Tag: Research

Roundup of PhD opportunities – Mar 18

 

Finding optimum mixing condition in an anaerobic digester using computational fluid dynamics approach for sustainable production of chemicals and materials, Aberdeen University
Supervisors:  Dr A Majumder, Dr J Derksen Application
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Anaerobic digestion of food waste for the production of chemicals, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Dr D Dionisi , Dr C Fernandez-Martin Application
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Microwave-assisted pre-treatment for the cost-effective anaerobic digestion of lignocellulosic substrates, Aberdeen University
Supervisors:  Dr C Fernandez-Martin , Dr D Dionisi
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Policies and Politics: an investigation of how anaerobic digestion processes comply with current environmental policies, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Dr D Toke, Dr T Kiso
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

A risk framework to establish the ecotoxicity and fate of anaerobic digestate in soil, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Dr G I Paton, Dr G Norton
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Separation of chemicals obtained from the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste, Aberdeen University
Supervisors:Dr D Dionisi, Dr A Majumder
Deadline: Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Producing chemicals and materials sustainably: Understanding the economic implications and firms decision making, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Prof E Phimister, Dr J Cai
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Heat pump assisted distillation for the energy efficient separation of the liquid phase products from anaerobic digestion, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Dr M N Campbell-Bannerman, Dr A Majumder
Deadline 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Catalytic conversion of syngas to oxygenates for the efficient upgrading of biogas, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Dr P Kechagiopoulos, Prof J Anderson
Deadline: 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Catalytic conversion of biogas to ethylene, Aberdeen University
Supervisors: Dr P Kechagiopoulos, Prof J Anderson
Deadline: 15th April 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Tailored biopolymer production from waste streams: low-cost value added bioprocessing, University of Birmingham
Supervisors: Dr T Overton, Dr M Jenkins
Deadline: Applications accepted all year round
Self-Funded PhD Students Only

In this project, you will capitalize on the expertise held in the group to fabricate microbial bioreactors and fermenters. In particular, you will develop new materials and 3D printing methods to enable fabrication of biocompatible fermenters, University of Edinburgh
Supervisor: Dr S Dimartino
Deadline 10th December 2018
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

AD Publications of Interest

The World Biogas Association provide access to a range of information ranging from current market reports to ā€œA critical review of the VFA/TA (FOS/TAC) methodā€. See: http://www.worldbiogasassociation.org/ .

Keep up to date with a host of recent AD publications from the Research Group at Southampton University via their BORRG page. See:  http://www.bioenergy.soton.ac.uk/publications.htm

Whoā€™s who. An overview of the state of AD research across Europe unsurprisingly highlights Germany as the lead for papers whilst the Technical University of Denmark stands out as the highest publishing institution. But how did the UK fare…

Technology overview of biogas production in anaerobic digestion plants: A European evaluation of research and development. Rafaela Lora Grando, et al.  Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 80: 44-53. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032117307074 .

Integration of Power to Methane in a waste water treatment plant ā€“ A feasibility study. Tim Patterson, University of South Wales et al. Bioresource Technology 245(A): 1049-1057 – December 2017. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852417315973 .

Biological methanation of CO2 in a novel biofilm plug-flow reactor: A high rate and low parasitic energy process. Savvas Savvas, University of South Wales et al. Applied Energy 202:238-247 – September 2017. See: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917306748 .

A critical review of integration analysis of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems with waste biorefineries for the production of biofuel and chemical from reuse of CO2. Jhuma Sadhukhana, University of Surrey et al. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 56: 116-132 – April 2016

Advances towards understanding and engineering direct interspecies electron transfer in anaerobic digestion. Sajib Barua and Bipro Ranjan Dhar, University of Alberta. Bioresource Technology 244: 698-707-November 2017

AD Network – Roundup of PhD Opportunities – Oct 17

Improving understanding of veterinary medicine degradation and fate in organic fertilisers and anaerobic digestion plants (VetMedDeg) – University of Leeds

Deadline: 6th October 2017

Supervisor: Dr Paul Kay

Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)

 

Microbial ecology of early stage colonisers in the digestive tracts of large herbivores – Aberystwyth University

Deadline 1st November 2017

Supervisor: Dr G W Griffith

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

 

Innovative biological processes for the production of chemicals from organic waste – Aberdeen University

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisors:  Dr D Dionisi and Dr A Majumder

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

 

Integration of Sustainability Assessment and Global Optimization for Sustainable Production of Biofuels and Chemicals – University of Manchester

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisors:  Dr R Cuellar-Franca, Dr N Zhang and Dr J Li Application

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

 

Isolation, Characterization and Genome Mining of Novel Environmental Bacteria and Archaea – University of Huddersfield

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisor: Prof Humphreys  and Dr S Rout

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

 

Chemistry for the Bioeconomy: novel transformations in hot water – Aberdeen University

Applications accepted all year round

Supervisors:  Dr M J Plater, Dr W T A Harrison and Dr A Raab

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Call for postdoc panel members: Biosciences Skills and Careers Strategy Advisory Panel

The Bioscience Skills and Careers Strategy Advisory Panel (BSC) has received input from a Bioscience Skills and Careers Postdoctoral Researcher Subgroup since March 2013. Membership of the subgroup is currently being refreshed to ensure it continues to have the necessary skills and expertise to provide input into topics highlighted by the subgroupā€™s recently updated terms of reference.

BBSRC is looking to appoint eight postdocs to the subgroup. Applications are sought from postdocs working in academia, including those based in research institutions, as well as those in government laboratories or industry (Postdoc in the industrial context meaning someone with a PhD carrying out a research role, but who is not directing a research programme / who does not have significant management responsibilities) Further information can be found here:

www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/people-skills-training/2017/170703-n-call-for-bioscience-skills-careers-postdoctoral-researcher-subgroup-members/ .

The deadline for applications is 7thAugust 2017.

Getting from greenhouse gas to microbial biomass

Science can now turn thin air into biomass – or, more specifically, turn greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) which are emitted as waste products of current energy production activities into biomass. This paper describes a process that captures methane from natural gas and biogas and uses photosynthesis to convert it into biomass feedstock. The energy-rich carbon is not dispersed into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, but converted to useful products. Read more here.

Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors for Wastewater Treatment and Energy Recovery – 14 Jan 16, University of Southampton

There is quite a bit of activity going on in the University of Southampton Labs on both flat sheet and hollow fibre Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors. Take a look at this video on the University of Southampton Environmental Lab Facebook page.

This is just a sample of some of the international research which will be showcased at the above event.

Register to attend now! http://www.anaerobicdigestionnet.com/events.

 

Newton Fund UK – China – Philippines – Thailand – Vietnam joint call

The Newton Fund UK-China-Philippines-Thailand-Vietnam call for collaborative research proposals in rice research has now been launched: www.bbsrc.ac.uk/rice

One aspect of this call that may be of particular interest is ā€œUtilisation of rice by-productsā€ with Vietnam and the Philippines.

 

Please promote this to your Network members, any queries can be directed to the BBSRC Newton Fund email inbox newton.fund@bbsrc.ac.uk

 

Please note that the deadline for applications is 4pm GMT 13 August 2015

Interested in algal research? Try Spark Plus funding

The KTN has announced the new Spark Plus award. Closing date is 22 May 15. These are awards of Ā£10K to an academic partner if an industry partner provides Ā£5K match funding. Further details can be found at https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/algal-biotechnology-special-interest-group/algal-spark-plus-awards 

If you are looking for industry or academic partners, contact us – we have a large member list, many of whom are interested in algae.