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Sustainable electrspun membranes for clean water applications

Funding
Self-funded
Study mode
Full-time
Apply by
Start date
Subject area
Engineering
How to apply
Change country or region

We’re currently showing entry requirements and other information for applicants with qualifications from United Kingdom.

Please select from our list of commonly chosen countries below or choose your own.

If your country or region isn’t listed here, please contact us with any questions about studying with us.

Overview

Access to clean drinking water and sanitation has seen substantial progress in recent time, however there is still a large part of the global population, that live mostly in rural settings, that lack this basic necessity. The UN estimates that globally one in three people do not have access to safe drinking water and two in five people lack basic hand-washing facilities. Given this escalating challenge of clean water scarcity, the UN General Assembly has initiated the Water action decade in 2019 to mobilise action and transform management of water.

About this opportunity

Membrane-based separation technologies have played a dominant role in water purification due to their effectiveness and energy efficiency.  Nanofibrous membranes are a step beyond conventional membranes as they are have a large surface to volume ratio that allow them to be significantly more effective for the adsorption of environmental contaminants. Combining antimicrobial nanomaterials into nanofibrous membranes can have the advantage of effectively removing microbial and bacterial contaminants from water supplies.

 

The aim of this project is to develop nanomaterial doped electrospun nanofibrous membranes to remove microbial and environmental contaminants from water supplies.  In this highly interdisciplinary studentship, the student will gain competency in electrospinning, green material synthesis and characterisation, analytical techniques, microbiology and toxicity testing.

 

Further reading

  1. Solar Photocatalytic Disinfection of Water using Titanium Dioxide Graphene Composites. P Fernández-Ibáñez, MI Polo-López, S Malato, S Wadhwa, JWJ Hamilton, PSM Dunlop, R D’Sa, E Magee, K O’Shea, DD Dionysiou, JA Byrne Chemical Eng J, 2015, 261, 36-44
  2. Microcapsules Prepared via Pickering Emulsion Polymerization for Multifunctional Coatings B Qian, Z Zheng, C Liu, M Li, RA D’Sa, H Li, M Graham, M Michailidis, P Kantserev, V Vinokurov, D Shchukin, Progress in Organic Coatings 2020, 147, 105785
  3. Highly Effective Functionalised Coatings with Antibacterial and Antifouling Properties

M Michailidis, E Gutner-Hoch, R Wengier, ROnderwater, RA D’Sa, Y Benayahu, ASemenov, V Vinokurov, DG Shchukin

  1. 3D printable gelatin/nisin biomaterial inks for antimicrobial tissue engineering applications. M Dallos Ortega, J Aveyard, A Ciupa, RJ Poole, D Whetnall, JG Behnsen, RA D’Sa Mater Adv 2024, 5, 7729-7746
  2. Nitric oxide releasing coatings for the prevention of viral and bacterial infections J Aveyard, S Richards, M Li, G Pitt, GL Hughes, A Akpan, R Akhtar, A Kazaili, RA D’Sa Biomater. Sci., 2024, 12, 4664-4681.
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How to apply

  1. 1. Contact supervisors

    Candidates will have, or be due to obtain, a Master’s Degree or equivalent from a reputable University in an appropriate field of Engineering. Exceptional candidates with a First Class Bachelor’s Degree in an appropriate field will also be considered.

    Supervisor:

    Raechelle D’Sa r.dsa@liverpool.ac.uk

  2. 2. Prepare your application documents

    You may need the following documents to complete your online application:

    • A research proposal (this should cover the research you’d like to undertake)
    • University transcripts and degree certificates to date
    • Passport details (international applicants only)
    • English language certificates (international applicants only)
    • A personal statement
    • A curriculum vitae (CV)
    • Contact details for two proposed supervisors
    • Names and contact details of two referees.

  3. 3. Apply

    Finally, register and apply online. You'll receive an email acknowledgment once you've submitted your application. We'll be in touch with further details about what happens next.

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Fees and funding

Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.

Tuition fees

UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)

Full-time place, per year - £5,003

Full time international fee: £31,250 or £24,600 per year.* Fees apply to academic year 2025/26. *Please note: if you're an international student undertaking a PhD within the Faculty of Science and Engineering, the fee you pay will reflect the nature of your research project. Some research projects incur a higher fee than others, for example if you're required to undertake laboratory work. You'll be informed of the fee for your intended PhD in your offer letter.

Additional costs

We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This could include buying a laptop, books, or stationery.

Find out more about the additional study costs that may apply to this project, as well as general student living costs.

Funding your PhD

If you're a UK national, or have settled status in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan worth up to £30,301 to help with course fees and living costs.

There’s also a variety of alternative sources of funding. These include funded research opportunities and financial support from UK research councils, charities and trusts. Your supervisor may be able to help you secure funding.

We've set the country or region your qualifications are from as United Kingdom.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that could help pay your tuition fees and living expenses.

Duncan Norman Research Scholarship

If you’re awarded this prestigious scholarship, you’ll receive significant funding to support your postgraduate research. This includes full payment of your PhD fees and a cash bursary of £17,000 per year while you study. One award is available in each academic year.

John Lennon Memorial Scholarship

If you’re a UK student, either born in or with strong family connections to Merseyside, you could be eligible to apply for financial support worth up to £12,000 per year for up to three years of full-time postgraduate research (or up to five years part-time pro-rata).

Sport Liverpool Performance Programme

Apply to receive tailored training support to enhance your sporting performance. Our athlete support package includes a range of benefits, from bespoke strength and conditioning training to physiotherapy sessions and one-to-one nutritional advice.

Discover our full range of scholarships and bursaries.
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Contact us

Have a question about this research opportunity or studying a PhD with us? Please get in touch with us, using the contact details below, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Prof Raechelle D’Sa
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