Technical and economic development of innovative bio-based construction materials

Deadline for applications: 26 January 2024

About the Project

This project aims at combining microbial biotechnology, materials engineering and economics to generate the knowledge and understanding necessary for the development and successful introduction into the market of new net-zero materials for the new constructions. A multidisciplinary team of academics from three different Northumbria University departments, namely the Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, the Department of Applied Sciences, and the Newcastle Business School, will supervise the development of engineered microbial induced lime-based construction materials that can help achieving the UK’s net-zero strategy.

Recent research on self-healing concrete highlighted the potential of using bacteria to promote carbonation in concrete. Like concrete, lime and all lime-based materials set through carbonation but, differently from concrete, they are considered more sustainable because they are fired at lower temperature and reabsorb a large proportion of the CO2 emitted during prodution. However, since lime has not benefitted from the intense research programmes that underpinned the development of modern cements, the current use of lime in construction is still based on practices and materials that are centuries old. This has led to the formation of psycological, technical and economic barriers to the modern use of lime-based materials.

To overcome such barriers, a new approach to the development of lime-based materials is needed entailing (1) the adoption of a new interdisciplinary approach for the technical development of innovative materials that represent a break from the past (i.e., biotechnology and materials engineering), and (2) the development of a tailored economic plan that can support the introduction of these material into the modern market (e.g., the introduction of subsidies, amendments to the taxation system, the inclusion of specific clauses in trade deals with third countries, etc.).

In this project, the research student will have the opportunity to learn and work in the areas of microbiology, construction materials, and material characterization, to technically create, characterise and develop new bacteria-enhanced lime-based materials (e.g., mortars and plasters). Beside this, however, the candidate will also aquire the knowledge and skills necessary to develop a tailored economic plan detailing new economic policy tools that can support the market acquisition of the new materials, and discourage the use of the more traditional and highly-polluting materials like cement.

This is an innovative and truly interdisciplinary approach that aims at creating real impact in our society and to form a researcher capable of understanding both, the technical aspects of the development of new construction materials, and the related economic and legistlative framework. The goal of achieving net-zero emissions presents significant challenges from both, a technical and an economic perspective, and these aspects cannot be viewed in isolation. Without technical innovation, more sustainable construction models cannot be developed, and without an economic plan, technical innovation cannot be introduced and disseminated at the speed required by the environmental issues we are currently facing.

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Dr. Giovanni Pesce, Prof. Meng Zang and Dr. Emilio Carnevali. For informal queries, please contact [email protected]. For enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please use the form below to contact Admissions.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.