*Kindly note that the applications for all the PhD and MSc projects is now closed.
FUNDING FOR A PHD STUDY (AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS): EX ANTE SOCIO-ECONOMIC, ENVIRONMENTAL AND INSTITUTIONAL VIABILITY OF DECENTRALIZED SANITATION SERVICES TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES
The Pollution Research Group, School of Engineering (Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa), has secured funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a research and development project on faecal sludge management and the field testing of reinvented toilet prototypes. The overall goal of the project is to understand the economic drivers and barriers to the reuse of products from faecal sludge management in agriculture. As partners of this project, the Disciplines of Agricultural Economics and Crop Science have been tasked to undertake a study on “Ex ante socio-economic, environmental and institutional viability of decentralized sanitation services to local communities”.
Click here to read more Position still available (update December 2017)
FUNDING FOR A PHD AND MSCENG STUDY: CHEMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISATION OF FAECAL SLUDGE FOR DESIGN OF TREATMENT PROCESSES
The Pollution Research Group, School of Engineering (Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa), has secured funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a research and development project on faecal sludge management and the field testing of reinvented toilet prototypes. Under this funding, there are positions available for one PhD student and one MScEng student to undertake studies into the chemical and biochemical characterisation of faecal sludge for the design of treatment processes. These projects have the potential for collaboration with overseas research organisations.
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Position still available (update December 2017)
FUNDING FOR A MSCENG STUDY (CHEMICAL ENGINEERING): MATERIAL AND ENERGY BALANCE FOR RE-IMAGINED SANITATION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN A GREENFIELD INTEGRATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT
The Pollution Research Group, School of Engineering (Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa), has secured funds for a research and development projects on faecal sludge management, the field testing of reinvented toilet prototypes and resource reuse. The overall goal of the project is to understand the flows of water, nutrients, solid waste and energy through the installation of leading water and waste management systems in a greenfield integrated urban development. The objective is to be completely off the electrical, water and sewage grid through the reuse and up-cycling of co-products. This research will be undertaken in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute. To quantify and integrate the different systems, the Pollution Research Group is recruiting a Masters student to undertake a study to quantifying the flows and properties of food, water, energy, greenhouse gases and waste streams that could be found in a reinvented urban development.
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Position still available (update December 2017)
FUNDING FOR A MSCENG AND PHD STUDY: AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FAECAL SLUDGE
The Pollution Research Group, School of Engineering (Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa), has secured funds for One Masters and one PhD position, in order to conduct research to assist in overcoming the technological gaps faced by these transformative technologies. The following research areas will be covered:
• Stickiness of faecal matter causes fouling in toilet bowls, which is unpleasant for the toilet user, and in downstream processing units, which can negatively affect the efficacy of the process. This will be the first stage in forming a database of sludge fouling characteristics and propose methods to avoid fouling;
• Physical characteristics of the faecal material related to the dewatering and drying processes, which are key in the treatment of the waste;
• In-situ solar drying of faecal sludge in order to treat the waste in the generation site.
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Position still available (update December 2017)
FUNDING FOR A MSCENG STUDY (CHEMICAL ENGINEERING): SURVEY OF TRASH IN PIT LATRINES AND URINE DIVERSION TOILETS
The Pollution Research Group, School of Engineering (Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa), has secured funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a research and development project on faecal sludge management and the field testing of reinvented toilet prototypes. The presence of trash in pit latrine and urine diversion (UD) toilet waste is problematic for pit emptiers and downstream processing equipment. To understand the scale of the problem, the Pollution Research Group are recruiting a Masters student to undertake a study quantifying the volume and types that are found in pit latrines and UD vaults across eThekwini Municipality.
Click here to read more Position still available (update December 2017)
FUNDING FOR A MSCENG STUDY (CHEMICAL ENGINEERING) OR MSC (CROP SCIENCE): USE OF RECOVERED WATER FROM A REINVENTED TOILET FOR HYDROPONICS
The Pollution Research Group, School of Engineering and the Discipline of Crop Science (University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa), in conjunction with the University of South Florida (USA) (funding consortium) has secured funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for a research and development project on faecal sludge management and the field testing of reinvented toilet prototypes.
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Position still available (update December 2017)