(CODE-M) Synthetic Microbial Consortia for the Breakdown and Recycling of Electronic Circuit Boards

About the project

About the Project Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a ubiquitous part of the electronic equipment that permeates all aspects of modern civilisation. Here, the increasing electronification of lifestyles across the globe has driven a surge in use, and hence subsequent disposal, of electronic equipment. In 2024 it was estimated that 62 billion metric tons of ‘e-waste’ were being produced annually. There is thus a pressing need to develop new and sustainable methods for the break-down and recycling of these materials. The critical step in the recycling of PCBs is the separation of the “organic” plastics from the “inorganic” metal constituents. This step enables the recovery of any economically valuable metals, and prevents it from being a potential source of environmental contamination. Processes that decompose plastics into small molecular fragments will facilitate efficient removal of the inorganics, and also enable the organic materials (which form the bulk of the waste) to be reused as chemical feedstocks or safely disposed. This project aims to develop microbial communities to deconstruct waste PCBs. Such communities will consist of multiple species of microbes that will deliver the combined biochemical capabilities of its members. It is envisaged that a bioprocess involving them would therefore enable the simultaneous breakdown of the circuit boards’ materials and release of the precious metals therein. This multidisciplinary research will involve aspects of microbiology involving co-culture of microbes and the investigation of community population dynamics; mutagenesis and production of engineered enzymes; the synthesis of the model polymers, and the chemical analysis of the degradation products. A key aspect of this research will also be the application of (bio)chemical imaging methods to rapidly detect and characterise degradation on the surface of the PCBs. This research will suit a graduate in microbiology, chemistry, biochemistry or molecular biology with an interest in working on a broad cross-disciplinary project. The successful candidate will join a growing team of researchers from a range of academic and social backgrounds. They will receive a broad scientific training across these areas, as appropriate to their background. The research group is based at the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (www.mib.ac.uk) and offers state-of-the-art laboratories, instrumentation and facilities. Informal enquiries can be directed at the supervisor Dr. Lu Shin Wong (research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/l.s.wong). Entry Requirements Applicants should hold (or be about to obtain) a First or Upper Second class (2:1) UK honours degree, or international equivalent, in microbiology, molecular biology or biochemistry. Research experience in microbial bioremediation or bioprocessing is desirable. Experience in analytical chemistry would also be beneficial. Application Guidance Candidates must contact the primary supervisor before applying to discuss their interest in the project and assess their suitability. Apply directly via this link https://shorturl.at/MdoXB or on the online application portal, select BBSRC DFA PhD Programme as the programme of study. You may apply for up to two projects within this scheme. To do so, submit a single online application listing both project titles and the names of both main supervisors in the relevant sections. Please ensure that your application includes all required supporting documents: Curriculum Vitae (CV) Supporting Statement Academic Certificates and Transcripts Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Further details are available on our website: Control and Design of Bioengineered Microbial Cells | Biology, Medicine and Health | The University of Manchester Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to the University’s activities. The full statement can be found here: https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/getting-started/equality-diversity-inclusion/

Research areas