The north-east has a long tradition of mining and heavy industry including steel production that stretches back more than 150 years. This has left a legacy of toxic heavy metal contamination both in the soil and in the water table across the region which will remain a risk to the health and wellbeing of the communities for decades. Current methods of removal of heavy metals are insufficient and novels methods of heavy metal removal are required.

This project takes a multidisciplinary approach to development of a novel biomaterial to help resolve this widespread and toxic contamination. This material will be built on a support of bacterial cellulose which has better physical properties and is a greener alternative than the plant derived variety. This will be modified with small high affinity metal binding proteins which will give the material a high metal binding capacity for a wide range of toxic metals e.g. Pb, Zn and Co. The project will require screening of a range of proteins for their metal binding specificities and capacities alongside work on developing a pH insensitive method of attaching the proteins to the support. Through collaboration with geochemists the student will look at how the material functions in the environment.

The project will provide in-depth training in a wide variety of cutting-edge molecular biology techniques including recombinant protein expression and characterisation and genomic sequencing. The study will take place in a cutting edge research lab surrounded by people looking for novel applications of bacterial cellulose.

Applications should be made by emailing [email protected] with:

·      a CV (including contact details of at least two academic (or other relevant) referees);

·      a covering letter – stating your project choice, as well as including whatever additional information you feel is pertinent to your application

·      copies of your relevant undergraduate degree transcripts and certificates;

·      a copy of your IELTS or TOEFL English language certificate (where required);

·      a copy of your passport (photo page).

A GUIDE TO THE FORMAT REQUIRED FOR THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS IS AVAILABLE

Please submit your documents in the following format only:

• each document should be submitted as a separate attachment and should be named as follows: [candidate surname, candidate name – [document]]. For example: Jones, Jamie – CV; Jones, Jamie – personal statement; Jones, Jamie – BSc transcript.
• Please submit .pdf documents where possible for your CV, personal statement, transcripts and certificates. Do not submit photos of certificates.
• Do not combine documents into one pdf. You may zip separate documents into a zip file to send via email if required.
• Please only send the Application Details Form 2025 as a Word document (not pdf), named as follows: Application Details Form – surname, name.
• When emailing your application, please use the email subject header: NEEDL Application 2025

Applications not meeting these criteria may be rejected.

Informal enquiries may be made to [email protected]

The deadline for all applications is 12noon on Monday 31 ^st March 2025.