The School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences is a vibrant academic community and provides education in a number of subjects including pharmacy, forensic science, biomedical science and nutrition. The School is housed in a state of the art building and has facilities designed to simulate both clinical and community settings providing a stimulating learning environment.
Our vision is to provide dynamic and transformational learning, teaching and research that makes a leading contribution to improving the health and well-being of local, national and global communities.
This post provides an exciting opportunity for a passionate microbiologist with expertise in microbiome analysis leading to the development of a low cost nature-based water treatment solution. The focus of the study will be on the elimination of cyanotoxins from well water in Sri Lanka where they are thought to contribute to an increased rise in kidney disease. The Research Fellow will join the world-class CyanoSol Research Group on a BBSRC funded Global Challenges Research Funding (GCRF) project part of the Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy in the Developing World (IBBEDW): A scalable Bio-based Solution to Eliminate Cyanotoxins in Drinking Water.
CyanoSol Research group at RGU, led by Professors Lawton and Edwards are global experts in production, analysis and remediation of cyanotoxins (especially microcystins and cylindrospermopsin) with current funding from EPSRC, BBSRC, Innovate UK and Industry. The research is underpinned by outstanding analytical facilities (HPLCs, UPLC-QTOF, IC, GC-MS, preparative LC-MS, LC-MS) along with a bespoke microbiology suite including large scale algal culturing (c. 1200 L/month) and downstream processing. The group has an extensive network of industrial and academic collaborators worldwide.
This Project will develop a simple but innovative biotechnological solution to
remove cyanotoxins from water, with particular emphasis on contaminated water in Sri Lankan single-household dug wells in rural communities in line with UNG 6.1 and the Sri Lankan strategy for providing safe drinking water for all by 2030.This will be achieved by a multidisciplinary team that has been brought together to provide an appropriate balance of skills, resources and practical experience in a partnership with the Universities of Sri Jayewardenepura and Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, along with Queens University Belfast and the University of Edinburgh.
The successful applicant will be responsible for development, optimisation, characterisation and application of a natural microbiome capable of lysing cyanobacteria and degrading their harmful toxins.
For informal discussion contact Professor Linda Lawton,
[email protected] or Professor Christine Edwards,
[email protected].
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland check. For more information visit:
https://www.mygov.scot/standard-disclosureClosing Date: 05 May 2019
