Harnessing The Biological and Biotechnological Potential of Wastewater Treatment
The Bio-Boost Industry Doctoral Landscape Award (funded for 6 years by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)) will train a general of ‘industry and government ready’ scientists that will harness the power of waste water treatment to:
(i) meet a growing skills and capability need across our water industry,
(ii) increase health security and pandemic preparedness,
(iii) ensure waste water treatment is resilient to climate change,
(iv) increase our energy security and support our net zero ambitions, and
(v) develop sustainable innovations for clean industrial growth.
Bio-Boost is a partnership between UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), the University of York, the Newcastle University, the Environment Agency, Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Waters Corp.
“This outstanding award is a very positive step for the UK’s research and innovation landscape. By providing advanced skills and training in areas such as health, climate, environmental protection, energy security and the circular bioeconomy, the Bio-BOOST program will help develop future experts who can work in partnership with the UK water industry. That alignment between academic training and industry priorities is essential in supporting long-term planning and sustainable services for customers and the environment.”
Mike Rose, CEO, UKWIR
Research Themes
Bio-Boosts training is aligned to three research themes, each delivered within a dedicated cohort:
Cohort 1 - delivery of an integrated understanding of health that adopts innovative approaches to (eco)epidemiology that maximise removal of communicable diseases to enhance health security and pandemic preparedness
Cohort 2 - protection of aquatic environments through enhanced biological removal of emerging chemical pollutants, and ensuring the that WWT is resilient in the face of climate change
Cohort 3 - creating renewable bioresources for clean and sustainable industry growth to improve energy security, and adopting circular innovative solutions and new revenue streams
Bio-Boost is an exciting, ambitious and innovative doctoral training programme that has been co-designed to address the needs of the water industry and society
The Bio-Boost programme will unite the strengths of the University of York and Newcastle University with UK Wastewater Industry Research to create a vibrant and immersive doctoral landscape training environment that will deliver an excellent training experience to develop doctoral graduates with the entrepreneurial mindset, vision and skills ready for successful careers across the public, private, and third sectors.
Bio-Boost iDLA
Department of Environment and Geography
University of York
York
United Kingdom
chem-env-pgr@york.ac.uk