Katie Laird

PhD opportunity at De Montfort University in a multidisciplinary project on wastewater disinfection using novel technologies . The project is supervised by Prof Katie Laird , Dr Maitreyi Shivkumar , and Prof Katherine Huddersman at LIPHI, De Montfort University , in collaboration with Hazen and Sawyer . Research will combine environmental engineering , microbiology , virology , and chemistry to develop and test DMU-derived catalyst systems for improved wastewater disinfection. Key research themes include reducing microbial contamination, studying bacteria, viruses, and fungi , examining antimicrobial resistance and microbial tolerance to treatment chemicals, and characterising free radical generation during treatment. The project also explores the effectiveness, scalability, and public-health relevance of novel catalyst technologies under realistic wastewater conditions. This is a fully funded PhD studentship for UK Home students . Funding includes a UKRI-rate stipend of £21,805 per annum for three years , full UK Home tuition fees , and £6000 bench fees for consumables, conferences, and site visits. The study duration is 4 years, with funding duration of 3 years, and the opportunity is subject to approval for funding. Eligibility: applicants should hold at least a 2:1 honours degree in a relevant field. The opportunity is only open to UK Home students . Deadline: 3 July 2026. How to apply: complete the online form linked in the post and send the application to [email protected] . Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview and a panel meeting shortly after the deadline.