The University of Manchester
PhD Student
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Funded Dual‑Degree PhD Opportunity (University of Manchester - Peking University)
Quantifying Heteroaggregation and Settling of Nanoparticles, Phytoplankton and Clays for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal
Are you ready to push the boundaries of climate science, nanomaterials, and ocean biogeochemistry, while earning a dual-PhD degree from two world-leading universities?
The University of Manchester and Peking University are offering an exceptional funded dual-award PhD position. This unique programme allows you to conduct cutting-edge research across Manchester (UK) and Beijing (China) for 2+2 years, benefiting from world-class supervision, facilities, and international collaboration.
The Topic
Developing negative-emission techniques is essential for meeting global climate targets. With implications for the development of marine-based carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) strategies, this project will quantify the interactions of multiple particles and their subsequent fate and transport in the marine environments.
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This PhD will quantify:
- How engineered nanoparticles, phytoplankton, and clay minerals interact with each other in seawater – a process known as hetero-aggregation.
- How these interactions influence particle settling and carbon export efficiency.
The research will be conducted through laboratory experiments and mechanistic modelling. The candidate will work at the interface of environmental chemistry, biogeochemistry, colloid science, oceanography, and climate change mitigation, using advanced experimental and modelling approaches.
Supervisors
- Dr Peyman Babakhani, Department of Civil Engineering and Management, University of Manchester
- Prof Juan Liu, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University
Co-supervisors
- Dr Jon Pittman, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester
- Dr Zhen Wu, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University
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Eligibility
We welcome international and UK home applicants with experimental and/or mechanistic modelling skills in areas of geomicrobiology (phytoplankton/microbe culture experiments) and/or nanoparticle toxicity.
Application Deadline
September 07, 2026
Full Project Details and Application Instructions
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