Seaweed Nanomaterials for Runoff Remediation: Balancing the Soil-Water Nexus for Sustainable Food Systems (SEA-FOOD)

Agricultural runoff is a major contributor to water pollution, carrying excess nutrients, pesticides, and antibiotics into aquatic ecosystems. Conventional treatment methods struggle to remove contaminants such as organophosphates, tebuconazole, acetamiprid, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole, leading to soil degradation, eutrophication, and antimicrobial resistance. This PhD project develops a novel low-carbon solution using functionalised seaweed-derived nanomaterials to selectively capture and degrade these pollutants through photocatalytic oxidation, mitigating environmental harm while supporting sustainable agriculture.

The candidate will synthesise and characterise magnetically separable carbon nanofilms, optimising their pore structure, surface chemistry, and catalytic properties for targeted pollutant remediation. Advanced techniques such as X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, and chromatographic analysis will be used to correlate structure-function relationships with depollution efficiency. A key innovation will be developing reusable, fouling-resistant materials that enable cost-effective pollutant removal under real-world conditions.

This interdisciplinary project integrates expertise in materials chemistry, environmental science, and agricultural sustainability. The successful candidate will work within a dynamic research team at the University of Plymouth and the University of York. Training in state-of-the-art characterisation and testing facilities, alongside research visits to UKRI-funded centres, will equip the student with highly transferable skills for careers in environmental remediation, advanced materials, and sustainable technologies.

This PhD offers an exciting opportunity to drive cutting-edge research at the soil-water interface, developing scalable, nature-inspired solutions for cleaner water and resilient food systems.

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree in an appropriate subject (Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science or Marine Science) or a relevant master’s qualification. If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme, IELTS Academic score of 6.5 (with no less than 5.5 in each component test area) or equivalent.

The studentship is supported for 4 years and includes Home or International tuition fees plus a stipend of £20,780 per annum 2025/26 rate (UKRI).

NB: The studentship is supported for four years including a 6 month ‘writing-up period. There is no further funding beyond the four-year period.

There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights, etc.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact Dr Lee Durndell .

Please see our apply for a postgraduate research programme page for a list of supporting documents to upload with your application.

For more information on the admissions process generally, please visit our apply for a postgraduate research programme page or contact the Doctoral College .

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview on 7 May 2025 followed by a formal interview on a date to be confirmed. We regret that we may not be able to respond to all applications. Applicants who have not received a response within six weeks of the closing date should consider their application unsuccessful on this occasion.