University PhD Research Studentship

School of Engineering and Built Environment

Reference Number: REG2016_SEBE6

Studentship Project Title: Characterisation of the incidence of antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater and identification of intervention strategies

Applications are invited for a full-time PhD research studentship at Glasgow Caledonian University within the School of Engineering and Built Environment. The studentship of £18,900 per year is for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress. The studentship covers the payment of tuition fees (currently £4,100 for UK/EU students or £11,200 for International students) plus an annual stipend of £14,800 for UK/EU students or £7,700 for International students.

Research Disciplines

Built Environment

Construction and Surveying

Research Themes

Sustainable Environments: Urban Environments

Environmental Technology and Management Research Group

Research Project Summary

The increase of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes in the environment is an emerging and increasingly acknowledged major concern for healthcare providers, with the potential need for a change in hospital infection control and intervention. Reducing the release of AMR genetic material into the wider environment, from where it could feed back into human health, is an important aspect of generic AMR abatement that goes beyond healthcare interventions and brings together health, environmental and building services professions.

Previous work by the supervisory team (Stalder et al., 2013, DOI: 10.1021/es4008646) demonstrated that hospital effluents could potentially contribute to the occurrence of multi-antimicrobial resistant bacteria in the sewerage system. This emission can be reduced by technical interventions. However, such methods are very expensive (PILLS, 2012, p.18, www.pills-project.eu/), and the involvement of all stakeholders is crucial if effective solutions are to be defined. This work will characterise the microbial communities along the wastewater pathway (hospital sewers, wastewater treatment plants and receiving rivers), and monitor AMR and chemical indicators with a view to identify the most promising points for economical intervention.

Glasgow Caledonian University has a unique combination of experience in environmental technology, wastewater treatment, ecotoxicological / microbiological assessment and community engagement. The team is actively engaged in externally-funded research on these topics (e.g. the transnational EU Interreg-funded noPILLS project www.no-pills.eu), and the PhD project will be jointly supervised between GCU’s Schools of Engineering and Built Environment and Health and Life Science, and colleagues from the University of Limoges’ School of Engineering (AMR quantification) and the French national research institute INRA (catchment monitoring). The project will also be informed by – and report to - Health Protection Scotland’s CARS (Control of Antimicrobial Resistance Scotland) project.

Project Aim:

Reduction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through intervention in healthcare wastewater management: improving the environment-human-health cycle.

Staff Contacts

Professor Ole Pahl, Department of Construction and Surveying:

Dr Janice Spencer, Department of Life Sciences:

Eligibility

Applicants will normally hold a relevant 1st or 2:1 UK honours degree (or equivalent); or a Masters degree in a subject relevant to the research project. Equivalent professional qualifications and any appropriate research experience may be considered. A minimum English language level of IELTS score of 6.5 (or equivalent) with no element below 6.0 is required. Some research disciplines may require higher levels.

Specific requirements of the project: Candidates for this studentship should have a relevant science degree (and ideally a Master’s degree or relevant postgraduate experience). Experience in molecular biology / mass-chromatography techniques would be advantageous, as would be French language skills.

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the University Research Application Form, available from: http://www.gcu.ac.uk/phdopportunities

Please send the form, stating the studentship project title and reference number, with a CV, copies of academic qualifications, references, and any other required documentation to:

The closing date for applications is Monday 18 April 2016

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