PhD Study : Water treatment processes and antibiotic resistance

Apply and key information  

Summary

Background:

Large medical datasets provide the evidence that the rise in antibiotic resistance has become a global problem. As the investigation of potential causes is now extending beyond hospital care, aquatic systems are receiving increased attention as potential sites for the emergence and proliferation of new superbugs, i.e. microbes which have acquired multiple resistance against a diverse set of chemical compounds employed for their control. Particularly water treatment systems have been suggested as hotspots for horizontal resistance transfer and in this respect strong evidence exists not only for wastewater treatment (Pärnänen et al., 2019; Manaia et al., 2018) but also for drinking water treatment facilities (Sanganyado and Gwenzi, 2019). However, many open questions remain regarding a potentially facilitating role of individual water treatment processes.

Such detailed knowledge is urgently required for improvements to treatment processes, which could minimise the emergence of microbial organisms with multiple resistance, or for the implementation of appropriate mitigation measures aimed at preventing a proliferation of such microbial organisms or their genes beyond treatment plants.

This project aims to identify and investigate individual water treatment processes, which are likely to contribute to accumulation, enhanced persistence and proliferation of antibiotic resistance.

Research objectives:

1) Review of antibiotic resistance in water treatment with focus on effects of individual treatment processes

2) Selection of treatment processes for further investigation and development of suitable model systems

3) Characterisation of physical and chemical properties of the model systems

4) Investigation of horizontal resistance transfer in single species and multi species systems

5) Comparison of the impact of disturbance on the evolution of different resistance traits

6) Comparative characterisation of the resistome for a selected process (Objective 2) in different water treatment facilties

Methodology:

The investigation will employ methods of analytical chemistry (spectroscopy and liquid chromatography for quantification of antibiotics), physics or microscopy (characterisation of material properties), classical microbiology (e.g. resistance profiles) and molecular biology (e.g. q-PCR and metagenomics). The development of model systems can build on current research on retention of antibiotics (e.g. Akinsanmi et al., 2019).

Impact:

This interdisciplinary project will provide detailed knowledge of the contribution by individual processes to accumulation, persistence and proliferation of antibiotic resistance in water treatment plants, which is of high relevance for pharmaceutical manufacturers with responsibilities for on-site wastewater treatment, water providers and environmental regulators.

Project results will inform strategies to minimise facilitation of resistance transfer and discharge of multiresistant microbes or their genes.

It is expected that the successful applicant will be able to provide evidence of methodological and/or applied experience.

References:

Akinsanmi O et al. 2019. Tackling antimicrobial resistance: Adsorption of meropenem and ciprofloxacin on lignocellulosic substrate from sawdust. Poster session presented at European Waste Water Management Conference, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Manaia CM et al. 2018. Antibiotic resistance in wastewater treatment plants: tackling the black box. Environ Int 115, 312–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.03.044.

Pärnänen KMM et al. 2019. Antibiotic resistance in European wastewater treatment plants mirrors the pattern of clinical antibiotic resistance prevalence. Sci Adv 5:eaau9124. https://doi .org/10.1126/sciadv.aau9124.

Sanganyado E, Gwenzi W (2019). Antibiotic resistance in drinking water systems: Occurrence, removal, and human health risks. Sci Tot Env, 669: 785–797

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

  • First Class Honours (1st) Degree
  • Masters at 65%
  • Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
  • Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
  • Work experience relevant to the proposed project
  • Experience of presentation of research findings

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Friday 7 February 2020
12:00AM

Interview Date
March 2020

Preferred student start date
mid September 2020

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Joerg Arnscheidt

Other supervisors