Fully funded studentship in Plastivore Plasticity: characterising metabolic flexibility in an emerging biotechnological system to manage plastic waste

Applications are invited from high-calibre and passionate students seeking to pursue an exciting career in analytical and environmental science research, with a focus to tackle a growing concern with respect to managing plastic waste.

Pollution is now considered an environmental emergency alongside biodiversity loss and climate change. There are many forms of pollution but it predominantly concerns the issue of chemical and plastic waste. In particular, plastic waste represents a very complex societal challenge; the benefits provided by plastics are indisputable but we have seen concerning impacts in the environment from the micro- to macro-scale.

An emerging and ground-breaking biotechnological system involves the use of insect larvae to biodegrade plastics and has been observed for several species (Coleoptera and Lepidoptera), but focus has been given to, Galleria mellonella (Greater Wax Moth) which recently was demonstrated to degrade plastics like polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) converting them to proteins, lipids and frass. This biodegradation pathway could enable the re-use of by-products (e.g. breakdown of polymers into respective monomers) and provide a future solution to the plastic waste emergency. However, whilst biodegradation has been observed, the use of plastic as a food source has limited understanding regarding the toxicological effects in these plastivore insects and the metabolic plasticity associated with a plastic-rich diet. How does metabolic flexibility via plasticity and redundancy enable these insects to use plastics as a sole carbon source? The potential toxicity could influence the survival of these organisms to be used at scale and must be characterised if these insects are to become a viable solution to the plastic waste crisis.

Based in and funded by the College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, this studentship offers a full-time annual London rate stipend estimated at £21,237 (including London weighting) and Home/EU tuition fees, for a maximum of 36 months.

The Department of Life Sciences holds a Silver Athena SWAN Award and is committed to equality of opportunity and advancing women’s careers.

The start date will be 1 October 2024.

 

Overview

This project will offer a challenging, collaborative and transdisciplinary opportunity for an excellent PhD candidate to work at the forefront of this exciting area with leading academic teams at Brunel University London. All team members have extensive track records in this area and will provide complementary and collaborative training in analysis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and advanced chemometrics.

Based primarily within the Environmental Science Division at Brunel University London, the successful candidate will have access to newly opened £2 million research labs hosting multiple analytical platforms including LC-MS, GC-MS and 2D LC systems. The student will benefit from training and development in the use of data analytics and visualisation to enable understanding of disruption to biochemical pathways and mechanisms of toxicity.

The successful candidate will be supervised by an expert interdisciplinary team of academic researchers who will provide full training for the research.

Supervisory team

  • Dr Thomas Miller, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Toxicology, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London (London, UK).
  • Dr Ronan McCarthy, Reader in Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London (London, UK).
  • Dr Eleni Iacovidou, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Management, Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University London (London, UK).

For informal discussions, please contact Dr Thomas Miller (thomas.miller@brunel.ac.uk)

Eligibility

Candidates should have an undergraduate degree (first or upper second class) or equivalent qualification in analytical science, biochemistry, environmental science, pharmaceutical science or toxicology. A Masters qualification in a relevant area would be desirable. Knowledge of analytical chemistry and coding is desirable, ideally with research experience. Applicants who have not been awarded a degree by a University in the UK will be expected to demonstrate English language skills to IELTS 7.0 (minimum 6.5 in any section). Both UK and EU applications are welcome and eligible for the funding.

How to apply

If you wish to apply, please e-mail the following to chmls-pgr-officestaff@brunel.ac.uk by 10th June 2024.

  • An up-to-date CV.
  • A single-page A4 single-spaced personal statement describing why you are a suitable candidate (i.e. outlining your qualifications and skills).
  • One example of your academic writing (e.g. an essay, a section from a dissertation).
  • Names and contact details for two academic referees.
  • A copy of your highest degree certificate and transcript.
  • A copy of your English language qualification, where applicable.

Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview week commencing Week of 1st July 2024. The successful candidate will be instructed to submit a formal online application via Admissions.

For further information about how to apply, please contact the College of Health Medicine and Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Office on chmls-pgr-officestaff@brunel.ac.uk.

