Enhancing Water Treatment Using Robotic Tools for Filter Maintenance Cranfield University in United Kingdom

Cranfield University is offering a fully funded PhD opportunity focused on enhancing water treatment using robotic tools for filter maintenance, in partnership with Thames Water and the Ofwat Innovation Fund. The project, SandSCAPE, aims to revolutionize slow sand filtration—a key process in London’s drinking water supply—by integrating autonomous underwater skimming robots to minimize energy use and chemical consumption. The research will benchmark novel robotic systems against conventional methods, quantify operational performance, and assess ecological changes using advanced metagenomics and sensor data.

The student will work closely with Thames Water’s Engineering Innovation Team and benefit from access to state-of-the-art facilities at Cranfield, including chemical and genomics equipment. The project is co-supervised by Dr Francis Hassard (Cranfield University) and Dr Michael Chipps (Thames Water), providing mentorship from both academic and industry perspectives. The PhD includes an industrial placement, a dedicated training budget for specialized courses, and opportunities to present at international conferences.

Applicants should hold a good honours degree in a relevant STEM field and be eligible for UK home fee status. The studentship covers full tuition and a £24,000 annual stipend for three years. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is advised.

For more information, contact Dr Francis Hassard or visit the Cranfield University website.