Biofilms: Hidden Engines Driving Antimicrobial Resistance?
Glasgow Caledonian University (https://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/reach)
Closes: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Eligibility: Funded PhD Project (UK Students Only)
About the Project
We have an exciting opportunity for a four-year PhD studentship within the Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) at Glasgow Caledonian University (https://www.gcu.ac.uk/research/researchcentres/reach). The successful candidate will join the laboratories of Dr Janice Spencer and Professor Gordon Ramage and work alongside our industrial partners at Scottish Water (https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/strategic-research-and-innovation)
Funded through an IBioIC Industrial PhD Training Programme in partnership with Scottish Water, we aim to develop a deeper understanding of any points for the accumulation of antimicrobial resistance in wastewater treatment works including ubiquitous biofilms. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest threats to global health, projected to cause 10 million premature deaths every year by 2050 therefore understanding if current wastewater treatments contribute to accumulation of AMR within them would allow the introduction of interventions to reduce and effectively monitor levels of AMR. We hypothesis that pollutants, including antimicrobials and heavy metals in wastewater accumulate within biofilms which can influence levels of AMR. We aim to monitor levels of AMR throughout wastewater treatment works with a focus on ubiquitous biofilms and investigate if the composition of these are influenced by seasonality and pollutants found in the wastewater. Biofilms will also be assessed for their metabolic function which will clarify whether these are required for the functioning of the wastewater treatment plant allowing the action of interventions to reduce their formation if deemed necessary.
This project will combine the internationally recognised biofilm expertise and modelling experience of Dr Spencer and Professor Ramage at GCU with the water industry expertise from Dr Ania Escudero and Scottish Water. The successful candidate will monitor composition and AMR levels of wastewater biofilms whilst optimising relevant biofilm models to serve as a robust test bed for investigating wastewater biofilms under relevant environmental conditions with the aim to understand the role of various biofilms within wastewater treatment.
As an IBioIC PhD student, you will work between a vibrant academic research environment and industry, working with international leaders in microbiology and biofilms, and with industry experts from GCU and Scottish Water. As an IBioIC PhD student, you will receive advanced research training aligned to your specific project, engage in core skills development pertinent to data analysis and develop professional skills relating to communication and public engagement, alongside Industrial and Collaborative Experience and Specialist Workshops. Together, these will provide world-class training to prepare you to enter the workforce and contribute to economic growth in Scotland and the UK.
Apply
This project is available as a 4 year full-time PhD study programme starting 1st October 2026
Applicants should apply via our application process page choosing Biological Sciences and Full time Sept 2026 start. You should choose Reference SHLS26146 - Spencer from the drop-down list in your application. Please note that emails to the supervisory team or enquires submitted via this project advert do not constitute formal applications;
Supervisory contact: Janice Spencer email: Janice.spencer@gcu.ac.uk https://researchonline.gcu.ac.uk/en/persons/janice-spencer/
Funding Notes
This opportunity is funded by IBioIC, Glasgow Caledonian University and Scottish Water under the IBioIC Collaborative Training Partnership (CTP) call, covering full home tuition fees and PhD stipend at UKRI rate (£21,805 from October 2026)