Meet the Supervisor(s)

Thomas Miller - As an interdisciplinary scientist with a background in biology and analytical chemistry, my research interests are focussed on the impact of chemicals in the environment and the interaction this chemical stress has with other environmental stressors. My expertise lies in small molecule mass spectrometry to determine chemicals found in the environment (especially in wildlife) and to determine biomarkers and pathways associated with adverse effects in exposed organisms. I am also interested in the integration of artificial intelligence within environmental toxicology to support and solve different environmental challenges.  From the start of my PhD at King's College London my research was originally focussed on the uptake, biotransofrmation and elimination of pharmaceuticals in a freshwater invertebrate (Gammarus pulex) commonly found in UK rivers. I developed and validated machine learning models to predict these proccesses to support and potentially replace bioaccumulation testing during environmental risk assessments. I then moved into a postdoctoral position where I focussed on understanding the impact of pharmaceuticals by assessing behavioural disruption in these organisms. I developed and applied metabolomic workflows to gain a mechanistic understanding of animal behaviour and to link cause-effect relationships for different drug exposures. Here at Brunel, I will be working in three main areas concerned with chemical pollution. First is concerned with the determination of chemicals (and mixtures) using exposomics to characterise the chemical space in the environment, with a focus on internalised residues in animals. Second, improving mechanistic understanding of cause-effect relationships using metabolomics and lipidomics to determine biochemical changes that are phenotypically anchored. Finally, development and application of AI to support envrionmental risk assessment, replace animal testing and improve interpretation of complex datasets to better understand animal health. 
Ronan Mccarthy - Ronan gained his Bachelor of Science in Genetics with first class honours from University College Cork, Ireland in 2010 and was awarded the title of College Scholar. In autumn 2010, Ronan was awarded an Irish Research Council PhD Scholarship to study novel biofilm inhibition strategies against the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the lab of Professor Fergal O’Gara. In 2014, Ronan joined the research group of Professor Alain Filloux at the MRC Centre for Bacteriology and Infection at Imperial College London. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ronan interrogated the second messenger signalling cascades that govern the biofilm mode of growth in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Following on from his time at Imperial College Ronan joined the Microbiology Department at the Animal and Plant Health Agency where he used host transcriptomics and pathway analysis to profile the host response to infection. He joined the Biosciences Division in Brunel University to continue his analysis of the regulatory networks that govern pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation in the Gram negative opportunistic pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. In 2021, Ronan was awarded a BBSRC New Investigator Award to study the regulation of desiccation tolerance and biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii and to identify compounds that could disrupt these survival mechanisms. He has also expanded into the field of biofilm engineering, using synthetic biology approaches to give control over bacterial biofilm formation and using these tools to tackle environmental challenges such as plastic waste.  As a PI he has secured funding from the BBSRC, NC3Rs, Academy of Medical Sciences, Horizon 2020, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Innovate UK,  NERC and the Medical Research Council. 
Eleni Iacovidou - My research focuses on sustainable solutions for resource and waste management, with a strong emphasis on circular economy strategies and sustainability assessment. I use a systems thinking approach (CVORR) to understand environmental challenges holistically and to identify points where practical interventions can generate the greatest value and impact. By considering not only environmental and engineering aspects but also social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions, my work highlights the multidimensional value of resource recovery systems. This approach helps create solutions that are technically sound, socially inclusive, and supportive of a faster transition to sustainability. My research is primarily desktop-based and centres on five key areas: Plastic and plastic packaging systems – assessing sustainable pathways to circularity Textiles management – advancing prevention and reuse in a sustainable society Food waste management – addressing challenges for sustainable consumption and recovery Construction components – promoting reuse and modular structures Waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) – repair, reuse, and circular strategies In addition, I examine the effects of technological and regulatory lock-ins, the role of stakeholders in sustainability transitions, and the impacts of informal recycling systems on society and the environment. I am also exploring how waste infrastructure can be tailored to area-specific contexts and how smart technologies can enable product and component tracking across the value chain. The ultimate goal of my research is to provide systemic and integrated sustainability assessments that support evidence-based policymaking, guide industry innovation, and foster academic collaboration. By applying systems thinking, I aim to reduce material leakage, extend product lifespans, and enhance resource efficiency, shaping a more resilient and sustainable future.