Doctoral Training Centre in Biofilms Innovation, Technology and Engineering
The Doctoral Training Centre in Biofilms Innovation, Technology and Engineering (BITE) will train PhD researchers at the interface of Physical and Life Sciences to understand the behaviour of biofilms, which are central to the global challenges of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Health, Food Security, Clean Water and Energy.
BITE is a world class interdisciplinary partnership between Universities of Liverpool, Edinburgh, Nottingham and Southampton, all core founding partners of the £26.5M National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC).
What are Biofilms?
Biofilms are communities of micro-organisms that stick to each other within a matrix or at a surface and represent the dominant mode of life for bacteria on earth. Biofilms impact on a ~$5 trillion global economic activity, approximately twice the UK’s GDP, and impact on health and major UK industrial sectors.
BITE DTC provides a unique training experience to the next generation of research leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs so that they can deliver breakthrough science and technologies in the cross-disciplinary field of biofilms. The four partner universities, alongside international institutes, major national facilities and a large industrial consortium have come together to deliver the UK’s first graduate training centre that will address the skills and knowledge gap in the biofilms field. Our research will span the fields of physical, mathematical, engineering, life and clinical sciences.
BITE PhD projects will
- Drive international research challenges by working with leading groups in the partner universities and by encompassing exceptional interdisciplinarity to revolutionise training in the biofilms field
- Involve cohort training with students across the four institutions creating a highly-networked DTC community whose access to a world-leading infrastructure and knowledge-base will enable it to compete with the international best
- Embed innovation and entrepreneurship to catalyse high impact translation of ideas into technology and enhance the business and career prospects of its students
- Involve participation of stakeholders, including industry, government departments and laboratories, charities, NHS, external and internal research institutes for example, through NBIC collaborations
- Instill skills of effective leadership, clear communication and problem solving.
All research projects fit within the following BITE research themes:
Biofilm prevention
Design of surfaces, interfaces and materials to prevent biofilms.
Biofilm detection
Innovative sensing, tracking and diagnostic technologies to detect biofilms.
Biofilm management
Kill, remove or control established biofilms from exploiting their life cycle dynamics.
Biofilm engineering
Control and direct complex microbial communities in process applications.
Current opportunities
PhD position in Microbial Induced Electrochemistry at the Local Site and Single Cell Level
Microbial induced corrosion via local electrochemical processes initiated by bacteria is a serious economic problem that costs an estimated $113 Bn p.a worldwide.
Local electrochemical processes drive such corrosion via direct metal-to-bioorganism charge transfer, electron shuttle phenomena, or electrochemical processes mediated by chemicals produced by bacteria. The project will adopt a combined surface spectroscopy, scanning probe microscopy, local electrochemistry and bio-imaging approach to understand the origin and mechanism of microbial corrosion.
The PhD will include:
- Interdisciplinary science
- Advanced nano-fabrication, nano-imaging and spectroscopic techniques.
The student will register at the University of Liverpool and enrol in NBIC’s Doctoral Training Centre which trains inter-disciplinary PhD researchers at the Interface of Physical and Life Sciences.
- Provide high level training and mentorship in research and entrepreneurship
- Join a National Network of leading Research Groups in the UK
- Join a community of leading companies in the UK.
Applications are encouraged from highly motivated candidates who have, or expect to have, at least a 2:1 degree or equivalent in Chemistry, Physics, Biophysics, Materials Science, Microbiology or Engineering. Applications should be made as soon as possible. Candidates will be evaluated as applications are received and the position will be filled if a suitable candidate is identified. The deadline for applications 15th June 2025
Informal enquiries are also encouraged and should be addressed to Lucy Jones (Lucy.Jones2@liverpool.ac.uk)
Formal applications should be made to https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/ quoting reference CCPR107.
Supervisory team
Department of Chemistry, University of Liverpool
Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick