MPhil/PhD Civil Engineering (Environmental)

Environmental engineering uses science and engineering principles to assess and mitigate pollution for the benefit of human health and the environment. This research programme requires an understanding of biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, socio-economics and legislation to develop solutions for the sustainable provision of clean air, land and water for humankind.

By pursuing research in the School of Engineering you will join an extremely successful research group focussing on environmental civil engineering. Our mission is to foster, promote and conduct research of international quality. This means that we attract high quality graduates and researchers and train them to international standards.

This research programme is ideal if you are enthusiastic about environmental engineering research. Our main research themes in environmental engineering are:

engineered biological systems
mining and metals in the environment
biochemical processes in contaminated water, soils and sediments
safe water and sanitation in developing countries.

We offer PhD supervision in the following research areas:

anaerobic digestion
manipulation of the fate of micro-pollutants
pollutant sequestration
bioremediation
risk assessment
sanitation and low-cost water supplies for developing countries
waste stabilisation ponds
constructed wetlands
minewater treatment
carbon neutral initiatives
geothermal energy

Our microbiological research has a strong emphasis on understanding and engineering biological processes using ecological theory, underpinned by exploration of molecular techniques, eg fluorescent in situ hybridisation, quantitative PCR, and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.