Are you inspired by finding sustainable solutions to plastic pollution?
Do you enjoy hands-on experimental work at the interface of engineering, physics, and chemistry?
Are you excited about building and optimizing prototypes with real-world environmental impact?
ProjectDescriptionMicroplastics, particularly microfibers generated from the shredding of clothes during laundry, pose a serious environmental and health risk. Conventional filtration devices often clog and fail to capture the smallest, most harmful fibers. In this PhD project, you will develop and optimize a novel flotation-based separation method.
You will contribute to the project within a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative team. The project bridges experimental interfacial science, soft matter engineering, and mechanical design. You will be embedded in the research group led by Dr. Emmanouil Chatzigiannakis (Processing and Performance of Materials), and co-supervised by Dr. Paul Grassia (Energy Technology) and Dr. Simon Eugster (Dynamics and Control).
As a PhD student, you will start by conducting proof-of-concept experiments to identify key parameters that govern the efficiency of microfiber capture. You will then investigate the fundamental physics of fiber–bubble interactions, including the effects of fiber surface properties, stiffness, and hydrophobicity using various experimental techniques. After that you will design and construct a prototype flotation device, initially testing it with model systems and later applying it to real laundry wastewater. Throughout the project, you will collaborate with BSc and MSc students, contribute to educational activities, and work closely with academic and industrial partners to ensure the technology’s relevance and scalability.
Job Description - Design, develop and optimize a flotation-based separation system for microfibers
- Prepare manuscripts for publication in the scientific literature
- Prepare presentations for scientific conferences
- Assist with preparation of patent applications
- Report to and interact with the supervisory team
- Interact with and collaborate with all project stakeholders (supervisory team, other students, academic and industrial partners)