallah, S. Jabbari, L. E. Macaskie, A. Tzella, S. Krause, B. Al-Duri, R. G. Lee, B. Herbert, P. Thompson, M. Schalkwyk, S. Getahun, K. D. Dearn, L. Orsini, Harnessing water fleas for water reclamation: A nature-based tertiary wastewater treatment technology, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 905, 2023.
• https://research.birmingham.ac.uk/en/publications/harnessing-water-fleas-for-water-reclamation-a-nature-based-terti

Entry Requirements

Applicants will be expected to have a good Honours degree (First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree) awarded by a recognised University in a relevant subject.

What does the scholarship provide?

1. Financial Support: Recipients of these scholarships will receive substantial financial support, including a stipend at UKRI rates, which is set at £18,622 per year. This support covers tuition fees, living expenses, and research-related costs, including bench fees. This support is designed to alleviate the financial burden often associated with pursuing a doctoral degree.
2. Mentorship and Guidance: Scholarship recipients will benefit from mentorship opportunities and guidance from accomplished faculty members who are dedicated to helping them succeed in their academic and research endeavours.
3. Research Opportunities: We are committed to providing an exceptional research environment. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge resources, and a vibrant scholarly community.
4. Community Building: A key component of the scholarship programme is the creation of a supportive community of Black British researchers pursuing PhDs. This network will foster collaboration and peer support among scholars.
5. Research Training Support Grant: In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients will receive a research training support grant. This grant is intended to support conference attendance, fieldwork, and other essential activities that enhance their research and academic growth.
6. Commitment to Inclusivity: We are dedicated to building an inclusive academic environment that values diversity and ensures equitable access to education.

Contact the lead supervisor

Once applicants have familiarised themselves with the above project details, they are encouraged to contact the lead PhD supervisor to discuss the project and the applicant's suitability for the project. This is recommended before you submit an application to the PhD project.

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What happens next?

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