About the project
The project is about a novel sensing-computing platform that (a) employs living cells, and (b) is energetically autonomous. The main target outcome is the creation of a radically new kind of information processing technology that is not simply inspired by biochemical processes in living systems, but actually uses living microbial cells, growing as biofilms on electrodes inside novel bioelectrochemical systems.
Within the sphere of the Internet of Things (IoT) or, better still Internet of living things (IoLT), our mission and aim(s) are to build small robots (called EcoBots) as demonstration models of feasibility and wide uses of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) as the main energy supply to power mechatronic devices.
The potential benefits of small-scale MFCs include higher power densities and higher output levels of electrical energy that can be delivered when stacks are constructed using 100’s or 1000’s of mass-produced small-scale units, put together in the form of cascades, stacks, nodes, arrays and sensors. There is knowledge of how MFCs can operate as physicochemical sensors, and how robots can be truly autonomous and perform biological behaviours (like taste food). The EcoBot family of robots (developed over the last 23 years) is an example of bio-hybrids utilising too-wet-to-burn aqueous feedstock, urine or food wastes as fuel and operating autonomously with a circadian rhythm.
The IoT, IoLT and new EcoBots encompass electronics, communication, computer science, bio-engineering, microbiology, robotics and (via MFC) biological interface and biohybrid systems. MFCs will introduce a microbiome into all ‘objects’, rendering them biohybrid and autonomous for turning all the organic inputs into new biomass, CO2 (via respiration and oxidation), water and recycled biomass, converting elements transformed from food into products of metabolism and electrical energy.
Training programmes are available for all of our PhD students and specific bioelectrochemistry and electrochemistry training will be provided for this particular PhD programme.
The School of Engineering is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
